Niche Notions Quilt Shops on Off the Wall Friday

 So now that JoAnn's is no longer, where does one shop?  So glad you asked!!  I've always liked technology... although for the record...my favorite saying is "Technology is the new Alchemy" 

(because I really think its a mysterious magic). Anyways...  I've been shopping online since pretty much the beginning. I'm not one to buy from the big-name online quilt shops but more enjoy searching for the smaller niches of notions.  I remember back in 1997, when I found this thread distributor who sold mostly to commercial customers but would put up their odds and ends to anybody for cheapie. I was never quite sure what I was buying but I was happy to give it a try.  

Before I start this, I want to say as a disclaimer that lately I haven't bought much because I tend to buy things I love in bulk and then they last for a long time.  Looking at inflated prices, I'm thinking that was a wise move.  But these are my favorite places that are still in business....

Colonial Needle Company...I'm fussy, I mean really fussy about my needles.  I like what I like.  As the years have gone on it's gotten harder and harder to find my favorite hand sewing needles.  That's when I found Colonial needle and started buying them in bulk.  This turned out to be good idea since I believe they have since discontinued my beloved Size 10 Large Eye Sharp.  I've found a ton of good needles there for my foray into big stitch quilting.  

Red Rock Threads....I really have been buying from them for at least 20 years.  They have
always had the best prices and the service is great.  I tend to buy cones of aurfil 50 wt for piecing and in years past bought a ton of Mettler Poly sheen.  

TestFabrics - Pretty much all of my PFD fabric has come from here.  I just noticed they did a big upgrade to their web page and LORD I could do some damage there quick.  This is a company that is set up to provide fabric for research and testing to commercial customers but is versed in selling to fiber artists as well.  In the past, I've bought 50 meters of seconds fabric cheaper since I was going dye it anyways and it came on big rolls.  Plus being here in Pennsylvania the shipping was that much cheaper.  

The Fabric Shack ... If I have bought commercial cotton fabric in recent years, it's been from this site.  The prices have been super fair and the shipping cheapie.  They have a nice mix of traditional and artsy fabric.  It is one of the few places that I still get their regular emails.  

Hmmm those are just off the top of my head....

One place I want to try is WAWAK.... has anybody shopped there?  What did you think?

Where are Your favorite Places to Shop Online?

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The Best of Christmas Gifts Quilters Want on Off the Wall Friday

So today the sun shone in my part of the county while our lakefront once again got pelted with snow. 

Erie is easily up over 60" inches of snow and it's not even winter.  It's been exhausting and kept people from truly enjoying Advent and the Holiday season.  I have a bit of the blahs that have been continuing for about the last 3 weeks.  Sigh the joys of dark grey days.  

Anyways...

Over the years I've done a series of posts about Christmas gifts I thought were what every quilter needed but might not be on the conventional quilter's gift list.  Since I have a lot of new readers, I thought I would pick my favorites and repost them today.

These are the gifts I've gotten ... some asked for ....some not.... ALL have stood the test of time....

In no particular order...

A Functional Pincushion and Bobbin Case  ...both changed my lives.  I got my first little basket pincushion about 28 years ago from a fellow quilter.  I LOVED it.  No matter where it is on our table you can use the handle to stretch and grab it.  I literally wore it out and have made 2 others since then.  No ... sorry...3 others.  Plus, I had fun hunting down just the right baskets for them.

I looked forever to find just the right bobbin case that would be inexpensive, durable, keep my bobbins dust free and wouldn't split open when dropped on my hard wood floors.  Found it on Amazon finally and they were like 5 bucks each  I have three now.  One for just bobbin thread in neutrals, one for bobbin threads in colors and one for 50 wt cotton.  

Amazon for about $4 each

Sharpies and Tracing Paper ... so many uses...I have sharpies in 3 widths and use them for a ton of stuff in my studio.  Also, all the different colors are great.  The tracing paper is amazing

because it comes in a roll and can be used for patterns and mock up designs.  You can find both cheapie on Amazon as well.

A table size cutting mat....stop reading this and go add this to your Christmas list...you need this.  My husband bought me mine 4 years ago and truly I don't know how I lived without it.  It almost fits my worktable perfectly and even though it doesn't feel like a Olfa mat it definitely is self-healing and durable.  I love that no matter where I'm working, I can cut on it.  (He said he found it on Amazon as well, but I do know they have specialty sites which will make them to custom size.  I just happen to have a 4 by 8 foot table)

Finally  - truly my favorite thing ever is  ...

Kai Scissors....I know, I know quilters rave about their Karen Kay Buckley scissors and I have a pair too that like for applique...but...nothing compares to my professional series Kai's.  The action on them is amazing and they stay so sharp.  Really, I haven't ever used anything that even comes close to being as amazing as they are.   Plus, now they have new sizes for every taste.  

The best gift though is TIME.

 Now I just don't mean in the literal sense... like hours to sew....which really is a nice gift.... But I mean piece peace of mind time to sew.  Free of anxiety, free of depression, full of quiet and hope...creative energy in abundance time.  If the people around you can give you that kind of environment, well that's the best gift of all.

Well not quite as good a gift as my Kai scissors.

No, I guess better than my Kai scissors.  But just barely...grin.

So, What is Your Favorite Quilty Christmas Present?

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Famore Rotary Cutter Review on Off the Wall Friday

 Okay, so I don't like change.  I know most people say that, but I really don't like change.  Of course, this

translates into my quilting life as well.  When I find a tool I like, I like it for life.  That would be why I am using the same rulers (Quickline designed by Nancy Crow) as I did 30 years ago.  Not to mention, I have my square rulers (Bias Square from the Patchwork Place) and rotary cutter by Kai.  When they wear out, I just check on ebay for replacements.  

That all said, I still keep my eye out for what's new in notions. That became a goal of mine on my recent trip to the Sewing & Quilting Expo in Cleveland.  There were a lot of notions there ... I mean lots and lots. But even with all there was there, I didn't really see anything that made me say Oh....My....Gosh!  Well, until there was.

I was sitting in a talk by Kathy Ruddy (who is a trip by the way) and she mentioned that she had a rotary cutter in her booth that worked with a ball bearing system. Oh, that caught my attention.  In my experience, ball bearings make everything run smoother.  Over at her booth, I got to try it out for myself.  That's when I said - OMGosh!

It's the Famore (Fa-mor-ay) Rotary Cutter sold by Famore Cutlery and it costs me about $24.  Price wise you can get an Olfa for about $15 and a Kai for about $20 (which is what I used for the last 30 years).

My old Kai

Things I like  ....

• It has the same type of handle as my Kai - so it pretty much feels the same
• Changing the blade is super easy because it has a big twist knob which easy twists on and off.  My Kai also has a twist nut change system but it's much smaller and it can be finicky.  Olfas use a washer system which is just one more piece to worry about when you are changing the blade.
• The Ball Bearing system is just amazing.  I never would have believed how much smoother and easier the rotary cutter slides through my fabric. Less friction means less pressure on your wrist and hand.   You need to try it out for yourself to have your own OMGosh moment I swear!

Things I don't much like  ...

• It has a push button safety shield mechanism (much like an Olfa's).  I'm used to my Kai pressure safety mechanism.  The push button is much easier though than ones I've used on Olfa's.
• The color ....I know there are a lot of quilters that are into the whole pastel palette but that  pink thing is not my vibe.   I did see other versions with light blue and yellow but I would rather just have some dark color.

Let's talk blades...

Although the cutter will fit any universal 45 mm blades, Famore has two branded blades made especially by them.  One is the Professional Tungsten Carbide Rotary Blade for  - wait for it - $22 each and the SKS-7 Japanese Steel 2 Pack Replacement Blades which is tungsten steel and are $12 for two ($6 each).

They do have a sharpening service where with a 3 blade minimum they will sharpen blades for Famoré 45mm 400SK:.....$2/ea, Other brands 45/60mm:...$4/ea, Famoré 45mm 400TC:.....$5/ea.  (which includes the shipping back).

With that in mind, I did a quick price check (since I don't tend to go through a ton of blades anymore).  A 10 pack of Olfa blades is $33 on Amazon which to me is a great deal.  I never have had any problem with my Olfa blades so I don't think I'll change.  The whole idea of returning rotary blades back and paying $4 each to have them sharpened doesn't really make sense to me.  (They do however have a nice scissors sharpening service which depending on where you live might come in handy!)

Sooooooooo I will be adding the Famore Rotary Cutter to the list of "Notions that Changed my Quilt Life".  Now if they could make it in dark blue or green, I would be in heaven.

What Rotary Cutter are You Using Now and Why?

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DecoBob ThreadTalk on Off the Wall Friday

 Let me start this by saying I am in no way affiliated with Wonderfil.  In fact, as you might have noticed, I never monetized my blog 'cause I really feel like we have enough ads in our lives and I'm not adding to the clutter.

 Wonderfil is a thread manufacturer in Alberta, Canada.  I came across their thread by mistake back in 2020 when I saw somewhere (I think it was on the AQS site) that they were giving away free samples of Wonderfil thread.  Because all the national quilt shows had been canceled that year,  they had all these thread sample boxes left.  Let me tell ya, they were very smart to send me one. 

The next thing ya know I've totally fallen in love with their threads, especially DecoBob.  Over the next two years, they ended up sending me a lot of samples to try out which were great.  You can see reviews on them Here and Here.  Testing them out like that was so useful because it really gave me a good idea of how the different threads could be used.  

Today, I fed my inner thread geek even more by taking off a couple of hours from work to join a live ThreadTalk about DecoBob given by Calista and Stephanie Ngai (whose family founded the company).  It was so fun to watch the two women talk so enthusiastically about their product.  Since I sell clothes for a living I can really tell when people are authentic and these two were!  Plus it was fun knowing that 175 other people world wide were along with me.  

What did I learn?

• DecoBob is very versatile.  You can use it in your bobbin of course.  Also,  when you do applique (machine & hand), machine piecing, machine quilting (long arm and domestic), in your serger (especially on filmy fabrics), machine embroidery, paper piecing (English and regular) and thread painting.
• What it is not recommended for is garment construction sewing and hand piecing.  
• It is a cottonized polyester thread.  Cottonized means that the polyester has gone through a manufacturing process so that it will mimic the properties of cotton.  It has a matte finish, resists shrinking and is heat resistant.
• Although dependent on fabric and machine, a good needle to use with DecoBob is a Microtex 80/12.  In free-motion quilting, a top stitch 90/12 or  90/14 is recommended.
• Because DecoBob is an 80 wt thread (very fine) when you piece with it the seams will lie flatter than they would if you are using a 50 wt cotton thread.  
• DecoBob now comes in 60 colors which is up from 36.  Soon all colors will be available in all three size spools.
• Bobbin thread makes up 30% of your actual machine stitch.
• A smaller stitch length will result in more precise piecing, especially in curve piecing

They also gave a good speal on why we should all be using pre-wound bobbins.  That has me wondering if it's actually true or not.  They showed several samples with work done by regular wound bobbins and prewound.  Also how the two look side by side.   It's made me curious enough to give some a try that's for sure.  I think for my work where it would make a difference is when I'm free motion quilting and when I'm using monofilament thread.

My takeaway?  I think I'll try more machine piecing with decoBob.  I definitely am making sure all my bobbins are wound with decoBob (I think I still have a few in there with 50 wt aurifil and I can tell the difference when I'm sewing). And yes, I'm adding some of the new colors to my Christmas list.

If you're a thread geek like me (and you know you are!),  I highly suggest you take a look at the threaducation links on the Wonderfil website.  If you go to the bottom of the webpage you will see the interesting links.  If you want to learn more about DecoBob than really necessary, the talk was recorded and will posted to their YouTube channel.   

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Homeward Bound VII - Applipops - on Off the Wall Friday

Homeward Bound Month 7

Applipops

Okay, I'll admit it.  Even though this project is a lot of work, I am a bit obsessed with it.  I know
Sarah Fielke designed it and hundreds of quilters are making it all over the world, but it feels perfectly unique to me.  I'm always a little shocked when I get a section done.  Shocked by what I learned, how much better I am at the end of the month than at the beginning, and how it looks totally different from everyone else's. 

This month wasn't any different.  Well, it was different because it took a bit longer than the other months.  With July, we have entered the 3-month phase of hand appliquing the main border.  I've never did a border like this - where you have to get the placement close to right on all 4 sides.  Plus I'm still honing my hand applique skills.  

Use drafting templates to cut the right size circle

The skill this month was learning how to use my new applipops.  Since this month had 28 little 3/8" circles to do, I finally called uncle and bought a set of these little metal washers that help you form fabric circles perfectly.  From the directions and the many, many videos on YouTube they looked easy enough to use. Right?  Well of course not.  Like anything else, there was a learning curve. (I'm sure it didn't hurt that I had to start with the smallest of small circles). 

Flat side against flat side

Tips that Helped

Use Sta-Flo liquid starch full-strength

Apply with a stiff brush but not sopping wet

Leave a 1/8" seam allowance for small circles

Place the fabric between the flat side of one ring, sandwiching the flat side of another ring

Let them cool completely

Give one final press

Finger shape with full strength starch & Iron

By the time I did my last little circles, they were coming out great.  I really liked spending my time prepping the circles rather than trying to needle-turn them into shape.  

I'm really glad I bought the applipops.  I like how they come in a nice microsuede pouch, organized with a nice wire hanger.  I bought two sets since it takes a good 10 min for the circles to cool, but you can even buy custom-sized sets if you want.  I can totally see myself prepping up circles and using them as a take along project.

40 hours later, Month 7 is done and onto Month 8...I figure sooner or later I'll get caught up.  Really, hand applique is one of those things that can't be rushed!

(Linking with Kathy's Slow Stitch Sunday)

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My Next Big Idea on Off the Wall Friday

Homeward Bound, Sarah Fielke, The Quilt Show's BOM 2023

So did all of you in the northern states make it through last week's blizzard?  For once, my part of Lake Erie missed the worse of it.  I think hearing a week of the "Worst blizzard in 30 years" is going to hit on Christmas weekend was worst than the actual event. We stayed warm and safe and kept our traveling down to a minimum, but we still got to spend time with friends and family!  Blessed!

I was also blessed by my husband who gave me a year's subscription to the Quilt Show. Wow!  I had no idea what a wealth of information there is on that site!  The term Quilt Nirvana comes to mind!  Not only do I need to go back and watch many of my friends' segments, but there are also "how-to" segments I need to see.  There is a HUGE gallery of Quilt pictures and a whole section of mini-classes you can take.  Plus, with a year's subscription,  they send you a couple of free gifts, a 25% code to shop, and the annual BOM pattern.   All that for about 5 bucks a month.  Needless to say, I think I'll get my money's worth.

Looking through the site, I found myself on the forum.  Reading it through, it reminded me of when the internet was new in the mid-'90s.  I would stop at the library just so that I could sign into a computer and get onto the quilting forum.  I remember what a thrill it was to connect with quilters from all over the world.  Now 25 years later, we kind of take it for granted.  It's commonplace these days to face-time with someone or drop a quick message.  It's been forever since I've been part of a forum.

Which brought me to my next big idea....why don't I join this year's Block of the Month Club.  It's called Homeward Bound and designed by Sarah Fielke.  I like it because it's a medallion quilt and has enough different techniques to keep me interested. 

In the past, I've finished two BOM's and learned a ton.  I'm struggling to get through my last...the Craftsy BOM from 2016, which I started in 2017...and I think I left it here in 2020 here...

There it is on the wall!

shrug...I dunno...this seemed so interesting to begin with, but now I don't feel the need to finish...maybe someday!  It still hasn't made it to the "Never Again" pile!

So that's why I thought it might be a good idea to join The Quilt Show's BOM.  I mean not only do they release all the information monthly, butttttttt there is a whole forum of other quilters to help you get through.  One thing Weight Watchers taught me is that accountability and deadlines help to complete goals!

So looking at the pattern, the whole thing read a bit too cutesy to me.  Inspired by the work of Patricia Campbell (who died in 2013), I've always wanted to do quilt in jewel tones on a dark background.  Her line of fabrics Fossil Ferns and books have always been a love of mine.  

Jacobean Arbor, Patricia Campbell

My daughter's best friend Brittany used photoshop to manipulate the quilt so I could get a better idea of what it would look like... here is a couple she came up with...

See what a difference putting it on a dark background does?  It's always good to make Visual Decisions Visually!  (If you want a hint on what I finally picked for the background...aubergine!)

So the 3 goals for 2023..participate fully in the BOM forum....finish each section on time....use fabrics from my stash (although I bought the background because I wanted it to be uniform).  I think it's time to get back to the social side of quilting and this seems to fit the bill!

Ohhh and I promised myself, that I would finally finish the Rain, Rain quilt.  It's soooo close to getting done and on my frame!

So I guess that amounts to a bit of a New Year's Resolution!  Is anybody else doing the BOM over at the Quilt Show?

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WonderFil Thread Pt 2 on Off the Wall Friday

 

After writing last week's post, I was really excited to try out some of the WonderFil threads I've been collecting.  They have been sending me nice samples for the whole pandemic and I've never gotten around to seeing if they actually worked in my Janome Horizon.  "Work" is defined as easily free motion quilted with little to no fussing or breakage.  I don't know about you but the one thing I HATE is having my thread continually break.  Not only does it annoy me but it ruins the creative flow I have when I quilt.  That was one of the main reasons I switched to Mettler's Polysheen.  I could easily switch my sewing machine foot to my darning foot and off I went.  No other adjustments were necessary.  I could FMQ till my bobbin ran out!  It's also why my Sulky rayons sit unused unless I need to straight stitch!

As for the WonderFil, I made this sheet using my printer and took an afternoon to test my threads.  I used DecoBob in the bobbin, a quilting or Metallic needle, a blue dot bobbin case, and just warm and natural batting.  I thought this was a handy size since it would fit nicely into a sheet protector in one of my binders.  

The Results

• Spagetti - 12 wt Cotton  - actually free motion nicely (don't ask me how)  It definitely is a hefty thread though!
• Glamore - 12 wt Rayon - not surprisingly I couldn't get to even begin to make a sample
• DTwist - 20 wt Rayon - Started off good, but eventually broke.  I think with some fussying I probably could get it sew, but really, who likes to fuss?!
• Fabulux/Splendor - 40 wt Rayon - both FMQ without breakage but the tension was off and I would have to fuss with that
• SpotLite - 40 wt Rayon Metallic - FMQ like a dream - yes  - I am shocked!  It will now be my go-to when I need a metallic for a project.  I stop designing things with metallics because I couldn't get them to work.  This one though did great and it has a nice pretty glitz to it!
• Silco - 40 wt Cotton - I had trouble with the tension.  Also, I felt like for a 40 wt it sat on top of the fabric a lot.  
• Mirage - 30 wt Rayon -WoW!  love this ... the tension was perfect - it sews wonderfully and its not too shiny
• Tutti/Efina - 50/60wt Cotton - as expected these quilted fine - but really how often do I quilt with cotton?
• DecoBob - 80 wt Poly - I'm happy to report that this probably was my favorite.  The tension was spot on and it has a nice fine quilting line.  I definitely can see myself using this more often when I need quilting but not the "Line".
• InvisaFil - 100 wt Poly - I could not get to quilt without breakage.  I'm sure it will straight stitch though and that 100 wt thickness is tiny, tiny!

Even though it took a long afternoon, I'm so glad to finally get these tested.  Now I know what I will and will not use or buy!

Under my other Likes...

With all this thread out I needed a place to organize it. None of these really had a home in my big thread
boxes, so I was looking for a smaller one that was economical, clear, and plastic.  After some searching ('cause you know there are 100 thread boxes out there), I settled on the Dritz Thread Storage Box.  It's a good size  (17 prongs) for a small collection of thread and I liked the $5.47 Amazon price.  I think the only thing I don't like is that the top doesn't snap on and off with any kind of latch.  Besides I already had one here so now I have a match set!!

Okay, I'm sure that is more than you ever wanted to know about my WonderFil sample thread...

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Wonderfil Mystery Bundle on Off the Wall Friday

Spotlight, Aqua

Okay, I'll admit it.  I'm turning into a thread geek.  I wouldn't say a thread snob but definitely a thread geek! It came on gradually.  I mean in the beginning, we were all taught that you MUST use cotton thread on your quilts because your quilts were made of all cotton.  Through experimentation, I found you could use all sorts of threads while making quilts (the biggest surprise was hand quilting with rayon on my drag around quilt.  It washed and wore fine!)  The more I explored, the more I found exciting new threads to try and of course, collect!  

Tutti, Mountain

So that brings me to my first "Haul" blog post. I decided to take a leap of faith and buy the Wonderfil Mystery Bundle.  I've made several purchases from them in the recent past and they were always really generous with their free samples. The deal was you get at least $100 worth of stuff for $45 shipped free.  They promise to include threads perfect for quilting, piecing, and general sewing. Crossing my fingers, I ordered.

I got....drum roll...

DecoBob, Dusty Rose

 1 Spool of DecoBob, 2000m,  80 wt polyester,  Dusty Rose...I  love this thread.  I already have big spools of all the neutrals for bobbin winding and small spools of all the neutrals for appliqueing and English paper piecing. It has totally replaced cotton when I English paper piece.  It also has replaced my love of Bottom Line threads since it's just that much thinner and shows less. For that matter being thinner it's cheaper (Bottom Line $7.60/1000 m) So I imagine I can use dusty rose sometime.  ($5.30)

1 Spool of Ahora, 40 wt polyester, Cream...this apparently glows in the dark.  Oh, that's new!  You  recharge it under lights or in the sun. Honestly, this is the only thing that I wasn't quite sure what I'd use it for, how it would work, and if I really needed it.   I'll let ya know! ($6)

Thread Dispenser

2 Spools of Tutti, 1000m, 50 wt cotton, Shell & Mountain...so this is their main cotton quilting/piecing thread line.  The interesting thing is that with a little math calculation the price/meter it is MORE than aurifil. (1000 m of aurifil - $10.31 US, Tutti $11.34 ea)

2 Spools of Spotlight, 1000m, 40 wt Metallic Rayon, Red & Aqua...these are apparently a metallic thread but made of rayon so it should quilt and embroider without breakage.  I've NEVER gotten a metallic to work with my machine so this ought to be interesting.  It definitely has a nice "metallic" shimmer to it, even more than a regular rayon.  I love the colors since red and aqua are definitely colors I will use for this kind of work!  ($16.40 ea)

1 Box of a 6 mini spool collection of InvisiFil, 100 wt polyester...I've tried this before to hand applique and EPP and found it too fine.  Now with this nice little collection, I'll try it in my machine to machine applique and free motion.  ($26)

Mini Spool Collection of InvisiFil- Great Colors Right?

1 Ultimate Thread Dispenser...I never thought to buy one of these but after watching the video Here, it has me wondering if it really is more than the latest gadget!  I have some threads that I can NOT get to feed right into my machine so if it works on them it's totally worth it.  I'll let you know.  ($16)

Retail that comes to $108.78

Plus they included a cute 2022 mini calendar which will fill a small space in my work from office and stickers (come on - who doesn't love stickers - do  you think it's inbred in us as little girls to love stickers or what?)

All and all, I totally thought it was worth the  $45.  I had a ton of fun opening it up and exploring exactly what they sent me.  I think it would have made it easier if they had included some kind of literature on what was what in there.  I had to track it all down on their website which actually is really nice to us and full of helpful information.

Plus now I can try all the different types of threads and report back on how they worked in my Janome!  I never had a stitch or thread sampler and I don't think it's a bad idea to have one.  

Any comments and suggestions on what thread I should try next would be welcome!

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Let's Talk Piecing Thread on Off the Wall Friday

 

Okay, I know fusing  quilt tops is popular with the time-crunched quilters of today....very popular.  But there are still those of us that are doing a lot of piecing.  I love to piece.  I love the texture that extra layer of fabric adds with the seams.  You can feel it every time you run your fingers over your work.  

All of this came to me this week, as I spent time hand piecing my pinwheels.  It's amazing what you think of when you quietly make stitch after stitch after stitch after stitch.  From there I got to thinking about the thread I was using and how different it was from my machine piecing thread.  For the pinwheels, I've been using a Wonderfil DecoBob  80 wt polyester and WoW!  what a

difference it's made in my English paper piecing.  

If the DecoBob made such a difference in my handwork, would changing my machine piecing thread make a difference too?  I mean, 50 wt cotton thread is 50 wt cotton thread, right?  Well, it turns out, after some investigation the answer is no.  

I took some time to research the most popular piecing threads that are being used by today's quilter.  I chose 50 wt since that is the weight I use.  Here's what I found.... 

Aurifil -2 ply Egyptian Cotton, Long staple...comes in 270 colors...made in Italy

Superior (Masterpiece) - 3 ply  Egyptian Extra Long  Staple ...comes in 79 colors  (I could not find where their thread is made)

Gutermann - Long Staple Cotton...comes in 240 colors...(I could not find if it was 2 or 3 ply, also where it was manufactured)

Wonderfil Konfetti - 3 ply Egyptian Long  Staple Cotton - 60 colors - made in Canada

A&E Signature - 3 ply Egyptian  Extra Long Staple  - 96 colors made in the USA

Mettler - Silk Finished - 2 ply Egyptian Long Staple - 250 colors - made in Germany

If anybody knows some of the information I couldn't find like what ply or manufacturing country please let me know and I'll edit the list.

Now, I know what you're thinking ...Nina what does all that mean ??....well I'll tell you.

Apparently, cotton grown in Egypt is the best in the world since it has the longest strands.  Longer strands means smoother thread.  Smoother thread means stronger thread with less lint.  Cotton is classified in 3 categories - Extra Long Cotton, Long Cotton and Short Cotton.  As the ranking implies Extra Long Cotton will create the strongest, smoothest thread.

Then there is the ply.  2 ply means that they take 2 strands and twist them to make your thread.  3 ply will make a stronger thread.  Both are very fine and smooth but 3 ply will always be stronger.

All these cottons are mercerized which gives them a smooth finished.

I found these facts interesting.  I mean, can the average quilter actually tell the difference between a 2 ply and a 3 ply?  Will having a Extra long Staple make a difference than a long staple?  I found it interesting that my guess for the most popular  - Aurifil  - has only 2 ply   - long cotton staple.  It boasts of low lint, but it stands to reason that a 2 ply thread will create less lint than a 3 ply.  Also, my guess is that its the most expensive with the biggest marketing budget.

I've used all of these threads at one time or another.  For years and years, I swore by signature piecing thread.  I would buy big cones of it and never had a problem with it.  About 5 years ago, I switched to aurifil and had the same great result.  I think the reason I switched was that it was more readily available at the the time hmmmmm and on sale.

I have tried the sample of Kofetti but not to a great extent.  I didn't care for gutermann since I got a lot of breakage.  Last on my list was the Mettler.  Don't ask me why but  the thread was just too "silky" to

easily use.   I got a lot of breakage - tangling with hand sewing and it was generally a pain.  I literally threw out any last spools of it.

Also, I want to mention that I don't have a big "stash" of piecing thread.  I normally just keep big cones of the white, light grey, dark grey and black handy.  

After this exploration, I'm thinking I'm going to try going back to Signature.  Not only do I like it's stats but I also like the fact it's American made.  Maybe I'll get a cone of it in and test it side by side against the aurifil....I'll let you know.

 

 

Okay ....so tell me....What are your experiences with piecing thread?  Does it change with the project or with machine.  Does price play into it??  Or the ease of where to buy it?

Let Me Know!! 

 

 

 

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Wonderfil Thread Review on Off the Wall Friday

 

Okay, I'll admit it.  I'm getting obsessed...with thread.   Yes, there are more dangerous and worse things to get obsessed with but still, it's getting out of hand.  It all started when I saw that people were using bobbin thread to English Paper Piece.  Then I started looking at  new and different thread lines that have come out in the last 10 years.  Then I started ordering samples, trying them out, watching videos...etc etc....You get the picture.  Yes, I've gone  down that rabbit hole of THREAD.  

So what have I learned in my journeys??  I found this simply amazing blog post by Nancy Purvis that shows the quality of threads under a microscope. This post was written in 2012 but still is SO interesting. Then there is Dr. Bob over at Superior Threads who has a really informative set of videos filled with practical knowledge of thread.  Some are videos on their products but most will give you thread knowledge that will make your sewing life easier. Yes it's basically Everything You Ever Wanted To Know about Thread, But Was Afraid to Ask!  Thennnnnn each brand of thread has not only information on their thread lines, but cheat sheets on what threads can be used for what applications and with what needles.   

See what I mean ???  A Rabbit Hole.  Most of the thread lines, I've tried in one shape or another through the years...all except Wonderfil.  Wonderfil is a Canadian company started in 1988 and their threads aren't widely available in my little part of  NWestern PA, so it's nice that their website is so easy to shop from.  They also have been giving out 4 packs of sample spools of their products with orders (I believe they were the ones that were from the cancelled AQS shows) so you can try different lines. FREE is perfect for trying things out! 

Now as always, I have no affiliation with anyone, anywhere with anything connected to quilting. (grin)

A Wonderfil Thread Review

I've made three orders with Wonderfil in the last few weeks.  The website is easy to navigate , shipping to the US is free and relatively fast, and there is a lot of helpful information on their site.  The threads come in small or large spools and they carry some really handy thread packs of different lines.  The thread is competitively price but it seems like some lines are limited in colors.  I started with the DecoBob line which is a 80 wt polyester thread. Compared to Bottom Line (60 wt polyester) , I felt it worked smoother in hand sewing for EPP and applique.  Plus its more affordable and offered in smaller spools packs which are really handy.  I did have a few spools that did not start smoothly (and I really need to get back to customer service about those)

That got me wondering....how would DecoBob work in my machine.  I have one big criteria in my

machine thread ... it needs to be LOW Maintenance.  Honestly, I have little patience for thread that breaks, has tension issues, needs special needles, won't feed evenly into my machine etc.  If you listen to the Dr. Bob videos though, a little knowledge goes a long way in most of these issues.  Still each machine (and operator) has different issues with different thread types.  

I said to myself, "Self, what would happen if I just grabbed a spool of thread, slapped on my free motion foot, put the pedal to the metal, and got quilting?"  I mean honestly that is how it usually happens.  Nothing is worse than when finally its time to put in thread work or free motion quilting, and your thread will not cooperate.    So here is  what  I found....

Aurifil 50 Wt Cotton   

This is what I use all the time pretty much for everything. I use light grey and dark grey big cones for piecing and bobbins.  I don't really tend to match my bobbin threads (even with quilting) and find the grey works with most colors.   Like everyone else, I find it works great in my machine with little lint considering its a cotton.  It does however leave a pretty big quilting line.  It sits on top of the fabric more.  Also, when I  get going at a little too fast it can break.  I personally think that is a operator issue rather than a thread issue.  (that photo should say 50 Wt - I keep forgetting I switched to 50 wt 10 yrs ago)

Wonderfil's Efina 60 Wt Cotton.  You wouldn't think that there wouldn't  be a noticeable difference between a 50 wt and a 60 wt but there definitely was.  It seemed to give a finer line that sank more into the fabric instead of resting on the top.  I had no problem machine quilting with it and it worked smoothly.  

Wonderfil's DecoBob 80 Wt Polyester.  

I don't know why I never thought to use bobbin thread on top!  Wow!!  This free motioned quilted easy and I love the line it gave.  It's super fine with just enough definition.  It tended to move easily and sink into the fabric.  I had no breakage even at my highest speeds.  

Wonderfil's InvisaFil 100  Wt Polyester

So this is where the first hiccup happened.  I had to change my needle from a universal 80 to a Microtex 80 to get this thread to free motion smoothly.  Even with that I had to slow down my speeds and take extra care.  There were still skipping stitches.  BUT this is the kind of weight that you can use instead of using a nylon visible thread.  It definitely looked like that on fabric without any kind of shine.  I have totally given up on using invisible thread because it has thrown off the timing of my machine twice and landed it it into the shop.  Also, ruined two  - yes - TWO - Bobbbin cases!

Anddddd....while rummaging around in my threads.....I found this .......several spools of 

Aurifil 100 wt polyester

I'm not even quite sure when I bought these but I know it was a long time ago. Wow!  these free motion like a dream and easily withstood my high speed crazy moments.  It even worked easily with a regular universal needle and the tension was perfect.  I really do need to search out some nice neutral colors.  I'm sure when I bought it, I had no idea of thread weights but this is one nice bobbin thread. 

Well that was fun!!  I also tried out Wonderfil's Fabulux which worked great and had a lot of the same characteristics of Mettler Polysheen thread which I love, love.  Lots of time I want a nice shiney kind of look to my quilting.  I started with rayons (aren't they pretty?) but never could them to work on a consistent basis.  Finally, decided that the Poly Sheen worked so much better  - came in a ton of colors and in a nice thread size.   The Fabulux is great but just doesn't have the color range that I would like. (not to mention Ihave a full set of polysheen now - lol)

Of course, this is all my experience with my machine and crazy quilting.  

Have you tried Wonderfil??  What did you think??  What is your favorite threads??

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Sewing Studio Make-Over ... Off The Wall Friday

So over a month ago, I decided that my studio needed a full over haul.  I  mean if you can't do a make over of your sewing room during Stay At Home Orders when can you??  I knew it was bad but I really hadn't a glimpse of how bad.  Since the federal government was kind enough to send me back some of my tax dollars, I thought I would spend some and stimulate the economy!  I set a budget of $400.  Originally when I did my studio, I tried to spend as little as possible reusing things I already had.  The first time I did my studio  it cost about $250 mostly for the design wall, wood for my sewing machine table, my peg board, lighting and paint.  With the new extra $$  I added some things that I really have been needing.

So you can see the beginnings of my make-over  saga here.  When I say saga, I had no idea how long it was going to take.  Sorting, researching, ordering, unpacking, assembling, reorganizing, and finally donating!  My gosh...who knew??

My sewing studio is in the front parlor of my 150 yr old Victorian.  Its not big...about 250 sq ft but its away from the rest of the house and has nice closable french doors.  Still over 5 years there were some things that weren't working and I really needed to change....

Before

Fabric storage that was too bulky, too high AND in front of a big glass door 

and didn't hold all my fabric effectively 

Notions cabinet  located in a corner that is unorganized and buried in a mountain of stuff

Pegboard not effectively used leaving a lot of things on the table, 

Sewing machine table at the end of the table with electricity awkwardly placed

my scraps all in bags in the fireplace

In Short ... it was a God Awful Mess.  This is exactly how it looked on the day I started.

After

New Wire shelving with bins that hold color coordinated fabric

Thread boxes arranged by color and type

All clearly  labelled

(cost..$300) 

Reorganization of the pegboard adding labels and more hooks

Adding one cup labeled PAPER ONLY for paper scissors

My family loves this - they use scissors and then put them back

(cost $20)

New binders decorated by downloads from Etsy 

(cost $20)

Notions cabinent reorganized with storage stack-able  boxes

(Cost $15)

Fireplace holding bolts of fabric and Silks

(Cost $0)

Cube Storage arranged so the big window is clear

Holds scraps organized by Color

(Cost $50)

I did do a little shopping at Hobby Lobby for some decorations and put up a few of my quilts using hooks and binder clips (so they can easily be switched out).  I had to buy a label maker (which was one of my best ideas EVER). Also I bought new surge protectors and extension cords.  That all came to about $60.

So final Cost ???  $465

 So worth it!!  I can now see the floor....my fabric is neatly organized and should stay that way as I do projects....my pegboard is easily used for me AND my family - things go right back to the placed labelled!  Not to mention, the room has a new vibe.  Its old  chaotic clutter is not good for me to create.  Now when I walk in  I see a clean slate - just waiting for new possibilities.

So things I want to mention.....The metal shelving is a great investment.  It is totally changeable and you can add or subtract as needed.  I did add 3 more shelves because I had more fabric than originally thought (go figure - lol)

The cube shelving is also reconfigurable to suit your needs and is super inexpensive.  The bins can be added or taken away if you want shelving or bins.  They are just super neat and easy to put together.

I bought all the little stackable boxes at JoAnn's on sale (they have them at Michael's too).  Totally worth the $1 they were.  OMG ...not only does stacking them make it easy but they were easy to open and close PLUS label.

I hope you found this helpful if you decide to do your room.  Remember what people say is right.....its not about size....it's how you use it!!! (OMG did I just put that out online lololol!!)

If you have any questions, please put them in the comments and I'll answer them.

So What Have You Been Doing Creatively??

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