Needle and Thread

Isn’t this a great photo?  To see more of the microscopic photos of everyday things just follow this link. http://www.viralnova.com/microscopic-level/

Seeing this webpage prompted me to do a search for other microscopic photos of sewing type things and I found a couple of interesting blog posts about thread.  Check out the following web pages showing different threads magnified and compare the differences.
Your Sewing Thread Under A Microscope by Owin’s Olivia
Is There A Difference In Sewing Thread Brands? on About.com Sewing

Until Later,
Lynn

Quilting with Aurifil 50 Wt. Thread

Today the thread I used in my quilting sample is Aurifil 50 wt. 2 ply 100% cotton thread for the top thread.  The company says it is Mako Egyptian Cotton which is a long staple cotton fiber and the main headquarters for the Aurifil company is in Italy where the thread is manufactured.

Make sure to look at the Aruifil website and especially the page on Tips where I found videos with information and found out that this company uses different colored spool centers/end caps for different weights of their threads and the orange spool denotes the 50 wt.  I can’t stress it enough to check out the different company websites as they have loads of information about their products, free patterns, tips and tricks, etc.  I really like this thread thread for lots of applications – piecing, hand applique and now machine quilting.  It is a low lint thread so doesn’t leave fuzzy stuff on the inside of your machine – that is where this thread made with long staple cotton shines over the threads made with short staple cotton.  The thread comes in 3 sizes of spools, this being the medium size that holds 1422 yards of thread. 

This is a medium weight thread that makes a bold statement if it is a contrasting color from the fabric. There was some deepening of color where I backtracked but not too bad but stitching over the same line was was easy to do.  It stitched out nicely too and the tension didn’t have to be adjusted on this sample.

Here are the other statistics from this sample:  I used Bottom Line by Superior Threads in my bobbin, size 14 Topstitch needle, Fairfield 80/20 cotton batting and 2.0 stitch length and 4.0 tension setting.  Again I used my Bernina sewing machine with the stitch regulator foot (BSR). 

I do want to remind you that these are samples, and samples only, so if I didn’t get my quilting motif quite perfect or had some bobbles (crooked places) I just left them in.  This was practice for me and I was not going to take the time to rip anything out.  There are a couple of places near the edge where I have a little bubble in the top fabric when it came loose from the batting before it was stitched.  If this were a real quilt I would have re-basted it with pins or thread to hold it secure before quilting it down.

Sometime I would  like to try the other weights of Aurifil thread, especially the 40 weight which is a little heavier than this 50 weight that I used.  This is a top quality thread that I would recommend.

Until Later,
Lynn

Quilting with Isacord, Update

I did a review of quilting with Isacord in a post June 12, 2012 and mentioned a bit of problem using the thread and at the time wondered if it was just the color I chose to use – black.  I have heard that black threads a lot of times do not behave like other colors in the same thread line because of the dying process/amount to get the black color.  Has anyone else heard that about black thread?  I decided to give it another try and am glad I did.This time I chose a medium gold colored thread.  I made a few other changes when making my sample too. I did find out the weight of the thread is 40 wt., something I didn’t know when I posted about the other sample.   First off I changed the needle size and type of needle from Topstitch to Quilting.  For the black threaded one I used a size 12 topstitch needle and for the gold thread I used a 14 Quilting needle.  I had different battings in the two samples – black thread had Bamboo Batting by Fairfield and the gold thread had Hobbs 80/20.  The gold thread quilted like a dream and I am thinking changing the needle size is probably what made the biggest difference, even over changing the type of needle.  After quilting more samples with lots of threads I have found I need to use a larger needle than what I might first think.  I used to think that 14 size needles were so big and should use a size 12 for most threads but actually a lot of thread work best using size 14 needle.  Another thing I did differently was to set the stitch length a little longer with the gold thread.  The black was set at 1.8 and the gold at 2.0.  The tension was kept at the default setting of 4.0 for the gold and 3.5 for the black.  You can see the  two samples side by side in the photo above.  You probably can’t see much difference in a photo except the black shows more of the back tracking but I found quite a bit of difference when stitching.

I guess the moral to this story is that if one thread doesn’t work don’t discount the whole group but first make adjustments.  Change out the needle, change tension, stitch length or batting to see if that makes a difference.  You can also try another color if you get a chance too.

Until Later,
Lynn

A Pile of Quilting Samples

As you can see this is a large pile of quilted samples with the spools of thread attached.  I have been working on these samples off and on since last summer as I had volunteered to give a program for our guild on the subject.  The title of my program was Threads, Threads, Threads.  I wanted to make quilted samples to show to guild members and for my own edification using all types, brands and weights of threads.  I wanted to be able to compare brands, compare weights and types of fibers. 

My first job was to go through my thread stash and pull the different kinds I had already on hand.  I figured I would just buy small spools of lots of other kinds to use for my samples to fill in the blanks.  Much to my surprise I had a lot more kinds of thread than I initially thought.  Some of the spools I had used and some brand new – how does that happen?  Am I a thread hoarder?  When you don’t live close to fabric stores you tend to buy supplies “in case” you need them, right?  By the way, I am trying to justify all the thread I have.  I am organized though and can find any thread at any time, that should count for something shouldn’t it?  I just snapped a photo of the Jammer boxes that hold the smaller spools all lined up with a larger plastic box on top to hold the larger cones and spools that don’t fit in the Jammer boxes.  The boxes are organized by type of thread so I can just grab a box and find the kind and color of thread I want to use or know right away I don’t have it.  I used to sew clothing and two of the boxes hold all the left over threads from the many clothing projects I stitched up over the years.  Most of it is cotton wrapped polyester thread that I don’t use often but like that I have most every color I might need at any time or one that will blend nicely.

The Jammer boxes are great for holding lots of thread and you can read about them here on my April 5, 2010 blog post.  These are really intended to hold little toy cars and have two sides with hinged lids.  The little sections are great to hold spools of thread and to keep the dust off of them.

 

This is another thing I do with spools that don’t have a good way to secure the thread tails when not using them.  I purchased a package of little girls tiny ponytail elastic bands.  They are very stretchy and fit over the spools, securing the threads and preventing a tangled mess.  I do take them off to use the thread as the elastic holds the thread too tight and effects the tension.

Whoops, got off subject for a little bit didn’t I….back to the samples.  I gave the program this last week for my quilt guild and do have another lined up this fall for another guild.  I have photos all taken of the samples and threads and now have to write up the blog posts. One last thing I want to share with you before I sign off.  I felt it was important for guild members to see the actual spool of thread for each sample so came up with this way to keep them organized with the sample that was quilted with each thread.  Slipped a piece of yarn through the spool, tied a bow and safety pinned it to the sample.  Not high tec. but it worked and everyone appreciated being able to see the threads on the spools.  It was a little more bulky to transport them but at least I didn’t have to spend time during the program sorting threads to match samples.

Tomorrow I will start showing the samples again so come back and check it out.

Lynn

Machine Quilting with So Fine Thread

Another day another machine quilting sample.  This one was done with So Fine! by Superior Threads, a polyester thread – 50 wt. and 3 ply thread.  This is a great thread to quilt with.  So Fine comes in 3 different weights, 30 wt, 40 wt, and 50 wt.  The website says this 50 wt. thread would be good to use for bobbin thread but it worked great as a top thread.

I used Bottom Line for the bobbin thread for this piece and it was quilted on my Bernina 730 with the BSR foot.  The cotton batting is not identified again and the tension was kept at the default setting as was the stitch length.  I used an 12/80 topstitch needle to do the stitching.

I would use this thread again as it was so easy to quilt with.  It left a fine line and since the color (403) is a light beige it doesn’t stand out too much against the light blue fabric.  The puffiness of the batting make the designs show up well though.

Happy Quilting,

Lynn

Machine Quilting with YLI Silk Thread

This is one of my favorite threads to use to quilt my miniature quilts.  It is YLI Silk thread and is a very fine thread.  The spool has #100 on it so don’t know if that is the weight for sure but am guessing it is the weight as it is a very fine thread.  It is 100% silk thread and machine stitches so nicely.  I used a small 70 topstitch needle to stitch with this thread.

This sample has cotton batting but I don’t know what kind or brand as it was just a scrap.  From now on I hope to label all those scraps but have quite a few small unidentified ones I am using for this project.

I love that I can quilt small motifs with this thread and not create bulk like heavier threads do.  I used my Bernina 730 with the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator), Bottom Line thread by Superior Threads in my bobbin, Color number 241 for the silk thread and I didn’t have to adjust the tension or stitch length on this sample.  If I were quilting a miniature I would shorten the stitch a bit to make it more inline with what a miniature should be.

Seems like these posts are getting shorter and shorter.  I guess another thing I want to stress is when I have been quilting these pieces I do not rip even if the quilting turns out not so hot and wiggles all over the place.  I want to try out these different designs and sometimes it is the first time I have tried them so the quilting lines don't always go where I want them to go or the lines don't flow.  I don't want to spend the time ripping so everything stays as it is first stitched.  Some designs I will try again and some just didn't work.  I am planning on using these samples not only to see what the threads look like s they are quilted abut also as a recording of  different quilt designs I can look through when I am quilting a new piece.

Until Later,

Lynn

Machine Quilting with Premium Sulky Cotton Blendables

Sulky has two weights of Blendables thread – the 12 weight and the 30 weight.  The 12 is really heavy but the 30 wt. feels similar to the YLI Machine Quilting Thread, King Tut and Signature threads and that is what I used on this sample.  I believe it is a 3 ply thread and this variegated thread has color changes every 2 1/2” – 5”, color number 733.  The thread did blend from one color into another and there were not too many spots where the thread was too light or too dark.

It is a very smooth thread like King Tut so leaves very little lint in the machine when stitching.  I used a size 14/90 topstitch needle, Old Glory Old Fashioned Cotton batting (will not buy again as is tough for needle to pierce), Bottom Line bobbin thread.  Like the other samples I quilted this with my Bernina 730 with the BSR.  I need to practice more without the BSR as my skills at free motion quilting on my own without the aid of that foot have diminished lately.

This thread comes in lots of different colors so is easy to find something to work with most any project.  The spool has a pop top to wrap the thread ends so the spool doesn’t come unwound when stored.

One thing I might not have mentioned is that I spray basted the fabric front and back to the batting in all of my samples.  Normally I don’t use spray basting for my quilts but needed something quick and easy and since the samples are small the basting holds just fine.

I am using Machinigers Quilting gloves to aid in moving the fabric sandwich as I quilt.  Normally I like to use the Halo Ring by award winning quilter, Sharon Schamber, but it doesn’t work so well right next to the edge of a quilt and since the samples are small they are mostly edges.  Here is a YouTube video of her using this rubberized metal ring.

That’s all for now folks…
Lynn

Machine Quilting with Mirage Thread by Wonderfil

I purchased this Mirage Thread by Wonderfil while I was in Paducah, Kentucky at the 2012 AQS show.  It is a 30wt. 2ply thread (think it is 2 ply after untwisting it).  This is a Rayon variegated  thread with a great shine and a subtle variegation of color.  I have heard that some rayon thread fades in the light but don’t know about that as this is the first time I have used it.

It is a dream to stitch with and is not as fine as the Invisafil thread but did not seem as heavy as the 40 wt. threads (YLI, King Tut and Signature).  Maybe it seems finer because it is soft and a different fiber than those cotton quilting threads.

I stitched this with my Bernina 730 with the BSR foot, size 12/80 topstitch needle, bamboo batting by Fairfield and used the default settings for tension and stitch length.  The bobbin thread I used was Bottom Line by Superior Threads.

The cone is small but I can't seem to find any way to secure the thread so ended up putting one of those little girl ponytail elastics around it.  Let me know if I am missing something on the spool to secure the thread.

This is beautiful looking when stitched and I would use it again but do want to do some research on how Rayon thread holds up over time.  Anyone have any experiences with rayon thread that can offer some insight?

Until Later,

Lynn

Machine Quilting with YLI Machine Quilting Thread

Another green sample, this time machine quilted with YLI Machine Quilting thread.  This is a 100% long staple cotton thread that is 40 wt and 3 ply like the last two threads I reviewed.  This thread is also a variegated  thread like the other two.  This is the color Jewel 12V.

The variegation is not subtle and the color changes are obvious but most of the colors in this thread seem to be pretty much the same value with just a bit really dark and really light.  The thread is pretty smooth but does have a little more fuzz than the King Tut
.
I enjoyed stitching with this thread – used my Bernina 730 with BSR foot, size 14/90 topstitch needle and the default tension and stitch length.  I sandwiched this with Old Glory, Old Fashioned Cotton Batting.  I did not like this batting as it seemed tough for my needle to pierce.  Like my other samples I used Bottom Line for the bobbin thread.

The spool itself is an odd size - too big for my Jammer Boxes and the wrong kind of spool to store in the box with my cone thread.  I have the few spools I have purchased over the years stored in a small drawer but forget they are there occasionally when looking for thread to use.

This thread gives a bold look so if that is what you are looking for this would be a good choice.

Until Later,
Lynn

Machine Quilting with Signature Thread

This next sample was quilted with Signature Machine Quilting Thread by American & Efird, Inc., color 457.  This is a 100% cotton thread and is a 40wt, 3 ply thread.  Like the King Tut thread it too is a variegated threads in shades of blue.  I found several differences between this thread and the King Tut thread and for me it put the King Tut thread above this Signature Thread by a mile.
 
Here are the differences I noticed…the color changes are not so subtle and go from very light blue to very dark blue so when stitched some of the tread almost disappears since the color value blends into the background fabric color.  This gives a blotchy look to the quilting at times.
 
Second it is very, very linty which means that I needed to clean out the bobbin area and had to stop a couple of times with this small sample.  If you were doing a large quilt this could become quite annoying.  This thread is less expensive than the King Tut thread but I am thinking I would rather pay a little more and not have to deal with the lint.

Good things about this thread is that it stitched well on my Bernina 730 with the BSR foot and a size 14/90 topstitch needle, stitched well with the Bottom Line thread and required no tension changes on my machine.  It is a thicker thread so will give a more bold look to the machine quilted stitches than a finer thread.  Again stitched on a cotton batting of unknown brand with the default stitch length.

Guess that about covers this thread.
Lynn

Machine Quilting with King Tut

This sample was quilted with King Tut thread by Superior Threads.  This is a 100% cotton thread that is a 40wt 3 ply thread so it is a thicker thread than some.  I used a size 14/90 topstitch needle in my machine to accommodate the heavier thread.  This particular color, 902, is a variegated thread that has a very subtle shading from dark to medium blue. The Superior Threads website says the color changes are every inch and is available in 133 colors.   A beautiful thread that has a medium sheen and is not linty at all.

I loved the way this thread stitched and it was easy to get even stitches and it paired well with the Bottom Line thread also by Superior Threads in the bobbin.  I didn’t have to adjust the tension on my machine even though the King Tut is a heavier thread and Bottom Line is a finer thread.

I have used this thread before and loved quilting with it then too and would recommend it for any quilt that you want the thread to stand out more.

Other facts about this sample – stitched using my Bernina 730 and using my BSR, the batting is cotton but I don’t know which brand as it was again just a scrap and the stitch length I used was the default stitch length even though the thread was thicker.

I am practicing some of the motifs I want to use when machine quilting and trying out new ones in these samples.  If you want a closer look at the samples just click on the photo to get a larger photo.

Good news here today….we woke to rain!  It has been so hot and dry here lately and rain was not forecast but guess it developed during the night in a small area of Nebraska right over us.  We feel like we won the lottery!  We ended up with 1.5” here at home and close to 3” near town which is 5 miles from our home.  Knowing how much it has rained is important to farmers so they all have rain gauges out and it is a topic of conversation among them.  Enough rain, like this morning, means the irrigation wells can be shut off for a while at least – this is a big deal as each engine burns about 4 gal. of fuel an hour and we have 11 irrigation wells on the land we own and rent.  You can do the math so even with a few days of the wells not running can save $$$.  Enough farm talk for now but suffice it to say we are walking around with big smiles on our faces today.
Lynn

Playing With Coats and Clarks Trilobal Polyester Thread….Again

After quilting the one sample using the Coats and Clarks 100% Trilobal Polyester thread I wanted to play some more with this thread.  I divided the square into quarters on the diagonal so I would have triangles to practice on, something new for me.  My goal was to fill each triangle with some different quilting design.  Three of the triangles were just quilted free hand with no marks while the curved grid was marked on the fabric. 

This whole sample is stitched with this thread except the background quilting on the bottom triangle which is stitched with Dual Duty cotton covered polyester machine embroidery thread.  The size 12 topstitch needle slipped in and out of the fabric so smoothly.  I’ve found that the more smoothly the needle goes in and out of the fabric the more easily it is to get smooth curves.

Other info on this quilt sample – cotton batting but don’t know brand, Bottom Line thread by Superior Threads in the bobbin, 12/80 topstitch needle.  Again I will definitely use this thread again.

My sewing machine was off limits to me for a few days as our granddaughters were here and they were busy doing their 4-H sewing.  They both love to sew and chose to make flannel PJ pants.  It was so nice this year in that they finally really “get it” and could stitch on their own after checking with me to be sure they were doing it right.  The pants are finished and ready for the fair and the girls are thrilled to get to sew something they will get to wear.  They have gone home now so it is quiet here and I am back to stitching my samples and doing a little gardening.

I started cleaning out a sewing closet while the girls were here and pulled everything out and have it sorted, organized and things are put away but…….I have lots of stuff left over.  I have to sit down and decide how much I can get rid of or store in another place.  I do know it is not getting put back into that closet.

Nebraska has been experiencing a real heat wave lately.  Wednesday my oldest granddaughter S. was finishing up sewing and it was already 7 pm when she noticed the thermometer and let me know it was still 104 degrees F. We were glad we were inside and not out in that heat.  I don’t know how hot it got during the day but know it was rather miserable outside.  These hot days are hard on livestock and hard on crops as well as the people that have to be outside working.  John comes in the house just wringing wet and I try to make sure he is drinking enough water and gets to cool down.

Tomorrow is our town celebration so hope it is cooler (94 degrees F today.)  I plan to go to the garage sales in the morning, lunch served at noon at the tractor pull, barbeque in the evening followed by a parade and fireworks.  I plan to skip the 5K walk, jog, run and the tractor pull in the morning.  If it is hot I plan to come home and cool off in my house between activities.

Well – that’s it for now.
Lynn

Quilting with YLI Variations and Coats & Clark Trilobal Polyester

I decided that quilting 2 thread samples together on a longer pieces of fabric would be easier than quilting each sample on a 12” square.  I marked the center of the pieces and so it was easy to quilt each thread in it’s own section.  The edges of the quilt squares are the hardest to quilt so I eliminated two of the edges by using the longer pieces of fabric.  I did cut the sample into the two pieces after I was finished though.This first sample is stitched with YLI Variations thread.  This is a 2 ply 35 wt. 100%  polyester trilobal thread.  Trilobal thread has excellent light reflection so it is nice and shiny.  My thread was variegated in shades of browns and very lovely when stitched out.  The color changes in the thread are subtle and blend well from one to another.  I would classify this as a heaver looking thread when stitched...more on the Glide (reviewed on an earlier post) or the Coats and Clarks thread (shown below.)

My Bernina 730 loved this thread and the tension didn’t need to be adjusted.  I really liked stitching with this thread and would use it again.  I did like the cone it came on too as the bottom snapped open then closed to wrap the thread when finished, a nice feature to keep it from unraveling.  I did use Bottom Line by Superior Threads for the bobbin thread like all my other samples so far.The other half of that sample was stitched with Coats & Clarks size 40 wt. 100% Trilobal Polyester thread.  I purchased it from JoAnn Fabrics and it stitched out easily and it too had a nice shine to the stitches.  I would use this one again too.  I could not figure out how to secure the thread on the spool, the top ring moves around but doesn’t seem to work to secure it after stitching - does anyone have an idea what that ring is for?.

Again my Bernina loved stitching this with thread and I would classify it in the same category as maybe Glide.  Since it is easier for me to purchase locally it might be a better fit for when I want a thicker shiny trilobal thread.

These quilting samples are so much fun to do.  I am learning about the threads, how they behave and if I like using them and what they look like next to other threads of different types or similar types and weights.  I have used a lot of these threads before but never really analyzed them as I was stitching.  Stitching one kind/brand of thread after another also makes the differences more evident.

I am hoping to get better at machine quilting and stitching the designs I already know how to stitch and experimenting with stitching new or new to me designs.  Click on the photos to see the stitch samples in more detail.  These are just practice pieces so if I wobbled  or didn’t stitch the pattern correctly I just left my mistakes – why spend time ripping on a sample.  I am keeping it fun, fun, fun and so far it is.

Until Later,
Lynn
PS....I forgot to say I used a size 12/80 topstitch needle, my BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator foot) and cotton batting (I don't know what brand as it was an unmarked scrap in my batting box)

What To Stitch When I Want To Stitch

What do when I don’t want to stitch on any existing project, have you ever been in this situation?  This was the problem I have had lately.  I still wanted to sew but didn’t want to work on anything I had already started  and didn’t want to start anything complicated either but came up with a project that did spark my interest.  Can you guess what I have been doing?I have a collection of threads probably like most of you do if you have been a quilter for any length of time.  I have some threads that are intended for embroidery, regular stitching, quilting, and so on.  I have been reading that you can use what ever thread you want to machine quilt and quilters are recommending all brands, weights and types of thread.  This makes it difficult to decide on a thread choice for machine quilting when I get so may choices and recommendations.

I decided to start stitching up samples using the different threads in my collection.  Most of my samples use cotton batting and I am also using up small pieces in these thread samples.  I am stitching different quilting designs using the threads.  At first I cut up solid fabrics I had on hand but have also purchased some more solids as I used up what I had pretty quickly.  Solids show the stitches better than patterned fabrics.

I used a permanent pen to mark the information on each sample.  Here are the things I noted on the samples;
1. Brand, Weight, Color of Thread
2. Batting if known
3. Machine needle size
4. Stitch length if using Bernina Stitch Regulator
5. Tension number
6. Bobbin threadOn the back of the samples I noted observations about the thread and how it stitched for me.  I am hoping to store all my samples together in a easy to access place, am thinking of a plastic tote devoted just to my samples.  I want to be able to look them over to help me decide what thread or weight of thread I want to use on future projects.  I used this project to also try out new quilting motifs or to practice some that I have used before.  This first sample is kind of a hodgepodge of designs but I got more organized on the samples that followed.

This first sample was stitched with Invisafil thread by Wonderfil.  It is a 100 wt. thread so is a very fine thread.  At first I had trouble with the thread breaking but after I loosened the tension it worked great.  I would use this on a quilt that would not take a lot of use like wall hangings or miniatures.  It reminded me of stitching with silk thread as it has a sheen and is so fine.  I am not sure it would hold up on bed quilts.  Has anyone used this thread to machine quilt with?

This sample was stitched on my Bernina 730 with the Bernina Stitch Regulator foot,  Bamboo Batting by Fairfield, 12/80 topstitch needle and default settings for stitch length and tension.

So far I am using Bottom Line by Superior Threads for the bobbin thread in all my samples.  Check back as I will be sharing my other stitching samples with you and if you have a thread you especially like for machine quilting please let me know and if I do not have it I might be able to get a spool to try.

Lynn