Ocean potholders are in progress — yesterday, I discovered the joys of basting spray. I hadn’t used it before, but I think I might be in love.
At least for the purpose of attaching multiple quilting layers — for these potholders, you make a quilt sandwich of fabric, batting, insulated batting, batting, and more fabric. I could pin it all, but then I’d have to remove pins while quilting it together, and that seems like a pain, and likely to have things shifting when I don’t want them to.
The thickness of the sandwich makes clear why the original pattern called for such wide bias tape — these are thick enough that the thin little bias tapes I made are totally useless for attaching them. Sigh. I am trying not to think of it as wasted work (and material), but instead, a lesson learned.
I don’t have wide enough strips of the right color on hand, so I think I’ll just make wide strips — but am not sure what fabric to use. I think I just want a solid, rather than something else with a pattern, but the only solid cotton I have on hand is white, which seems too stark. I might have to buy more fabric. Oh no. The horror.
It’ll be a little annoying to wait for it to arrive, but on the other hand, I discovered yesterday that I need a quilting foot if I’m going to do free motion quilting on these, unless I want to quilt them by hand, which I do not. So I ordered a quilting foot, and I’m waiting for that, so I might as well wait for fabric too. Good thing I’m not in a hurry.
I’m also waffling about what color thread to use — the pattern is intricate enough that I don’t think I want the quilting to be super-visible. I think probably dark blue thread? I could use gold instead? Experienced quilters, please advise. People with opinions are also welcome to weigh in. 
The patterns I’m using are “The Deep Deep Depths” and “Tethys Trellis,” both by Cean Irminger.
https://www.spoonflower.com/…/1134917-deep-deep-depths…
https://www.spoonflower.com/…/2373441-tethys-trellis…
https://www.facebook.com/cean.irminger
