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Tuesday 4 January 2011

Tips on Tuesdays! -> Thread

Tips on Tuesdays will be a regular thing here from now on.  Here is the first one of the year!


Here's how it works.  I post a couple tips on the topic of the day, and you add yours in the comments.  If you are a blogger, go ahead and grab the big red button in my left sidebar.  Or you can just leave a comment below like everyone else, but be sure to leave the name of your blog so we can come visit you too.   Let the sharing circle begin!

* * * Thread Troubles? * * *


Tip #1.  Do you find it difficult to get a new thread through the bobbin hole?  It's such a weird angle to send a thread through.  I miss.  Or the thread falls out before I can grab it.  Eureka - use a needle threader!  Alternately, if you have small children, give each a thread & bobbin and explain where the thread needs to go.  It has the same effect as a Chinese puzzle. 

Tips #2.  To avoid tangled thread when sewing the binding on by hand, just run your thread once over some beeswax.  It really works!  I use thread lengths up to a meter and a half (nearly 2 yards) when I attach binding and I rarely get tangles & snags.  If I do get a tangle, they seem easy to loosen out.  You can do a half dozen stitches before I pull the whole thread through.  This saves a lot of time and madness.  You can buy thread conditioner, or be green like me and just melt down beeswax or use a beeswax tea light as is.  Keep it in a ziploc as they do seem to dry out.  And they smell DIVINE.  ; )


There's my two tips!  Easy.  I can't wait to read yours!  Leave as many thread related tips as you like. !Warning!: don't assume that everyone knows the tip already.  Take a chance and leave a tip anyhow.  It's the leave-a-penny, take-a-penny concept. 

Enjoy!
~Monika 

10 comments:

Flo @ Butterfly Quilting said...

Great tips! Where do you get those little beeswax stars? They are perfect ! Do you make them? I see your initals on the label. If so do you sell them?? OK enough of the 20 questions.

Glad you are feeling better and back in blogland again ! I have to confess ....I have been so inspired by your blog (and others too) that I started one too !! From a beginner quilter and frustrated PhD student perpective !! LOL

I dont have nearly your experience, but I did leave a few tidbits there of things I have learned.

My thread tip: the little clear plastic boxes that "Ferrero Rocher" chocolates come are a perfect size to store thread in. And you can see through them to find the color you are looking for.

Christie describeHappy said...

Great tips and I am really learning something with that beeswax one. I am always getting tangled!

Let's see... when you are quilting fill up several bobbins of thread before you start, so it's easier to keep on going in between bobbins.

And don't be afraid to use bright or contrast thread in your projects... the color pop can be a lot of fun!

Grandma Coco said...

Love your beeswax stars! So pretty. Let's see. Do I have a tip? Well, someone told me a long time ago to pay attention to the twist of the thread. She said it would keep the thread from tangling if you pulled it through the fabric in the same direction it comes off the spool. So, you thread the needle first, cut the thread and knot the end you just cut.

Anonymous said...

Hi Monika. Happy to hear that you are recovering from your ordeal. My tip is to keep machine embroidery thread for unwinding when stored. I use a product called Marathon Tape. It come on a 50 foot roll. It's not sticky but does cling to itself. A 5 inch piece will wrap nicely around a full spool. When you want to use your thread just slide the tape off and then back on again when you're done. I bought mine at Creative House on Avenue I. Love your idea for sharing tips :)
Joyce

Gailanne said...

Happy to have you back Monika, and I love the star beeswax too! Where would I get something like that?

The only thing I can think of to share about thread is...I'm on the lookout for a needle threader, I hear they're a JEWEL!

Patti said...

Glad you're feeling better Monika! That was a bit scarey!
My tip is for metallic thread on the machine - it's worth buying the metallic needles as they have a deeper scarf (indent up the shaft where the thread can nest) so that the thread won't fray after repeated trips through the fabric.
ps. to Gailanne - Clover makes an awesome double-ended needle threader for hand sewing and they also make a good one for use on a sewing machine if you don't have one built in.

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

Oooh! Keep the tips coming on the subject. This is awesome!
Yup I made the stars. I melted it in a pan I used to make candles in, and then poured it into a silicone mold. I used the turkey baster for that, and wrecked it. : ) You can buy "thread conditioner" at quilt stores.
Wrapping the thread! All my rayons I use for landscapes just unravel all by themselves. Thank you Joyce!
Thread direction - yes I've heard that but have not tried it. I will pay attention next time I bind a quilt. Thank you Grandma Coco : )
Thanks Flo for storage tips (does this mean I get to go buy MORE chocolate? : ), and Christine - smart and creative as always. : )

Oooh! I have another thread tip. When you run out, and go to buy more, bring a sample!!! You might think you really know the color until you are standing there starting at 40 shades of that blue. : )

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

Oh and Patti - Thank you! Yes, good to know WHY you need the right needle for the type of thread. : ) Important to know.

Add here if you think of things in the future. You can always come back to these posts. They all get tagged "Tips on Tuesdays" and the topic of the week will be in the title.

Becky said...

Great tips! My only tip, that I just learned, is that there are different "weights" of thread, and you need to pay attention to what you're buying... (learned that the hard way). Also, you never want to have to have thread used to sew your body back together ;-)... But it works if you need it.

Poppyprint said...

I've got a fabric-saving tip over here http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com/2011/01/two-fer.html for your snowball and flying geese corners. It's a Twofer!

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