1. Home
  2. Quilting Forum
  3. a little whine

a little whine

Friend of mine in another city lost her husband recently, plus finishing a round of chemo for herself. Another friend, a quilter who lives nearby, pieced a quilt for her using her husband's shirts. Simple pattern, just 5" squares. The top is knit polo shirt fabric stabilized with thin woven cotton fusible, and the back is a mix of dress shirts, some cotton, some poly-cotton. I volunteered to quilt it. Hobbs batting. I'm doing an all-over feather design, feathered hearts in the middle and plumes around the sides.

Now the whine -it's giving me fits! All those mixed fibers and rather thick seams -ugh! Thread keeps breaking, no matter what needles I use. So it's slooooow work. On the positive side, it's only lap size. And our friend originally wanted to use the corduroy trousers for the back, but we talked her out of it.

So please appeal to the quilt fairies on my behalf! Or at least send cheese :-)

Reply to
Roberta Zollner
Loading thread data ...

I don't see, Roberta, where you've said whether you're quilting by hand or machine. If by machine, perhaps you could try a different thread? Add some silicone, just a drop or so on your spool and the bobbin. If by hand, how about some swipes of wax or Thread Heaven to make the thread a little stronger? Either way, bless your dear heart for doing this. I know the little quilt will be a treasure and a comfort. Wish I were close enough to come do a round with you. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Machine, of course! (Otherwise it would be a very long process for me.) Silicone is a good idea. Thanks! Always helps to share troubles :-) Roberta in D

"Polly Esther" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Did you try top-stitching needles? When my thread was breaking with my quilting a few weeks ago, Sally said she had tried (or been told?) that top-stitching needles with their groove at the back took a lot of the strain out of difficult fabric. We both bought some at Malvern. Have you got some to try? They seemed fairly easy to get hold of. . In message , Roberta Zollner writes

Reply to
Patti

A couple other suggestions. Use a tear-away backing to give it firmness or using a slightly more than warm iron and press every thing really flat....without ruining the batting, of course.

I don't envy you.

Rhoda

formatting link

Reply to
R. E. Wicker

Tried top-stitch, jeans and macrotex -the top-stitch does seem the best, but still plenty of breaks. Need to get some silicone tomorrow. And now I realize I haven't tried the green-band quilting needles, not that I have great hopes of them! Roberta in D

"Patti" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:QQGUWkFmU+ snipped-for-privacy@quik.clara.co.uk...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Hmm -never have used backing for quilting. I'll try out a practice piece. Roberta in D

"R. E. Wicker" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Appeal duly sent to those quilt fairies, who must have been on vacation while you've been quilting this piece, Roberta. It's so good of you to do this for your friend at this terrible time for her.

Reply to
Sandy

I didn't hope that you had a sample of the fabrics for a practice piece. If you do, give standard Coats & Clark poly covered cotton a try for your quilting thread. It just might be a little stronger and not shred. And oh my, yes. Do give the green-band needle an opportunity. I rarely use anything else. They usually survive everything here. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Mine was breaking with jeans needle. I didn't bother changing, as I thought they would be the best of what I had. If that silicone application works, could you please post on here, because that would be a very handy think to know for the future. I have had a couple of missed stitches yesterday (with tight and close satin stitch); might help there, too?

I don't really want to stop experimenting! . In message , Roberta Zollner writes

Reply to
Patti

Even very tightly woven batiks? They were my downfall. . In message , Polly Esther writes

Reply to
Patti

I don't work with batiks much, Patti, but haven't encountered a problem. My downfall was white-on-white. It will be a long time before I try one of those again. Polly

"Patti" Even very tightly woven batiks?

Polly Esther >wrote>I didn't hope that you had a sample of the fabrics for a practice piece. If

Reply to
Polly Esther

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.