Why not use the same thread in the bobbin?
#12
For those that say you use the same thread top and bottom, is it heavy thread - like the 28 wt I'm planning on using? I know it's weird to want such prominent quilting, but I don't see the point otherwise. I use contrasting thread too. Mistakes, whatever.
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,148
Always test you FMQ on same fabric as quilt and with thread you want to use. Some machines like certain thread better than others so same on top and bottom should work better. I often use poly thread for FMQ due to the variety of colors. A contrasting thread for quilting should show up even it it not a heavy weight. Tension issues usually can be adjusted. I tried SID with clear on top and black on bottom and could not get tension right so black bobbin was not showing on top. I changed bobbin thread. Also "eyelash stitching" on bottom is not ususally caused by tension but by speed of FMQ. Small "eyelashs" should go away with washing or use but larger ones need to be removed and restitched.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,148
Originally Posted by CompulsiveQuilter
For those that say you use the same thread top and bottom, is it heavy thread - like the 28 wt I'm planning on using? I know it's weird to want such prominent quilting, but I don't see the point otherwise. I use contrasting thread too. Mistakes, whatever.
#15
I only use cotton thread. Right now I'm quilting a quilt with 28 in the top and 50 on the bottom. Mainly because I don't have enough of the 28 for both top and bottom. You can actually use a whole lot heavier thread in the bobbin than you can on top. You can use threads in the bobbin that won't even go thru the top! It's called bobbin work.
People that say "my machine only likes this or that" are really saying they don't know how to adjust both top and bottom tensions to get a balanced stitch. It's only a machine, it can't tell one thing from another.
People that say "my machine only likes this or that" are really saying they don't know how to adjust both top and bottom tensions to get a balanced stitch. It's only a machine, it can't tell one thing from another.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 547
The truth is that you can use whatever you want, wherever you want. Your quilt, your way.
Many longarmers in business will use something such as BottomLine, SoFine, or another thinner thread or prewound bobbins to save money/time (time is money). Most longarmers like to use a blending color to the top thread, so that pokies, tensions issues, etc. don't show. One other thing, if using something expensive like KingTut on the top, it costs twice as much as necessary in thread costs than if you use something more economical such as BottomLine on the bottom - so that's another reason longarmers frequently use a different thread on the bottom.
Me, I like my bottom thread to match my backing - I think it looks so much better than multiple colors on the backing. So, I use whatever I want on top and match my bottom thread to the quilt backing. (I don't have tension issues.) It's all a personal preference, so you can do whatever you like. That's what I do!
Just FYI...and my knowledge/opinions :)
Debbie in Austin
Many longarmers in business will use something such as BottomLine, SoFine, or another thinner thread or prewound bobbins to save money/time (time is money). Most longarmers like to use a blending color to the top thread, so that pokies, tensions issues, etc. don't show. One other thing, if using something expensive like KingTut on the top, it costs twice as much as necessary in thread costs than if you use something more economical such as BottomLine on the bottom - so that's another reason longarmers frequently use a different thread on the bottom.
Me, I like my bottom thread to match my backing - I think it looks so much better than multiple colors on the backing. So, I use whatever I want on top and match my bottom thread to the quilt backing. (I don't have tension issues.) It's all a personal preference, so you can do whatever you like. That's what I do!
Just FYI...and my knowledge/opinions :)
Debbie in Austin
#20
Originally Posted by CompulsiveQuilter
For those that say you use the same thread top and bottom, is it heavy thread - like the 28 wt I'm planning on using? I know it's weird to want such prominent quilting, but I don't see the point otherwise. I use contrasting thread too. Mistakes, whatever.
As for using whatever, that won't work for me. I was convinced my machine was a lemon when using Coats poly wrapped cotton. LQS told me to switch to a good cotton thread for all uses, and now my machine is perfect.
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