Starting and Stopping

[Sherry B.]

So I've got about 100 hrs of free motion behind me on my Juki, and I can see a great improvement in quality, finally! In a class I took on free motion quilting I was taught that when I start I need to bring the bobbin thread to the top so that later I can bury the start threads inside the middle layer. And when I stop I can simply use the Juki thread cutter, no burying of threads necessary. That is what I don't understand... why bury when I start but not when I stop? Won't the stitching begin to unravel at the stopping points unless I do something about them too?

[Sherry B.]

you need to learn the machine quilters knot. It is kind of hard to explain, but I will try
When you stop, take about 3 stitches in place, then pull your work to the left, holding the thread. Then put the needle back in the same hole, while holding the thread to the left. When you raise your needle, the bobbin thread should come to the top. Then you can cut them both.
Clear as mud? check on the internet for a video or a better explination
Roni

[Sherry B.]

Thanks, Roni, that is a neato trick, and it works great. I think if I take small stiches when I start and stop then I don't need to bury the threads, right, just cut them from the top?

Debbie

[Eileen K.]

You can do it this way but I had a judge in a show tell me I should bury threads for show quilts. When I'm doing an edge to edge on a customer's quilt, I start and stop at the edge where the binding is going to cover and secure it.
Eileen K in NY

[Liberata T.]

There was a TQS episode in which Ricky demonstrated the machine quilter's knot. I saw it recently but I'm doing catch up on both series. Now I can't remember which episode that was. Does anybody remember?

I need to see it again because it didn't work well for me when I tried it for myself.

[Liberata T.]

There was a TQS episode in which Ricky demonstrated the machine quilter's knot. I saw it recently but I'm doing catch up on both series. Now I can't remember which episode that was. Does anybody remember?

I need to see it again because it didn't work well for me when I tried it for myself.

Sometimes the knot does not work dependig on the thread. If you are using a slippery one like rayon, you will need to tie off and bury the knot the old fashioned way. I still bring my thread up like Ricky demonstrates, I just make sure to have longer tails to tie off and bury. I wish I remembered which show it was too as Ricky did tell about not all threads working for this technique.
TTFN & Happy Quilting

[Judy M.]

It would really be nice if TQS had an Index so we could find where we saw certain tips.

[Liberata T.]

Yeah to an index. I am always trying to remember which episode contained tips from Ricky or Alex. Since I am doing catch-up, the episode details get muddled in my memory.

[Frances L.]

It was in the early 200s. Probably the first two or three. I remember seeing it when I was starting out watching episodes.
Frances

[Eileen K.]

Judy and Libbi,
Make your suggestions to the web guru. I think an index would be wonderful!!
eileenkny