Got home late yesterday (Sunday) from 3 intense days with Superior threads. Thurs. and Fri. we started by 9am (after breakfast) and went through until about 8 or so with a break for lunch and ending with supper at about 7. Saturday started the same, we carpooled to the warehouse where we got a bit more of examples of thread/fabric combinations and choices, lunch and a chance to shop at wholesale prices. Then back to the hotel for closing and "graduation" ceremonies. We got a diploma, Doctor of Threadology, and so on.
Learned a lot about thread, how it is made and where and so on. Different fibers and uses and de-bunked myths. Received a huge book on thread, several additional handouts and samples of most of Superior's thread lines.
Hands on classes were:
- Ribbon Embroidery by machine, using a new line of ribbon from Superior. Actually kind of fun to do. the teacher was Susan Schrempf who just had a book, "Simple Silk ribbon Embroidery by Machine", released by C&T.(In fact the book was delivered to her just a few days before the seminar.)
- Open Thread Bar, with Cindy Needham. This was a chance to use different threads, do a Sample chart with different stitches/tension settings and such with each thread we wanted to use. And a chance to do some thread painting to embellish a square of floral print fabric.
- Fun with Fusible Thread with Annie Unrein. We used fusible thread to do applique. Easy, fast and no stiffness in the fabric. (Wind fusible thread on bobbin. We used MonoPoly on top, but there are some others you could use too. Sew around the shape, so the fusible is on the wrong side of the fabric. Trim close to the stitching, but not through it. Fuse to background for 10 seconds (this is why the MonoPoly, higher heat resistance than invisible nylon. You can also pull out the MonoPoly while the fusible is still warm if you want to, because it is "slick") Then finish the edge with blanket stitch/satin stitch/decorative stitch. The fusible holds it in place nicely.
The trip to the warehouse was amazing. There is no big sign on the building, and in general Superior would prefer that you buy from one of the retailers that they supply. But this was a special treat. Overwhelming, partly because I really didn't know what I wanted to get. So I bought some spools of King Tut in different colors, some Bottom Line on cones, some Glitter, a couple of metallic cones, and so on. Overspent my tentative "budget" but not that badly. Some people really bought a lot.
Thursday evening after supper we had "Show and Tell" with each person who wanted to showing one or two pieces we had brought. Not all quilts, because there were some non-quilters there. Heirloom sewists, embroiderers and garment sewists. Plus each day there were several different quilts displayed in the meeting room. We were encouraged to look closely and touch the quilts, check the back and so on. Wonderful examples of thread adding to the basic design or being the entire design and everything in between.
Attendees came from as far away as Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, and the East coast. It was a wonderful experience and I encourage anyone who can to attend if you get the chance. It was well worth the money and time. Many of us are hoping that Bob and Heather will plan a "reunion" seminar with more "advanced" classes. And I am sure that the basic seminar will be held again.
Any specific questions, please ask. (and I will try to get photos of my samples and get them posted. but probably not for a few days. I am tired and need to unpack, do laundry and get caught up on all sorts of things.) Pati, in Phx