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How to Quilt>Quilting Thread
Thread for Quilts
Many of us quilters inherit fabrics from a previous generation. It seems that any time a family member has fabric they want to eliminate, we are the first people called. Because of that, many of us have learned to distinguish good fabric from bad. Sometimes really old fabric, although vintage and cool, can rot and be worthless. We all know to look for that. But what about threads? Bob Purcell, president of Superior Threads, says he would not use an old thread in any of today’s quilting projects. Threads from generations ago just are not made as well as today’s modern threads, he says. “The thread that they were making 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago didn’t have the raw material quality or the processing technique near what we have today,” he explained. Don’t chuck those old threads in the garbage though. You can still appreciate the beauty and the novelty of the spools, especially if you are lucky enough to come across some old wooden spools. Put them in a bowl and use them for decoration in your sewing room or place them in a shadow box on the wall. Purcell has different expectations from any thread we buy today and pass down to our next generation, however. “These days a good quality thread made today, whether it’s cotton or poly of course, can last for hundreds of years,” he said. The difference between today’s threads and the spools from yesteryear are the raw materials and processing we use today. Are threads in danger of drying out over the years? Bob says that threads do dry out slightly, but not to the point of becoming brittle and breaking. If you have ever heard that storing your thread in the refrigerator or freezer will rehydrate it, Bob says not to do it. You will put the thread at risk of freezer burn or freezer rot. If you are using a good quality thread but still getting some breaks, Bob suggests checking the needle size and the tension. Bob says most machines come out of the factory with tension levels set about mid-range, around 6 (with 10 being the tightest and 1 being the loosest). Most of the machines he works with, the tension is decreased to about 2-3 on average, he said. If you have adjusted the tension to loosen it a little and are still getting frequent breaks, Bob says to check the needle size. Sometimes increasing the size of the needle will eliminate the problem. If metallic thread is causing you headaches in your sewing machine, Bob suggests checking the needle and loosening the tension. “If I put a metallic thread on any brand machine the first thing we do is make sure we have that size 90 needle either Topstitch or metallic needle and we drop the tension all the way to a 1 (the loosest setting),” he said. And regarding the issue of pre-wound vs. wind it yourself bobbins, Bob says the pre-wound are a great convenience. “If the thread in them is good, they are the most, they’re the best convenience you’ll ever discover,” he said. To learn more about Superior Threads, visit the company’s website at www.superiorthreads.com. If you click on the “Education” button, you will find a list of valuable resources regarding thread and needle issues, machine tension, and other important trouble shooting (and more!) information. The company also offers a free newsletter you can sign up for to stay abreast of the latest colors and technology that Superior Threads develops!
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com
©2010, Penny Halgren This article courtesy of http://www.How-To-Quilt.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.
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