Securing thread

[Quilter7]

I too need to practice, practice, practice (and tend not to practice enough)! Maybe we should start a MQ Practicing Club?
Carol

[CaroleJ]

Caren, I did two practice projects...my straight stitching looks really good, no puckers or humps in the work. My freehand curved stitching leaves something to be desired, so I am going to mark stitching lines with water-soluble marker for my "real" first MQing project. The lines are curved, but only very gently, so it should be okay. I hope!!

I hope to spend some time tomorrow layering and basting...and maybe some MQing if I have enough time as the day moves along.

[HomespunMary]

Good luck, CaroleJ! You'll do great!

And, don't worry about the curves - it is probably much easier to do curved lines than straight ones when free motion quilting. Also, don't worry if you don't stich exactly on th lines you've marked - noone will notice once the marks are removed!

Have fun!

[norwich]

I'm a longarm quilter and deal with starting and stopping stitches all of the time. What you should do is bury your threads, both the starting threads and when you end. I use a self-threading needle and run the thread through the batting, first one direction, then another direction, which will lock the thread and it won't come out. Bring the thread up through existing stitches or a seam. You can also make a knot first and then bury the threads, but I find that doing it the first way is secure enough.

[1quiltinnana]

I just do the great "backstitching" my machine does and it works fine for me. No problem folks.

[cindyg]

I'm thinking of using invisible thread on a quilt so how do you secure it? Same as with regular thread?

[CaroleJ]

Cindyg, depends on your machine...but what seems to work best for me is to take 2-3 stitches in one place to secure the invisible thread. Do some practice stitching to play with tension settings and stitch length and HAVE FUN!

[cindyg]

I bought some invisible thread from QIAD and I also have YLI invisible thread. Which is best? I read on another thread here that invisible thread gets dry, brittle, and breaks. Now I'm wondering if I should use it or cotton thread. Any input will be appreciated.

[CaroleJ]

Cindyg, I was worried about this too, but apparently the newer monofilament invisible threads do NOT get brittle like the old nylon thread did.

I made an applique' wallhanging last fall and used the YLI invisible thread to stitch around the edges of the applique's (fused them on with Heat-N-Bond Light, then stitched). Had no problems with breaking once I had experimented a bit with the machine's tension settings and stitch length. I had never used invisible thread in the machine before and was pleased with the results. I put a neutral color of Guttermann's thread in the bobbin and it worked great.

You can do this!

[HomespunMary]

I too am having some doubts about the invisible thread... I have used both YLI (nylon) and the Sulky/Gutermann (Polyamide) invisible threads, and both worked great. I too just took a few very close stitches when starting and ending, and I love the result. But...

I really am starting to think that those who warn about the long term quality of these threads may have a point. I haven't quilted for very long, so have no idea how these threads will stand the test of time, but intuitively I have a feeling that after a few years (at least if the quilts will be washed) the thread may not be very strong any more.

I think I'll try to minimize the use of invisible thread from now on. It'll be difficult, though, because I really like it, especially for quilting in the ditch. It just completely disappears! Also, because I'm now doing my first applique quilt, I'm using it for machine applique and really like it! Hmmmm....