Hand quilting problem with thread !
#1
Hand quilting problem with thread !
Ok ladies I really would appreciate your help. Lately when I buy Hand quilting thread it is awful. It fray's and it breaks as soon as you pull your needle through the fabric. My fabric is all cotton. Is there a good place to buy thread? It is so frustrating when you start a project and then you have to replace the thread and then if you are lucky enough to find the color that you need. Thank you for any advice.
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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What brand are you buying? Good hand quilting thread is glazed and kind of stiff, made not to fray or break as easily as regular thread. If I remember correctly, JoAnn's carries Gutterman hand quilting thread, which is a good brand, but there are other good brands out there as well. Does your spool actually say "hand quilting" on it?
#4
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,585
Prism99, have you used Gutermann thread for hand quilting, and if so, did you have any problems? I recently used it to hand-sew a binding, and had so much trouble with it that I invented a few new swear words and promised myself I'd go back to Bottom Line and never stray again. I'm wondering if it was just me? Or is hand-sewing binding so different from hand-quilting that it made that big of a difference? (I'm not a hand-quilter.) Maybe I got a different kind of Gutermann?
#5
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I haven't hand quilted in several years. Back when I did, though, Gutermann was a great brand and never caused any problems. I liked it because it never tangled and caused a knot while hand quilting, the way regular thread did for me. Maybe it has changed since then?
I never used hand quilting thread for sewing on a binding, though. The stiffness of the glazing would have driven me crazy. Seems to me a flexible thread would work better for bindings because of the different motions involved. The glazing and stiffness of hand quilting thread is a real plus when going in-and-out for hand quilting stitches; binding requires thread that can curve a lot easier (to my mind, anyway).
I never used hand quilting thread for sewing on a binding, though. The stiffness of the glazing would have driven me crazy. Seems to me a flexible thread would work better for bindings because of the different motions involved. The glazing and stiffness of hand quilting thread is a real plus when going in-and-out for hand quilting stitches; binding requires thread that can curve a lot easier (to my mind, anyway).
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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Peckish, I'm wondering why you chose to use a hand quilting thread to sew on a binding. Hand quilting thread is thick and heavy, and intended for quilting the three layers together. Usually on a binding the quilter tries to make the hand stitches invisible, something which would be made more difficult with such a heavy thread.
#7
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
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I chose it because I'm an idiot. Lol. It was a rush job, the binding was a very vivid teal and I had no Bottom Line anywhere close to that color. So I grabbed the Gutermann. As I said, I'm not a hand quilter, so I wasn't aware it was a hand-quilting thread, but I'd heard other quilters say good things about it, so I picked it over the C&C. Boy, was I sorry. It wound and tangled, and when I applied Thread Heaven it got worse.
Thanks for the info, now I know better!
Thanks for the info, now I know better!
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
I have a feeling the needle you were/are using may be the culprit. I use Gutterman, Coats & Clark, Americana. Probably my least favorite is Coats & Clark but even that is okay most of the time. All are specifically labeled 'hand quilting' thread. It does make a difference. I, too, treat my thread with Thread Heaven while quilting. I have had some minor issues with shredding on occasion. Find that it's usually the eye of my needle causing the problem.
I have also very successfully used hand quilting thread to sew down the binding as well. I think my stitches are about as close to invisible as possible. Honestly haven't noticed much of a difference between using the hand quilting or general sewing thread for that purpose. All depends on color and what's handy for me.
I have also very successfully used hand quilting thread to sew down the binding as well. I think my stitches are about as close to invisible as possible. Honestly haven't noticed much of a difference between using the hand quilting or general sewing thread for that purpose. All depends on color and what's handy for me.
#9
I use YLI hand quilting thread. It's glazed and quilts very nicely. I buy it online at Red Rock Threads or at Uncommon Threads - if you google them you'll find the website, and some quilt shops carry it, too.
The only times I have had trouble with breaking and fraying was when I used machine quilting thread. I also had a spool of Coats and Clark that had slubs and thin spots.
Janet
The only times I have had trouble with breaking and fraying was when I used machine quilting thread. I also had a spool of Coats and Clark that had slubs and thin spots.
Janet
#10
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
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make sure the needle you are using is the correct size/type for the thread you are using- treat with thread heaven or bees wax, and check the label ensuring it does in fact say 'hand quilting' on it- most thread companies carry a vast assortment of threads- just because it says Gutterman on the label does not necessarily mean it's for hand quilting-
cut your lengths about 18", with longer lengths you often spend more time untangling than actually stitching--the longer the length the more (wear) on the thread- the sooner you will have problems- breaking, fraying, tangling
cut your lengths about 18", with longer lengths you often spend more time untangling than actually stitching--the longer the length the more (wear) on the thread- the sooner you will have problems- breaking, fraying, tangling
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