Quilting Thread

I always seemed to mix up my cotton bobbins with my poly bobbins with my embroidery bobbins. Now I use colored dot stickers. Cotton bobbins have one color, poly another and so on. The best part about using the stickers rather than a permanant marker is I can always remove the sticker and replace it with another color if nessesary.

When I make a quilt, I always hand quilt my quilt tops.  I learned years ago that I have a desire to work non-stop for two or three hours at a time, not realizing how cramped my muscles were until I would stand up at the end.  It's so easy to lose track of time when quilting.  I came up with a timing method that works for me.  I thread two needles onto the spool at once and pull off the length I need, usually around 20".  When I have finished the thread on the second needle I stand up and do some stretching exercises for my legs, arms, back, hands and fingers.  I have found that forcing myself to take these short breaks allows me to quilt for longer periods of time.

If your thread spool is too large for the spindle on your machine or sticks when unwinding from the spool, put it into a coffee cup or jelly jar behind your machine.  It works like a charm!

I used to keep my bobbins in clear plastic boxes and thread on a wall rack.  Was always trying to find the matching bobbins to go with the thread.  Now I use my flower head pins.  Just stick a pin thru the bobbin right into the thread.  Now my bobbins and thread are always together and easy to find. 

A great way to carry your quilting thread when on a trip is in the containers left from dental floss.  When you are done with your dental floss container carefully pop the top off the container then place a bobbin full of your favorite thread into the bottom of the container. Carefully feed the end of the thread through the hole in the container top then pop the top back on the container.

You now have a supply of thread that will not unwind if dropped and you always have a thread cutter with you as well.

When I was little my great grandmother taught me to quilt.  I will never one tip she told me and I have always followed.  As my thread clippings or yarn clippings collect into one huge messy pile on my quilting table, I throw them into the back yard on a warm clear sunny day. Yes! I throw them outside! Why?  Birds gather them for use in their nests!  I was surprised to look around my great grandmothers flowery garden to see yarn and thread in the trees where birds had made use of what we craftsmen so readily discard. It works and when I look outside and see the trees dotted with little "white nests" it brings a smile to my face to know that I helped these sweet animals make a comfy home for their new babies.

Rehbecca of NC

TIP ONE: Go to Walmart and purchase those "Match Box" car carriers.  They are ideal for storing and carrying your thread.  The container has two sides for storage and it clear so you can see the thread.  It will hold at least 50 spools of thread.  They are also cheap approx. .

TIP TWO:  Cut a strip of "Press and Seal" plastic wrap about a inch wide and about 5"  or 6" long.  Wrap the strip around your spool of thread when you finish sewing.  It will keep those threads under wrap.  Also you can keep your bobbin with the thread by place the bobbin on the side of spool then wrap the strip around the bobbin and the spool.

Ever get halfway through the monofilament and it won't "hold" in the machine because it curls too much?

Try putting the spool of thread in a plastic jar.  Poke a hole through the lid and slide the end of your thread through it.  Please the jar behind your machine and thread as usual.  I tried this and it actually works.

I have carpet in my sewing room and got tired of all the strings and fabric scraps getting stuck in my sweeper.  I bought an extendable window washing tool with a squeege on one side.  I run the squeege over my carpet and all the threads, lint and small scrap pieces roll up into one easy ball that I can then just pick up and toss in the trash!

Karen from Indiana