Use only cotton thread and cotton fabric. Make sure you have the right batting. It needs to be warm tater batting and it seems like it is only 42" wide. There are free patterns online and the batting comes with a pattern as well. I made some for a friend and her daughters, and they love them. I did a meandering on some of them, and then just diagonals on some so that they looked like little diamonds. One of my other friends saw them, and wants me to make some for her to give as Christmas gifts.