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[Marianne G.]

I haven't tried neither Sulky, YLI nor Superior invisible threads. I had a spool of very old nylon that was very easy to melt so I dropped that into the waste paper basket and bought some Gütermann which is polyamid and so fall into the nylon category too. I can't say I like it much; my machine needs encouragement to sew nicely when threaded with this thread so was wondering if a polyester version would be easier to work with tension wise and also play nicer with the iron. The Gütermann can cope with a cool iron but I would not use it for anything that I would need to wash and iron. I am very much a cotton thread for cotton fabric and poly-whatever for man-made fabrics as well as silk for silk kind of sewer but if the polyester can cope with higher heat I would be willing to make exceptions.
Thank you to everybody for their input on this.
Marianne

[E.M. T.]

I guess the Up shot is...like lots of other things...experiment till you find the one that suits
you and your machine. I'm sorry, Rita , that you aren't able to get products there. I could send a
care package ..just let me know! Those 75/11s are" Quilting" style from Schmetz I'd say.
The numbers tell the type with different attributes according to use. I've started following Superiors'
recommendations. I used miles and miles of YLI before mono-poly....but I did have 3 with melt
issues...one came undone in the dryer ! :shock: Too much work to re-do in my book. Big Bernie
isn't fond of any of these...I use thread net and I thread thru a packing peanut..styrofoam.. adds a little
tension and removes the curl. I think I read it here.... :roll: It helps !

[Norma H.]

Rita, do you have to pay, when you get things from UK?

[Rita C.]

Actually Norma we don't have to pay taxes if we order from the UK, just the postage which can be steep too depending on the retailer. You have reminded me that there is a Superior Threads distributor in the UK....must go find the address. I ordered the Presencia thread from the UK. The thread was only £3 but the postage was £4.95!

None of us who did the workshop brought a cone stand with us because it was not in the very extensive and precise list of requirements but what Harriet had us do was to take the small cone of YLI invisible thread, put a cotton thread sock over it, put it at the back of the machine on the work surface, thread it through two safety pins stuck onto the back of the machine about 9" apart and then thread it through the usual gauges on the machine. Nobody had any tension issues during the two days....at least not with their sewing machines. :lol:

[E.M. T.]

I'm sure you're workshop was a great experience....I've used her books as a ref. for along time...always a
good help. I wonder if you can tell me more about "thread socks"? I'm familiar with netting used that way...
in various sizes(sometimes hard to find small ones)...but cloth ones? I saw some on her web site....but
really couldn't tell much about them...no real description. Do you have a photo of that thread and pin
arrangement on your machine? Piqued my interest....Maybe something will help Bernie...... :roll:

[Rita C.]

Yes, Heirloom Machine Quilting is a great reference book. I don't have the Quilters Academy books but I am sure they are great too. A thread sock is basically a cotton finger tube bandage. The cotton doesn't come off the nylon thread and the thread doesn't get stuck like it does in the plastic netting. Here's a photo of the set up we had in class. I used surgical clear tape to attach the pins as it stick really well (and it's great for making your rulers non-slip too.)

It's hard to see the thread....it's invisible. :lol:
And this is how she recommends putting the spool on a thread cone. She also suggested tightening the hook at the top of the thread cone so that the thread can't get out as easily which makes sense to me. And of course reduce the top tension.


Apparently some of the Berninas have an extra tension threader in the handle? So you might get away with just using that instead of the pins Marilyn?

Hope that helps.

[E.M. T.]

Thanks, Rita...All those things look really helpful....some I may be able to adapt and try out.. Surely
will try the bandage socks....palm hitting forehead :roll: :roll: .... why didn't I think of that?? Have it in
the cupboard ! The pin guides would work on the Viking perhaps but not on the Bernina....It takes the
thread in an all together different way. The tape is good, too. Thanks again !!

[Beverly C.]

Great information and pictures, Rita! Thank you.

[Marianne G.]

Rita,
Thank you very much for posting the photos. It is interesting how no machine seems to be able to cope with all the different threads we try without some sort of Heath Robinson device being added to the equation
I have 3 machines, 2 brands, aged 32, 19 and 7 1/2. The oldest seems to be the most tolerant - the newest the least when it comes to my thread choices. They all have front-loading bobbins. I have never been afraid to play with tensions so it's not like I want them to play nicely with all threads without helping them along. I feel really sorry for people who have been made afraid to alter the tension by dealers. There is no such thing as a default tension setting imho.
What thread did you use in the bobbin in HH's class?
Marianne

[Rita C.]

We used either Presencia 60/3 or Aurifil 50/2. I really like the Presencia. It's 100% cotton and because it is 3 ply it is very strong. Masterpiece from Superior would probably work too. She recommends a cotton thread rather than something like Bottomline (which I also like) because it is too slick. I completely agree with you about the machines. I just wish the manufacturers could make a real quilting machine: one that has needle up/down, a bigger harp space, a knee lift, straight stitch, reverse, blanket and zig zag stitch and forget about all the rest. I measured the harp space on my Singer 301 the other day and it is almost as big as the Janome Horizon. I am getting a walking foot and darning foot to try it out for FMQ and quilting. Has anybody else tried to use a treadle machine for quilting?

[Norma H.]

Rita, I get all of my thread supplies from this very well assorted online shop:
http://www.barnyarns.co.uk/

Nice to see pictures of your setup, but as Marilyn said, it will not work on the 830. Marilyn look at the MasterClass no 2 and improvise from there. http://www.exnovodesign.com/830.html. You have to scroll down to find the 8 series Video Mastery. It works in my 830. I hope to get a little time to show you exactly what I did to make it work. My grandson just had a big operation in his spine so I'm not very much at home these days. (It went well and he is back home. Has to wear a corsage (is that the word? a hard plastic thing to support his back) for the next 3 months)

So if I forget, Marilyn, you just ask me again. I hope to get more time at home next week.

[Rita C.]

Thanks Norma, I will have a look. Sorry to hear your grandson had such a major operation but glad that he is recovering well. A corsage is usually a floral display attached to a debutante's dress. Maybe you mean corset? Which is a rigid support garment?

[E.M. T.]

Thanks Norma....I will give that a look ! Hope GSs recovery goes well...Nothing like translations ! Funny...
I knew what was meant !! No hurry with info...I'm a bit preoccupied with trying to learn how to use the
new PC. GGRRRRR. :evil: :evil:

[Marianne G.]

We used either Presencia 60/3 or Aurifil 50/2. I really like the Presencia. It's 100% cotton and because it is 3 ply it is very strong. Masterpiece from Superior would probably work too. She recommends a cotton thread rather than something like Bottomline (which I also like) because it is too slick. I completely agree with you about the machines. I just wish the manufacturers could make a real quilting machine: one that has needle up/down, a bigger harp space, a knee lift, straight stitch, reverse, blanket and zig zag stitch and forget about all the rest.

I have never seen Presencia around but my LQS has just started carrying Aurifil cotton so I look forward to trying that. I have heard a lot of good things about it. I have tried quilting with Aurifil 36/2 polyester thread originally bought to ME with and that was the nices polyester thread I have ever tried.
I too have a bit of harp (and hoop) envy :mrgreen: I too would like a machine with a large harp space AND a table to set it into. Although I like decorative stitches there are just far too many on the modern machines. I would never use all of them. So if you find the machine of your dream let us know and I will see if my machine piggy-bank can come up trumps.
Marianne

[Norma H.]

Thanks Norma, I will have a look. Sorry to hear your grandson had such a major operation but glad that he is recovering well. A corsage is usually a floral display attached to a debutante's dress. Maybe you mean corset? Which is a rigid support garment?

Thanks for teaching me. I mean corset :lol: !
I post some photos from this afternoon. I have the little thing seen in the next post to put on my machine and I can't remember what it is called. Bought from some website in the USA. I hope it's possible to see how I thread it. From this part it goes into the normal eyes for threading.
Notice the tension is 0.5 and the bobbin thread is threaded for embroidery.
I tried both Bottom Line and MasterPiece in the bobbin and maybe the cotton is a bit better on holding the MonoPoly to the middle of the fabric.