Bostons

Thank you! All the wonderful support has really warmed my heart. I guess some people just enjoy raining on others' parades. I still love my machine. :)

aardvarq

The only thing that comes to mind for me is the way thread is wound on the spool. I can't remember the names but the one is wound parallel along, like our bobbins wind, the other is lapped over like the threads in a skeen of wool, sort of herring bone texture-ish. Does that help?
Aardie.

quiltmom04

Sometimes threads go through the machine better when they feed from the spool from one side. But this only requires turning the spool around on the spool pin. I have found that cheap (several for $1) threads are harder to work with as they are irregular in diameter. If you look closely at a thread - sometimes you can even feel it - you can see that it will vary in width. It might be very slight, but it does affect the way you machine works. be sure to get good quality thread.

pflum1

I hope this helps to explain the twist, it's a term that was used when spinning wheel did yarn and has been carried over in todays thread.
Also, if you get knots in your quilting thread, you can do one of 2 things. First, after you thread the needle, run the needle and thread through a Bounce drier sheet.
Second, this works better for embroidery thread, but can be used on quilt thread. Have a damp sponge, wrap it around the thread and drag it down the thread just before you are ready to use it.
The direction in which the yarn is spun is called twist. Yarns are characterized as S-twist or Z-twist according to the direction of spinning. Tightness of twist is measured in TPI (twists per inch or turns per inch).

Two or more spun yarns may be twisted together or plied to form a thicker yarn (this is todays serger thread). Generally, handspun single plies are spun with a Z-twist (left), and plying is done with an S-twist.

New Quilter

Hi...Sorry I don't have an answer for you either... :roll: ...I love to buy, inherit, etc. sewing machines(I have 4...only brand name is Singer on 2)...I hope to get an older Singer Touch & Sew II soon for only $5!!! It doesn't have the power cord/foot pedal, but for me, it's getting the machine, cleaning, oiling, etc., and the thrill of the hunt for any missing parts..who cares about the brand? If it sews what you want to sew, and pleases you, don't worry about the "brand-name snob"... :thumbup: You could always use something I read in another thread yesterday...there were 2 really good comebacks to use:
People can only put you down if you let them. If it should happen again just look the woman in the eye and say something like, "I've heard that menopause can sometimes make a woman really nasty and hateful, I guess it's true."
Or, "I'm sorry, did I inadvertantly convey the impression that you had the right to be snotty to me?" Don't ever let anyone make you feel less than what you are.
Naomi Judd once said, "Every woman should feel like a princess because we're all daughters of the most High King."...Have a great sewing/quilting day!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

litacats

congrats on your new machine, I am so happy with mine, it doesn't matter what brand you have if you are happy with it that is the main thing, have fun with it and show everyone what you have made with your new machine, YAY GO FOR IT GIRL

pflum1

Another great site for thread information is:
superiorthreads.com
They had education section and ask Bob. This guy has the answers for any question I have seen.

patdesign

HI, not sure what left twist thread is either, but if your thread keeps knotting up at the eye of the needle and shredding it is the size of the needle being wrong for the size of the thread. There are charts that list thread size and compatible needle eye size. The other problem I have had with knotting thread is either bobbin reeling off in the wrong direction, or tension mis adjustment. I teach sewing classes and these are the most common of mistakes, so check there first. Sorry I didn't see your first posting (don't think I did anyway) but I personally never met a machine I couldn't love, though some are easier to to use than others. Good luck on your purchase!

Twilliebee

Found a few things:

This link is to a clear and informative article about left and right twist:

http://www.funfun-japan.com/index.php?S%20or%20Z%3F

This is a quote from another article:

'Thread is twisted to the left or twisted to the right, depending on its use. Left-twist thread is always used in the sewing machine because the action of the stitch-forming mechanism tends to ravel or break right-twist thread. Left- or right- twist thread may be used for hand sewing. The terms that designate left-twist threads are machine, machine twist, left twist, and Z twist. A cord or thread has left (or Z) twist if, when held in a vertical position, the twist of the yarn follows the slope of the central portion of the letter Z'

Looks like worst case scenario is if you use right twist thread in a sewing machine, it will likely break or ravel.

Hope this helps. I learned plenty LOL!

Baloonatic

I'm sure she must have had a bad morning after sucking all her points into her cover plate! Either that or she accidentally wandered in from the Crabby Telephone Operators' site or B*tches Anonymous!
Regarding whatever machine you just bought, does it do what you want? Do you like it? 'Nuff said