Grrrrrrrrrrrr! Gutterman Thread Problems

Ok , picked up some Gutterman (made in Germany) spools of thread since one hears it was one of the better threads. Well am here to tell you after spending almost two days trying to work with the stuff, that simply is not true.

Lint, lint, and more lint! Have wooden spools of thread that make less lint than this polyester Gutermann. My other problem was trying to get the tension correct, which no matter what one did, it just was not happening. Was running up some medium weight canvas as laundry bags (Christmas presents), and no matter where bottom and or top tensions were adjusted to, had nothing but problems.

Needle changes, cleaning tension disks/feed dogs, bobbin case, rethreading, and so froth did not produce any better results. Each time all one got was either a mess of loops on the bottom thread, or upper tension adjusted so tightly to avoid this, thread would break and or fabric would pucker. Finally gave up and went back to pure cotton thread, and viola, problems vanished. Guess my Pfaff just does not like Gutterman thread.

Candide "Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It's cheaper." Quentin Crisp 1908 - 1999 _+_+_+_+_+_+__+_+_+_+_

Reply to
Candide
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Really most sorry to hear that you have had such problems... I don't understand it personally, as I love the german gutterman poly thread, and it has been a "never-fail" item for me. (unlike many others I could mention) I never see excessive lint problems myself with the gutterman (that usually happens with cheap threads in my experience).

Perhaps you got a bad batch? (which is also unlike that particular company - they usually have excellent quality control, but anything is possible)

I do not have a Pfaff machine, but I can't see any quality sewing machine (which your Pfaff should be) having problems with quality thread.

Wish I could tell you that there is a secret, but I don't think that there is....

me

"Candide" wrote:

Reply to
me

Closely check the spool for "made in Mexico". I was told by one of my sewing class instructors they have two factories, to always look for the Made in Mexico and avoid it like the plague.

Val

Reply to
Val

Gee, Candide, i thought it was just me! i, too, have had those same problems with Gutterman. (BTW, i have a Pfaff, also.)

Reply to
baker_eliz

Must be Germany, Mexico. ;) There have been a number of recent references, including mine, to the terrible decline in Gutermann quality. Though it runs just fine in my Janome and Berninas, it produces a ridiculous amount of lint for a poly. I stopped buying it a couple years ago and now favor So Fine by Superior or Metrosene as a second in the 50 wt poly category. 60 wt Bottom Line is also an excellent, lint free poly thread.

Phae

Reply to
Phaedrine

I try to use YLI and Arrifil for cotton threads these days, and only use the Gutterman silk if possile. Even then, there are others that are better. Still looking for a UK supplier of all the colours of the YLI silk in the 50 weight as well as the 100.

I like Empress Mills here in the UK for poly and polycore threads, but often have to get Gutterman as it's what is available. Sylco cotton is, I think , better, but I'd rather use Gutterman poly than Drima! ikk! nasty! WAAAY too tightly wound! Knots as soon a syou look at it, which is worse than the lint from Gutterman!

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

I'm so glad you posted this message because I thought it was just me. I have several spools of Gutterman and I swear all I do is vacuum up lint from the bobbin case. My last sewing project was a simple craft project (draft stopper) for my daughter-in-law's back door and I fought with the tension over and over without good results. What a mess! I think I'll give the other brands a try.

Liz W

Reply to
Liz W

Thanks ladies for all your responses!

No, Liz W it's not you! *LOL* From what I have been able to research on the Web, tension problems with Gutermann poly threads is not an uncommon problem, and it pretty much seems some machines/materials like them, others don't. Thankfully didn't spend too much on these several spools, so the loss will not be that great if they stay in the stash for ages. Maybe will give them a try using the Elna and see if the results are any better, if not will probably move them on to a good home elsewhere.

Still, am totally amazed by how much lint comes from a man made fibres thread. Again have used some pretty ratty and or old cotton thread which never made as much lint as the Gutermann polyester thread. From just running up one bag, there were gobs of lint bunnies in the bobbin case/area, and the top of the machine/upper thread area/general sewing area near the machine were almost covered in lint.

Candide

Reply to
Candide

I've only used YLI water soluble so far; I'll have to try some of the others. I do like the Aurifil Mako cotton--- very nice thread indeed. Other cottons I like include Masterpiece (by Superior) and Robison-Anton for quilting. IIRC, Superior threads are all from Japan. Most excellent quality. Surely they must be marketed in the UK but probably under a different name/distributor. I've experienced that badly-wound problem with some Chinese threads so I am very wary of them now. It sure is nice to have a lot more thread choices these days. I'm using up my lintiest threads in my sergers where lint is not so problematic.

Reply to
Phaedrine

So often the shop choice round here is Gutterman or Sylco/Drima, and eff-all else! This is why I hunt out places like Hobbycraft, which also has YLI and Mettler. :) But not the silk YLI. :( Empress Mills I get by post.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

I hear ya. Shops in the US, especially the chains, carry mostly Gutermann and C&C. One mostly has to buy at quilt shops which, in my region anyway, never carry those brands but have much better quality threads. I get the vast majority of my thread via online sources, usually when on sale.

Phae

Reply to
Phaedrine

Drima is just horrid. Guterman at least takes a hot iron, if like me you tend to use it for everything (well it is marketed as sew-all), but Drima is only any good for synthetic ironing temperatures.

I got some Superior Bottom Line last time I was in the States and it behaved beautifully as a bobbin thread for free motion quilting.

Lizzy

Reply to
Lizzy Taylor

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