pamipatch

hi everyone...this subject may have already been covered but ive searched and searched the site and found random references without an actual thread with the answers im looking for...sorry...

im in australia and have just purchased an Avante...dealers are few and far between and dont seem to be terribly knowledgable so ive spent my fair share of trolling the net in search of answers...lets just say the instructions and video that comes with the machine leave alot to be desired, we're working it out slowly...

the question i havent ben able to get an answer about it thread...when the machine was demonstrated to me the thread being used was on a cone, im pretty sure it was superior brand..at that time they sold it on cones and also on prewound bobbins..of course now that i have my nachine set up they have decided not to stock it anymore as they sell so few machines..so the search was on and i soon discovered no one sells te cones unless you buy them online..the postage makes the final price ridiculous..

one lady i metshop told me she uses the large spools of Rasant on the cone pin, she doesnt have the front top spool pin either (why wasnt that included with the machine??)..but im wondering if this would affect the tension as arent spool holders for spools??

mcwillia

Do you have access to serger thread on cones? I often use serger thread on my Avante when I want the quilting stitches to not stand out. Embroidery thread comes on cones and works up nicely for quilting designs. As for the tension, each variety of thread and sometimes each cone needs to be tweaked until it looks right to you. Don't be afraid to play with the tension dial and be sure to move that dial at least a quarter to half turn as you are adjusting. Take a look at the tension guide with the three holes. There is no requirement to use all three holes - if I'm using metallic I only use one hole in order to reduce the drag on the metallic. Use whatever thread you can get your hands on and experiment. Superior is a very nice thread but there are lots of threads that work just fine on the Avante. I've used industrial sewing thread, bobbin thread, poly & rayon embroidery, and serger thread without an issue. Once you convince yourself that you won't break anything if you play with the tension knob, there is a world of thread waiting for you to try.

pamipatch

thankyou mcwillia!!!..

you've just given me the piece of info that i desperately needed and couldn't find - any thread will work!!..the machine dealers seem to want to give me the impression you can ONLY use certain threads, and while im happy to play with the tension they pretty much told me outright i'd 'damage something'...not something you want to do with such an expensive machine!!..stumped why good qualitty serger thread would be an issue, or any good quality thread..and the most frustrating thing was none of them sold the stufrf they were saying i had to use anyway!!!..

thanks again, im off to experiment!! :-)

jeank

This is the greatest video put out by Handi-Quilter. It lets you know the different types of thread to use and how to balance with the correct needle size. You can use just about any thread if the needle,thread and tension are adjusted. Some threads are more "linty", so clean the bobbin area often.

http://www.handiquilter.com/videos/?id=188

katkat1946

WOW - thanks for this link - I have an HQ and totally missed this video. You are right, it's great!

chezza10

Hi All
im another Aussie Avante owner. Love my machine. I've found the most success using Gutermann 100% cotton. I am a bit of a purist with the all cotton thing, but my machine seems to work well with that top and bobbin. Sourcing 3000 m cones is a whole other thing. Previously I've purchased from the US but with the AUD and freight I'm now looking within Australia. I understand Birch Habi are the wholesaler here. I'm investigating getting a wholesale account because the cost of 800 m spools retail is crazy.