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From: pucktricks
Date: 08-18-2005, 11:20 AM (1 of 7)
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Have any of you done this? I tried to do some (and now I'm completely blanking on the word), but in essence freestyle with the feed dogs dropped, and all it did was make a great big HUGE mess on the back of my fabric which took a couple of hours to rip out and was a big frustration. I tried it on some sample fabric like my quilt after making the big huge mess, and never got it to work, but it did just fine if I was just sewing in straight lines using the feed dogs and all of that. I did eventually figure out that I had to use the embroidery thread needle on my machine (that kept it from fraying and falling apart, like I said I haven't use it before), so, now I'm doing an outline to quilt my project and just quilting in the ditch, and I'll figure something out for the large background area of my applique. But, I wanted ideas for how to use it in freemotion, that's the word I'm looking for, but it still doesn't sound right  .Oh well, looking forward to some answers. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 08-18-2005, 12:04 PM (2 of 7)
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Ticia if you're going to use metallic thread, you need to get the Schmetz medafil needle and you probably also need to use the liquid thread conditioner (having a senior momen this morning and can't remember the name of it???) that you can put just a drop right above the eye of the needle and it will condition the metallic thread and make it move smoother through the eye of the needle. Some people have actually put the thread conditioner stuff on the spool of thread but I read an advisement that said that to run threads through your tension disks in your machine with the thread conditioner on it would ruin the tensions disks and not to do it. As for free motion quilting, it takes a lot of practice to be able to run your machine and move the quilt at a speed that will allow you to get nice even stitches front and back. You also need to loosen the top tension on your machine a little so that it does not put a lot of tension on the bobbin thread. I haven't mastered free motion quilting yet, but I keep practising and hopefully someday will feel confident enough to do it on one of my quilts. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: pucktricks
Date: 08-18-2005, 02:33 PM (3 of 7)
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I've been working on the freemotion and thought I was brave enough to try the metallic. I looked at the needle I got, and luckily for me it was the Schmetz needle (YEAH LUCK!). Oh well, I'll have to try your suggestions later on another project that doesn't have a deadline involved (as in must be done by tomorrow). Thanks so much for your advice (I cannot spell worth a darn tonight, I've had to delete so much, and I just realized it's not night, it's day; oy, I'm going to go take a bath and leave this project to sit for an hour or so, and then work on finishing it). Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: Skye
Date: 08-18-2005, 04:31 PM (4 of 7)
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I have used both types of threads to free motion. I cant see the brand of metallic thread and it was some time ago that I used it but I think that I used an embroidery needle. The variegated threads are not made equal. I had horrible (cheap) thread which would not spool off and so my threads kept breaking even when I was stitching with the feed dogs up. I did have to increase my upper tension to get an even stitch. I feel your frustration what thread do you have in the bobbin? I used machine quilting cotton Skye |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: pucktricks
Date: 08-18-2005, 05:33 PM (5 of 7)
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I had invisible thread in the bobbin. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: Skye
Date: 08-18-2005, 05:45 PM (6 of 7)
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The invisible thread might be the problem. I would give ordinary thread a go and see if that improves things. I haven't tried invisible thread in my bobbin yet -some people recommend it and others hate it. Let us know what results you get. Just a question does the invisible thread stretch when you wind it on to the bobbin? Skye |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: pucktricks
Date: 08-18-2005, 06:21 PM (7 of 7)
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I haven't a clue if it stretched. I'll have to try it at a later date, and see if that works. I know that when I wasn't using invisible thread for free motion I had not problems, and I was using invisible thread on the top, but normal in the bobbin. Hmmmm..... I'll have to investigate later. Thanks for the tip. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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