Machine Quilting With DMC Machine Embroidery Thread

I quilted this sample with 100% cotton machine embroidery thread by DMC.  This is a fine thread, 2 ply size 50 with a soft shine.  It is not a strong thread but would be great for quilting a wall hanging or miniature quilt.  I used a size 14 quilting needle and a stitch length of 2.0 and 4.0 tension on my Bernina 730 using the BSR stitch regulator.This thread quilted very nicely on the quilt sandwich with 80/20 Hobbs batting.  The Bottom Line thread by Superior Threads used in the bobbin matched up very nicely with the DMC thread.

I use this thread I use when piecing my miniature quilts all the time and have several colors on hand.  It is also nice for applique since it is a lighter weight thread so the stitches blend right into the fabric.

I would recommend this thread for lightweight quilting.  It would be good for background quilting as the thread buildup is not heavy as well as thread for quilting the main motifs.

Until Later,
Lynn

Machine Quilting With Mettler Cotton Embroidery Thread

The thread I am reviewing today is Mettler 100% Cotton Embroidery thread in variegated pinks.  This is a 30 wt. 2 ply thread.  Being 30 wt. you might think it is a thick thread but since it is only a 2 ply thread it seems finer than some brands of 30 wt. thread.  I used Bottom Line thread by Superior Thread in the bobbin and a size 14 quilting needle.  The thread stitch length was set to 2.0 and was stitched on my Bernina 730 (old 730 not the brand new ones) using my BSR foot (Bernina Stitch Regulator).  The tension was set at 4.0.  The quilt sandwich had Hobbs batting 80% cotton 20% polyester. As you can see from the sample the variegation in the thread went from very light, almost white, to very dark pink/burgundy.  This large variation in values in the thread makes it hard to see parts of the quilted design.  Be careful choosing something like this if you have intricate quilting designs that you want to be able to see all of.  The thread is fairly smooth with a little fuzz so didn’t leave much lint in the machine.

This thread quilted nicely and the thread balanced easily with the Bottom Line thread.  The backtracking is more evident with this thread but the color shades nicely from light to dark on designs that don’t have to have backtracking.
 
I would use this thread again and would like to try a solid color instead of the variegated next time.

Happy Quilting,
Lynn

Icy Morning

This past Wednesday morning this is the sight we woke up to.  It had misted/rained/sleeted during the evening before and coated everything in ice.  Was really beautiful with the sun shining through it but quite dangerous to walk or drive on.  The roads were cleared off by the afternoon but the ice stayed on for a couple of days before it all dropped off.  The storm also did damage to the power lines and we lost our power for about an hour.  We expected to be out much longer so had run water for drinking and washing in a couple of big coolers.  Even though we own a portable generator we always run water to be on the safe side.
It is supposed to be spring by April 10th but sure has not been here much yet.  Last year this apple tree had already bloomed as we had a very early spring season.  Mother Nature just keeps us guessing.

Lynn

Machine Quilting With Highlights from Superior Threads

Wow – my first words when I got this thread in the mail, one of the few I bought just to try for this machine quilting project.  This is Highlights by Superior Threads and is 40 weight trilobal polyester thread.  I could not find any information about how many ply and when I tried to untwist it seemed like just a bunch of fibers twisted together.  Again trilobal is the shape of those fibers in a triangle shape instead of round so it reflects light and makes it very shiny and so very pretty. (This shade of turquoise is probably one of my most favorite colors so that didn’t hurt my thinking it was a pretty thread.)This sample has an unknown batting and used a 14 topstitch needle, default tension and stitch length with my Bernina 730 and using the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator.)  Backtracking shows where I traveled over a line 3 times like the stem of the feather but the other areas where I only backtracked once over the original line it wasn’t too heavy. 

I loved quilting with this thread….loved, loved, loved it and would definitely use it again.  The only negative I can think of might be the price as it was a bit more expensive but then again it is a quality thread.  I believe you can get this in a standard spool holding 500 yds. and a large cone.

Until Later,
Lynn