Thread Woes: Three tips for getting your machine and thread to agree

After working through a few thread woes at the sewing lab this week, I want to share some tips, tricks and opinions about threads and machine quilting…

Cotton… polyester… glazed… Thread type matters!

In this age of the modern quilt and art quilt, thread choice isn’t as restrictive. Traditionalists might insisted on cotton. Perhaps the strictest insisting on only white cotton. It used to be that cotton thread was all that was available, but now there are a plethora of choices and it’s really up to you, what you choose.

There are a few guidelines though: first, stay away from glazed cotton thread for machine quilting. It’s meant to be used for hand quilting and the glaze makes it difficult to use in a sewing machine. I also recommend that if you are using different top and bottom threads they be of the same type and weight. It affects the tension dynamics when the threads are of different types. Lastly, know what kind of look and feel you want to your quilt before you start… this helps you pick the right type of thread. Do you want to see your stitching? Do you want the quilted design to blend but also be slightly visable? Matching, contrast, variegated and invisible thread are all available and if you know what you want the finished quilt to look like then choosing the thread will be easier. When in doubt… stop by your local quilt shop… they can help you find the best thread to get the look you want.

Don’t underestimate the value of testing

Test your thread on your machine with the foot(s) you’re using with a sample of the quilt sandwich you will be quilting. Try to get all the elements involved in your test. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! Testing how the whole system will behave will allow you to make any needed adjustments before you begin on your actual quilt. Depending on your choice of thread you may need to make adjustments to tension during free motion quilting. This is your time to practice and examine tension.

A test sandwich for my scrappy wedding ring quilt. I tested the planned free motion pattern as well as my walking foot.

I’ve been impatient and skipped this step before… and haven’t been happy with the results. I still love the quilts and they are functional, but the quilting is uneven and there are puckers and loose threads all over.

Understand a little bit about tension specifically for your machine and thread.

Ideally, the loops of your stitches should end up inside the quilt sandwich between the layers of fabric and batting. Too much top tension will cause the bottom thread to “pop” through on the top… not something you want if your bottom thread contrasts with your quilt top.

Thread issues on top of the quilt could be caused by thread and/or tension.

Too little tension on top will cause the the top thread to show up on the bottom, not a look you want either. Proper tension and ideal stitch length will ensure you get the look you want on your quilt and possible save you from ripping out a boat load of stitches.

Thread and tension issues on the bottom of the quilt are more challenging to deal with.

The first step to understanding how your machine handles tension is to read the instruction manual. Identify the dials and what they do. Then play and practice. Get to know your machine and how adjusting the tension affects the stitches. This is why test quilt sandwiches are so important.

Hopefully my insights on thread and tension will save you from having a few thread woes yourself. Happy quilting!

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