Quilt thread

[Pattylynn]

I have been hand stitching a couple of quilts this past week while recovering from an injury. My problem is that my thread keeps knotting, or breaking, or just disintegrating. It is so frustrating!

I have tried three different threads, just plain cotton/polyester thread, a silk thread, and what is called quilting thread (Gutermann 100% cotton quilting thread). The Gutermann was the worst for knotting up and breaking, and the silk thread was the best, but still breaking off or unraveling at the ends.

Do any of you have suggestions for me? I will be chair-bound for a few months, so I have plenty of time on my hands to quilt.

[Nanaquilts44]

I use the Aurifil cotton thread and have no problems with it.

[Holice]

Use "Tacky Fingers" or Finger Moistioner - the stuff you put on your fingers to count paper or money. I find this helps keep the thread from tangling. You can get it at the office supply store or most places that sell office supplies. Run the thread thru it before sewing. I think it better than bees wax or the Thread Heaven silicone stuff in the little blue box.

[MadQuilter]

When you thread the needle, do you put the end that comes off the spool into the eye? The way the threads are wound, that is the "smooth" direction. I usually thread the needle and THEN cut it off the spool just to make sure I put it in the right way.

Make sure not to cut the thread too long. 12"-15" is usually my max that I want to work with.

After I thread the needle, I gently smooth out the thread by pulling it through my fingers. I also let it untangle before sewing. If I find that it gets tangled, I let it unwind during the sewing process.

You can get waxy substance that you run your thread through to condition it.

Good luck.

[QuiltnNan]

did you try a different type of needle. perhaps there's something wrong with the needle eye that makes the thread shred.

[Helen S]

Not sure if this will help re knotting, but my mom always said to insert the end of the thread that you just cut nearest to the spool into the needle eye. For some reason unknown to me, it seems to work.
Wishing you a quick recovery!

[MadQuilter]

Not sure if this will help re knotting, but my mom always said to insert the end of the thread that you just cut nearest to the spool into the needle eye. For some reason unknown to me, it seems to work.

If you were to look at the thread under a microscope you could see that there is a direction to the wind. One direction (coming off the spool) the thread will lay nice and smooth. Going the other direction, the tiny little thread-barbs stick up will force the thread to go agains the grain.

[ckcowl]

thread heaven is a thread conditioner which helps cut down on tangling, knoting problems- it is very inexpensive & goes a long way- comes in a little blue 1" square box- it's kind of like using bees wax---which is another option- also it is best to be sure you are using the correct size needle for the thread you are using- and only cut pieces about 18" long. i know people always want to cut pieces 40"+ long---to (save time) then they spend more time untangling than stitching---it really is faster to have shorter lengths and not spend so much (wasted time) untangling---you can alway thread a number of needles to have handy-
i know a lady who will thread 20-30 needles (she does not cut the thread- she just strings needle after needle onto her spool-then when she needs a new length of thread she picks up the next needle-pulls it up pulling the length of thread she wants- clips- the rest of the needles stay with the spool--she can sew a long time before having to re-string a new batch of needles.)

[Deborahlees]

Thread heaven works great for me.....have had the same box for years now....only problem is one of my doggies tried to eat the box.....

[AndiR]

There is MACHINE quilting thread and HAND quilting thread. The HAND quilting thread usually has a waxy coating which helps avoid tangles and shredding. Perhaps you have the MACHINE quilting thread instead? Just be sure never to use HAND quilting thread in your sewing machine - the coating can cause havoc with the 'innards'.