Thread tails
#1
Thread tails
I'm writing to ask a question of those whose sewing machines have tie-off and thread snip options. My Pfaff 5.0 has both. Currently I'm working on appliqueing pieces to a quilt top using a tiny zigzag stitch (1.5 wide, 1.5-2.0 long depending upon size of piece). I'm using dark threads as the applique pieces are dark but the background is light, The thread snip feature on my machine leaves tails about an 1" long. I don't want the tails to shadow through the background fabric but I also don't want to trim them too short so that the tie-off comes undone.
When you use this feature do you trim the thread tails or leave them as is? If you trim them, how long do you leave the tails? Or do you trim down to the knot?
Thanks in advance for your time and attention to my questions.
When you use this feature do you trim the thread tails or leave them as is? If you trim them, how long do you leave the tails? Or do you trim down to the knot?
Thanks in advance for your time and attention to my questions.
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 3,255
I just got a Pfaff 4.2 with the same feature but haven't done much with it yet, so I'm interested in any responses, too. So are you using the tie-off feature with the thread snip option? And if so, doesn't the tie-off part act as a "knot" also? I do like to do machine applique so hopefully it does.
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,539
When top stitching with dark thread around appliques on light background fabric, I leave my thread tail long, pull to the back, knot and use an easy thread needle to run the thread ends along the back stitching about an inch and trim the extra off. This eliminates any chance of the threads coming undone or showing in the background.
#5
I just got a Pfaff 4.2 with the same feature but haven't done much with it yet, so I'm interested in any responses, too. So are you using the tie-off feature with the thread snip option? And if so, doesn't the tie-off part act as a "knot" also? I do like to do machine applique so hopefully it does.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
You might want to try those self-threading needles, the ones with the slot on the top.
Put your needle in (without any thread in it) right at the base of the thread to be tied off, make it come out more than an inch away (without going all the way through the quilt and showing on the other side). Then snap the short thread into the needle eye and pull it through. The thread will go into the quilt and not be long enough to come out the other end.
Put your needle in (without any thread in it) right at the base of the thread to be tied off, make it come out more than an inch away (without going all the way through the quilt and showing on the other side). Then snap the short thread into the needle eye and pull it through. The thread will go into the quilt and not be long enough to come out the other end.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
Sew yourself a sampler with a variety of knot options, and throw it into your regular laundry over and over and over again, to see how it wears. If it makes it through a couple month's worth of regular laundering I think that's a good sign it's a reliable knot.
#8
I took a class where they had us use fabric glue to glue the thread tails to the back of the appliqué. So far, they have stayed in place through several washings. I was afraid after washing that the tails would move around and be visible in the light background sections, but so far that hasn't happened.
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