How to Start Quilting the Dream Big Tidepool Panel

It's a beautiful Tidepool floral panel that will be a treasure and is so much fun to quilt. I have been asked if I have a thread and a matching backing for this beautiful panel. I have been working to make this happen to offer those products. So its a work in progress that takes time to do all the panels so I just have to jump in and get started. First off a backing for this beautiful quilt.

Backing and Binding

	Moda Grunge Pool Style# 30150 226 This is a semi-solid that will give your back a feeling of a whole cloth quilt. It will hide slight imperfections and will pair nicely with the panel colors.
	All Stars Forget Me Not Owls by Tula Pink Style# PWTP117-FORG This is a fun print of owls that is very popular and will be fun on the back and a backing.
	All Stars Agave Raccoon by Tula Pink Style# PWTP037-AGAV A fun raccoon fabric that will liven up your panel with a matching back and binding
	Fluttering Butterfly Mariposa by Hoffman Fabrics Style# Q44250-656 This is a beautiful butterfly fabric that will add a big pop the panel on the back and the binding.

I have chosen 4 beautiful fabrics that match the colors in the tidepool panel.  Any would make it beautiful.  It just depends on the look you are trying to achieve.  You can make it fun or like a whole cloth quilt on the back.  Any of these options will make your panel beautiful. You will need 1.5 yards for the backing and another half yard for binding.

Thread

I asked Superior Threads to match thread to the panels. Mother Superior had the panel to look at so she was not matching colors with just the computer screen. So the colors she chose are very accurate and will be beautiful on the panel. She picked out colors from 5 of their lines so you can use your favorite thread. I like the so fine thread on my machine and to quilt with. But I love the King Tut thread with all the pretty color changes you get in one thread. It just depends on how you want it to look. The glitter selection is for highlights and maybe the center of the flower.  Its to give it some shine and dimension. Wow, it is pretty. This should get you started on your panel with matching colors.

	So Fine Thread #50 Wt. Polyester 3 ply. 470 - Big Sky 518 - Barely Green
	King Tut Thread #40 Wt. Cotton 3 ply. 927 - De Nile
	Glitter Thread Metalized polyester thread 4ply. 108- Atantis
	Fantastico Spring Variegated Thread #40 Wt. Polyester 2 ply. 5118 - Rainy Dany
	Magnifico Tidepool Thread #40 Wt. polyester 2 ply 2088 - Courtyard Green 2138 - Lakota Blue

I hope you find this information helpful in completing your Dream Big Panel.  I had just had so many questions as to what to use as backing and binding and if I had some threads that matched.

Batting

I have had many people tell me that they are using a double batting. The suggested way for double batting is using a cotton or poly-cotton on the bottom and then a wool on the top. The wool batting is what will give you the loft to your designs and give the quilt dimension. A couple of quilters I talked to use a double batting of wool. Wool is lightweight and holds its shape very well even hanging. But the downside - it is very expensive. I put a poly down in one of mine at the top batting and it quilted nicely and is lightweight but not as expensive as wool.

I hope you enjoy quilting this Dream Big Panel. It will be fun.

Happy Quilting,
Margo