Month 4 question

[Beverly C.]

AND they have a lifetime warranty! I had a pair that I had used for years that broke and Fiskars replaced them - no problems at all in the replacement. And they were very prompt. Bev

[Susan B.]

Ordered from Amazon, they should be here by the weekend. Yeah!

[Susan B.]

My Charlotte's fusible thread came today & I tried a flower from scrap fabrics to see how it would react to both a batik and a more loosely woven fabric. I have to say, that there are a few pokies here and there, tiny ones. Back when Sue Nickels did her first show and we got a free project, I did the applique her way. Although that project didn't get washed, there really were no pokies at all. I'm probably going to try another sample following the directions as written. With the Charlotte's fusible thread, we still have to carefully stitch on all the lines, then carefully cut. It wasn't as fast for me as the one gigantic heart on the Youtube promotional video.

The first thing I had to figure out was how to wind a bobbin with this thread. My bobbin winder (on my Bernina) did not like it at all. I ended up just holding the thread in the bobbin winder with two fingers; four tries and I got it.

I didn't use a stablizer. With the starch, it doesn't appear to me like it needs stabilizer. After the first layer of the flower, we are stitching through a couple of layers.

Margo, did you cut out any of the background fabrics?

[Susan B.]

Actually, most of my pokies with the CF Thread are from my lousy stitching, dark thread against a light background. Maybe it's not so bad after all! I just rinsed the sample and it's nice and soft.

Are we really going to wash this quilt???

[Margo C.]

Margo, did you cut out any of the background fabrics?

No, I tend to prefer texture rather than flat applique, and I have added Stable Stuff to every layer to provide some puff, so my layers are very thick, but they will not be stiff after my quilt is washed. I think that the extra weight of the applique layers will be balanced with the weight of all the piecing in the sashing and arcs, so I'm OK with it.

And yes!! I will definitely wash my quilt after it is bound to get rid of all the starch and glue that I have added.
My quilt is intended to be used and laundered!

[Margo C.]

small question margo,
when you use monofilm thread on the top, what do you use in the bobin?

[Margo C.]

small question margo,
when you use monofilm thread on the top, what do you use in the bobin?

Becky, I use any fine thread (50 or 60 weight, like MasterPiece or Aurifil) in the bobbin in a color that matches the applique shape. The MonoPoly is very slick, so I like to use the teeny-tiny stitches to secure the ends at both the beginning and the end. A cotton thread will "grab" the MonoPoly better than a slick one like Sew Fine, but I will use about anything that is a color match if it's not too thick.

I also select my bobbin thread more for VALUE than for color. For instance if my applique is a very light blue, I would use a white thread rather than a dark blue.

[Constance G.]

I just placed an order for Aurifil 50 wt thread for the appliques. Since I'm not sure which of the fabrics we'll be using by the time we finish the borders, I ordered thread to match all the fabrics in the kit. I have a "real thread" card for Aurifil, so these matches should be reliable.

#5006 "aquabee" for the lt turq solid
#2810 "turquoise" for the dk turq solid
#1154 "orange" for the orange solid
#2870 "green" for the green solid
#2140 "autumn gold" for the yel/orange leaves
#2865 "green work" for the grn/lt grn leaves
#5005 "scarab" for the turq/lt turq fronds
#4026 "dark green" for the dk grn swirls
#5002 "atom red" for the red/orange swirls
#2892 "ivy" for the dk/lt green circles
#2260 "bright red work" for the red dots
#2810 "turquoise' for the turq dots

[Constance G.]

See above post. I will admit that I am OCD about my color choices, and it is possible that someone more sane could use some of these thread colors as a match for more than one fabric. At least it will give you a jumping-off point. Also, my color choice was somewhat arbitrary when it came to the fabrics with both light and dark elements in them. Hope this helps! :shock:

[Margo C.]

Thanks Connie!!

[Susan B.]

Connie made me grin. That's a serious addition to a thread stash! I ordered 40 wt Aurifil from RedRocks today on a wing and a prayer based on the Internet thread chart. Can't wait to see them, although I didn't do as much damage to my credit card as Connie did :lol: :lol:

I went back to Sue Nickel's way of raw edge instead of the Charlotte's Fusible Thread. IMHO, it's just a cleaner edge, easier on my hands, and faster.

[Susan B.]

thanks margo

[JANE T.]

Margo, is there much difference between Ricky's Stable Stuff and the interfacing Sharon Schamber uses? They are both used for their applique. I have Sharon's on hand, but not Ricky's.

[Margo C.]

I have used them both, and consider them interchangeable. Sharon's is $22.50 USD for 5 yards. Ricky's is $9.98 USD for 3 yards.

[JANE T.]

Thanks Margo. I have some of Ricky's in FL, but only have Sharon's in KY. When I need more I will know what source to use!