Quilt in a Day Forums

I am having difficulty with my thread fraying and breaking before the length of thread has been quilted into the quilt. I started with an arms length (approx. 20 inches). Thinking maybe that was too long to use at one time, I shortened the amount I use to between 12 to 15 inches, and I still have problems with fraying and breaking. I've also tried multiple brands of thread. So...Does the type of batting used make a difference? The quilt I am working on is the first one I have had this problem with. The person who owns the quilt is the one who purchased the batting, and I'm not really sure which one she purchased. Any advice or knowledge regarding this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Mary/Rosebud

Hi Mary, It sounds like you are hand quilting the quilt. If so, have you ever tried selimide thread? I always use it when hand sewing the binding on my quilts. Teresa Varnes, Eleanor's assistant is the one who introduced me to this wonderful thread several years ago. At one time, she was a tailor on men's suits and this is the type of thread they used. It is very strong, even used in beading. It doesn't tangle and never frays. Just a thought. I do not hand quilt so I'm not too familiar with this subject. I hope someone can help.

Thanks Linda, I never heard of selimide thread. I'll have to get some for my next quilt for sure.

Mary/Rosebud

Have you tried conditioning the thread with either bees wax or a conditioner called Thread Heaven. Any sewing or quilting store should have one or the other.

Florence, should I be using the bees wax or thread heaven even with hand quilting thread? Hmmmm

Mary/Rosebud

I have always heard that as thread ages, it can deteriorate. And when it does this, it frays and breaks easily. I bought a box of thread in a super close-out sale once and every spool in it kept breaking! I finally threw all all the thread away and kept the box because it was a cool box! lol!

I hand quilt a lot and I always use the Guttermann hand quilting thread and I sometimes run it through that Thread Heaven wax. I got a hunch that your problem is the batting. Maybe it is slightly "cutting" the thread when you pull it through causing it to fray. Try that wax....I can only imagine how frustrating that must be!
Let us know if you come up with a solution so if we ever run into that same problem we will know what to do. Good luck!

Hi Mary,
I was always told to use glazed cotton thread for hand quilting and anywhere you needed durability that" wouldn't look rough" . Never use polyester thread on 100% cotton as it will tear the fibers. It is bad to fold a cotton item sewn with poly as it will tear along the stitching. You may want to use Dritz 100% nylon as it to is a natural fiber . Do not draw your stitches too tightly though. Be sure and use a sharp needle and not a ball point one. Silamide thread is a 2-ply waxed nylon thread. You may also use transparent nylon size .004 . I have it from both Signature A&E inc and from sew-art international (which I think I might have gotten from El)
Good luck! Quilting and sewing in general give us a lot to think about!

Mary, I just thought of something else. Some people keep their thread out and the sun hits it . That dries it out. Keep light off of it and keep it covered in a plastic box. a cardboard or hat box will draw moisture and a tin will let too much moisture accumulate the plastic shoe boxes don't seal real tight so some moisture gets out and no rust from moisture that gets in as with a tin container. I have thread that stays just fine. Always test by sewing a long piece to a multifolded scrap and then giving it a really good tug. If it doesn't break it is usable....or if it does, use it for tying up somthing or a craft project if you can not bear to throw it out.

I would try low cost solution 1st, ie wax sold in quilt stores.