Using invisible thread on a baby quilt

Saw a demo on Invisible thread the other day...she couldn't pull hard enuf or even make the first thread snap or break...the second one snapped quite easily and that is the one she recommended. It looks like it's on a white tapered cone (like you'd use for a serger--that shape only much smaller) as the thread gets closer to the spool. Not straight up and a flat top for the end of the spool like normal threads have. Hope I'm 'splaining this ok..... Mine snaps quite easily without much pressure and you know how my hands are.

It's called: Wonder Invisible Thread by YLI Corp., Rock Hill, S.C. Made in U.S.A.

HTH Butterfly

There's always that tale of invisible thread getting caught on a baby's finger or toes and cutting off circulation.... but I have, personally, never heard of that tale being verified. Most folks don't take a chance- just in case it's true.

What I would do is find a variegated heavier weight cotton thread with all- or most- of the colors in the quilt and just go for it satin stitching all the edges in the same thread- or use the sneaky trick of 'traveling'. You can travel and/or backtrack along an already stitched or quilted line of stitching or along the edge of the applique and get to the next place to be quilted. But, I promise you, the baby and the happy new parents won't care one little bit which ever way you go. Have fun!

Judy, Use a neutral color like off white or beige to do the whole quilt if you really want your quilting to go unnoticed, or use a variegated thread that has most of the predominate colors of the quilt top in it to add a little more fun.

I'd probably echo quilt the characters and any other main items in the scene with the variegated thread.

Debra in VA See my quilts at

I think if you used a carefully chosen variegated thread, you could appliqué them with satin stitch, and make a real feature of the thread edges? (The most up to date invisible threads are pretty safe). . In message , Judy writes

Oops! Sorry Leslie - sent my reply without reading the rest of the thread! . In message , Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. writes

Congratulations, Judy! :) If you don't want to use a single color (or variegated) on all of the motifs, invisible thread should be perfectly safe. That "no-no" dates from long ago when the thread was so heavy that it was more like fishing line. These days most invisible thread is no more difficult to break than cotton thread. I've used Sew-Art and Superior Mono-Poly and can vouch for the fact that they're quite easy to break. Personally, I think that a baby getting his/her toe caught in a thread isn't a good idea, even with cotton thread, since that baby probably isn't strong enough to break any of it. And besides, you aren't planning to make huge stitches, are you? Good luck!

SewArt invisible thread has about the same breaking point as regular cotton thread. I would not hesitate at all in using it on a baby quilt.

Pati, in Phx

Judy wrote:

Howdy!

Hmmm......living dangerously today: it's Friday the 13th--what the h#ll!

WHY use invisible thread?

If Judy wants to use different colors on the edges, can't you use a multi-color thread, even tho' the thread color doesn't match the fabric/critter? Does it have to match? For a baby quilt the differing mixes of colors makes it more fun, festive, childish, IMO.

With all the tales about invisible thread making a mess, being difficult to use, the warnings about using it on baby/kid quilts, why bother with it?

Of course I've never used it, won't, don't intend to, can't make me, don't see any purpose to it. Except to string beads, maybe.

R/Sandy-- My Free Opinion; YMMV; "ah, Sweet Mystery of Life..."

I don't think the issue with the invisible thread was if it would break or not, but if it got wrapped around a tiny appendage that it wouldn't be seen in time to remove it before it caused damage to the finger or toe by cutting off the circulation.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

If it were to be used as a wall hanging then I say go for the invisible. If it is to be used by the baby, I'd stay away from it even if it means more work, but that is just me.

JM2C

Judy Superior makes a beautiful line of variegated thread called "King Tut". It comes in many, many color choices, and I"m sure you'd find one suitable for your piece. Plus, the colors change every inch, and it's wonderful to work with. I've done about 6 applique pieces with it, and it looks great, and the quality of the thread is top notch. NAYY.

Patti in Seattle

That's the best invisible thread I have tried. Some of the others break easily, and start kinking as soon as you start tugging on it. I hate invisible thread. Hate it. It's so hard to see. (duh, it's invisible)

Sherry

OH MY!!! i dream of that stuff! i managed to get a spool at the EQC show last october from a UK stand and **love** it! Sadly (or is that fortunately?) i can only get it online or i'd have a lot more of it! in other words i'm with Patti!

you can alos conside using black - yes black! all story book pictures have black outlines so it wouldn't look odd at all

HTH some

Jessamy - dreaming ok King Tut thread.... In the netherlands

Ooooh! I've got some of that I think. Will try to "break" my invisibles and see what happens. ME-Judy

Thank all of you for your suggestions. I'm going to start "yanking" on the spools of invisible that I have (think one of them is YLI - it's the right shape spool anyway. If that doesn't work, then the suggestion of multicolored thread sounds great. I do free motion around the main figures and usually use something that comes close to the background color, but I need something to hold the appliques down in case the Heat'n'Bond comes loose in the wash - don't think I want to try the rayon. (Most of what I have of multicolor is rayon, tho, so that means I HAFTA make a trip to the local quilt shop -- poooor me! - like twist my arm why don't ya! )

Thanks for the suggestions. I knew I could count on you gals. ME-Judy

Heat & Bond Lite *must* be stitched down. It will not hold thru washings. Rayon thread is perfectly fine for a satin stitch or whatever you use to hold down the appliques. It is too fragile for piecing, but for edging it's just plain gorgeous! Also wonderful for quilting. But *DO* go shopping! Any excuse is fine with us! LOL

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

And Heat & Bond Ultra should *not* be stitched down. According to the label it will gum up your needle.

Julia in MN

You probably can't get a needle though H&B Ultra!

Yeah, you can, but you sure don't want to... I accidentally used it one time. Gummy... gummy...gummy! I couldn't figure out what was wrong with my sm until I looked at the needle- it was about 1/4 inch in circumference with all the gunk on it. Ugh.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.