A frog is a small peice of fabric that you run through your maching when you have finished a seam, but before you detach the seam from the maching. When you do this, you don't have to pull your thread out so far. I used one because it saves yards of thread over a year. I also use it beause when I was taught to sew I was told that you always leave your pressure foot in the down position and it should never be metal on metal, but should be cusioned with a small piece of fabric. I'm not sure if they teach it that way any more. After all, I was taught in the very early 60's and according to my kids, that was at least 150 years ago. Or as one of my sons said, it was rite around the time that they invented the wheel :twisted: :twisted:

It also helps keep the fabric from going down in that little hole between the feed dogs when you first start sewing...and it will help your seam be truer at the beginning. I usually keep two by the machine. One is already under the presser foot, then when I am done with a seam I run the other one right behind the last piece..clip off the first one and set it back beside the machine for the next time.

What a great tip....when I become more "at one" with my machines I'll do that! I am determined to get 1 machine made quilt out before Christmas!

I got it now:) Thanks everyone, I guess I will now have to start using a frog.

Great idea. Thanks :D

I always heard it called a spider or orphan.

http://quiltville.com/

See the quilts that Bonnie Hunter has made using that method ...

That is a great idea! Wow!! Thanks

That's a genius idea, lol! Thank you!

To the earlier questions about what a frog is: I've also found a frog useful for preventing the "bird's nest" where I start to sew and there's a nasty messy clump of thread. I hate how it looks and how I can't ever seem to fully remove it.

Well, that's certainly something new to think about. I do have "bird nest" issues on occaision.