Ping:Patti in Phx and Polly

Good gracious, Steven, I'm far from the expert but - naturally - I'll have to share a few thoughts. If I'm doing something super special, I leave tails hanging (just about

I'm not the experts, but when I don't want any thread buildup at the starts/stops, I leave a tail. Pull the bobbin thread to the top before you start, of course, and pull it up again when you stop. then cut a length of thread (#40 is better if you have any), double it, thread the cut ends into a needle. You have a loop at the bottom. Insert the needle right next to the end of your stitching line, run it through the batting, and bring it up an inch or 2 away, without pulling it through. Slip the 2 tails through the loop, finish pulling the needle, and trim off any bits of tails that come out with the loop. You can re-use this thread until it breaks.

If you really want to be nitpicky, you can make a little knot >How's that for a lot of P's. I need help and if I remember right, you two

There are also "easy-threading" needles that have a slit at the eye -- you just slip the thread ends into the slit and your needle is threaded. Then pull the threads into the batting, same as what Roberta described.

Julia > I'm not the experts, but when I don't want any thread buildup at the

I'm not positive that I qualify as an "expert" but I do a bit of machine quilting. I don't at the moment really make heirloom quality quilts. I want to get the project finished and done. If I were to really work on something "big" or "important" I would take the time to bury the thread ends as several have mentioned. However..... I am usually far too impatient for that. So I do what was suggested in a class I took on machine quilting. When starting I try to remember to bring up my bobbin thread. Then take a few very tiny stitches.... I don't change the settings on my machine, I just sort of hold the quilt almost in place. (We have all had the occasional time when something happens and the stitches are all at once very tiny, right?) Just holding the fabric firmly in place while going slowly on the pedal works fine. I do the same thing at the end. Just make several tiny stitches. On many occasions I actually backstitch a few stitches. The thread does look a bit "thicker" but only if you are looking really closely, and most people don't. Both of these methods seem to work well, and have held up so far. Once washed the quilts are great and very useable and sturdy.

Find the method that works for you, and that you can live with. Have fun, Pati, in Phx. (BTW, the class I mentioned above was with Harriet Hargrave. Check out her book on machine quilting for lots of great tips, and suggestions. )

On Feb 13, 6:18=A0pm, "Steven Cook" wrote:

Polly has described exactly what I do. I would just add that when I'm using a walking foot for straight-line quilting, I forward-reverse-forward the stitches about an eighth of an inch where they will be hidden under the binding.

If I'm using a darning foot with the feed dogs down for FMQ, I try to start in an area where there is print, instead of solid, and hold the fabric in place to make a few tiny stitches.

If it's all solid-color fabric or short stitches would be undesirably visible for some other reason, leave the long tail and hand-needle it into the batting, as Polly describes. It's worth the trouble, and the trouble isn't much, really.

ep

Thanks everyone. I like all of your ideas and will use each one of them where each applies. I have a tryptich of Alaska flowers and I'll be FMQ them. Some areas are wide open and will be stippled, others spots mostly need just a meandering line between stems, etc. With all of your how-to's I'll be able to use what is best for each area. I'm ready to get moving with it to get it done, but have not had the time or work space until just lately.

The last two weeks I've worked on scanning bills, updating the checkbook, and cleaning the computer desk. This weekend has been spent cleaning off the sewing desk, reclaiming two shelves in the closet for sewing stuff and straightening the stash and projects. Now I'll be able to sit down and sew for a half hour if I want with no problem.

Bert says that I have been bitten by the spring cleaning bug. I guess he is sort of right. The piles had just gotten tooooooo much and I had to get rid of them.

Now, back to enjoying my dozen roses and six lilies and romantic card.

Steven Alaska

I leave a tail, tie a knot, then bury it like in hand quilting.