Machine Applique with Kim Diehl

[Dawn L.]

I really enjoyed this show. I loved Kim's technique and would like to try it, but I have a question. She doesn't address "tying off" the thread? I'm not familiar with the mono/poly thread. Would it be slippery? Would it be best to machine backstitch, or would tying off by hand be better? Thoughts?

[Nancy R.]

I haven't used monopoly much, but I've tied it off when I have. I've not seen any of it come up. I figure, I usually quilt around my shapes so that will help secure the threads. And even if I don't quilt over the threads, they are still sandwiched next to the batting so that should help to keep them out of trouble.

[Nancy R.]

Thanks, Nancy. I would rather tie them off; I think it would look better. Now I just need to remember to keep the thread tails long!

[Rita C.]

Might I make an alternative suggestion? At the beginning bring your stitch length down to almost zero, stitch about 10 teeny tiny stitches, bring it back up to the size you want and then do the same at the other end. If you use a 70/10 needle it just won't show at all. This is what Ms. Hargrave recommends and it definitely works. If you have a computerized machine you should be able to build it into the beginning and end of the stitch. If you don't, like me at the moment, then just turn the dial down to a buttonhole stitch at the beginning and end. That's my tuppence worth.

[Rita C.]

Thanks, Rita. I will try that, too. I do have a computerized machine so it would be simple to do.

[Margo C.]

Like Rita, I also start and end each line of stitching with teeny-tiny stitches to secure them.
Unless it's a quilt that will be examined closely by a judge, I personally think that life is too short to spend it tying and burying thread tails a bazillion times on a quilt!

Just my humble opinion here! :wink: :roll:

[Susan B.]

Like Rita's and Margo's response! After burying a hundred or two knots on 2013 bom, I finally got smart and am now enjoying life :lol:

[E.M. T.]

Ditto, Ditto, Ditto !

[E.M. T.]

I also start & stop with small stitches (but sometimes I forget) then I do sew them in, which is so much easier with one of the spiral needles (Thank you so much TQS friends, who have sent me some!) Never bothered with tying them though.

[Nancy R.]

I used to use small stitches, but now I pull threads to the back and tie them. I use too many threads that will unravel a slight bit at the cut end, and that little bit of raveling really bothers me. I use a spiral eye needle and really don't find that it takes me much extra time. I do the same when quilting. For me, it's neater and make me happier. And it's all about whatever makes you happy!

[Margo C.]

You've got that right, Nancy!! You GO, girl!!

[Jill B.]

For a computerized machine what I do is make my zigzag stitch tiny then click back onto the standard/normal/straight stitch and start sewing, then when I want to end I just click on the zigzag button and it will automaticly go back to the small one I did, the zigzag stitch will continue to go back until you turn your machine off or change the zigzag stitch.