Metallic thread.
#1
I guess this is really directed at the Long arm owners.
I'm trying to embellish and I've run into breakage. This was not unexpected but before I start playing with the tension on my machine, has anyone had experience.
I'm using a premium embroidery thread from Brother. Cotton in the bobbin. Considering the speed at which embroidery machines operate I assumed I could quilt with it. Any insight?
Thanks
MaryKatherine
I'm trying to embellish and I've run into breakage. This was not unexpected but before I start playing with the tension on my machine, has anyone had experience.
I'm using a premium embroidery thread from Brother. Cotton in the bobbin. Considering the speed at which embroidery machines operate I assumed I could quilt with it. Any insight?
Thanks
MaryKatherine
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Milton DE
Posts: 3,189
I have tried on numerous occasion to use it in my embroidery machine...too no real success...For short bits OK but anything long and involved breakage...So I mainly only do accents nothing too involved...I've tried all recommendations which is have the spool standing upward, of course mettalic needle to no avail...
#5
I have done several quilts with gold metallic thread and everytime I swear it will be the last! The last time I was doing a quilt at Christmas (7,000 ft. of gold metallic thread) about a quarter of the way through I was ready to pull my hair out. Hubby came to the rescue (again) and said, "there must be something that will let the thread flow smoothly." I told him I had seen a product called Sewer's Aid but didn't know what it was. So we looked it up on the internet and it's silicone!
So he went to his shop and got me a spray can of silicone...which will not hurt the thread or the fabric...and I sprayed the bobbin AND the thread spool! I used the biggest needle I had (18) and cotton thread in the bobbin, and WOOHOO it worked! I sprayed the bobbin heavily every time I changed it, as well as kept the thread spool sprayed, and I still had some breakage but not nearly as much as before nor as frustrating.
I have not used other colors of metallic thread, but I can't imagine it wouldn't work on them as well. I haven't confirmed it, but I understand that the quilter that won Best of Show at Houston this year, Sharon Schamber, uses silicone by the "bucket." Good Luck!
So he went to his shop and got me a spray can of silicone...which will not hurt the thread or the fabric...and I sprayed the bobbin AND the thread spool! I used the biggest needle I had (18) and cotton thread in the bobbin, and WOOHOO it worked! I sprayed the bobbin heavily every time I changed it, as well as kept the thread spool sprayed, and I still had some breakage but not nearly as much as before nor as frustrating.
I have not used other colors of metallic thread, but I can't imagine it wouldn't work on them as well. I haven't confirmed it, but I understand that the quilter that won Best of Show at Houston this year, Sharon Schamber, uses silicone by the "bucket." Good Luck!
#6
Someone on another board suggested I skip the last thread guide before the needle. I had heard of that before. That plus backing off the tension seems to have done the trick!
Thanks for all your suggestions.
Mary Katherine
Thanks for all your suggestions.
Mary Katherine
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