charlottequilts

Good morning-

For the folks using Sulky blendables #30 to quilt, what are you using in the bobbin? I was going to use 50 cotton, being as how I thought 2 heavy threads would be too much and feel like dental floss. A helpful person at Harriet Hargrave's shop suggested this as well.

But when I visited another shop, the owner was very dramatic about how she'd never heard of such a thing and everyone there used the 12 or the 30 in the bobbin. (Of course, they're heavily into embroidery and use mostly polyester and rayon, anyway.)

i also have a book by Karen Linduska, in which she uses machine decorative stitches with the blendables 30 on top and polyester in the bobbin.

Now I am thoroughly confused and hoping that someone more experienced than I (which would be nearly all of you - LOL!) might have some advice.

Thanks,
charlotte

QuiltNama

I use bottom line which is a 60 weight to keep the bottom from building up. It is a very fine polyester thread and works very well with the heavier thread on the top. JMHO

mighty

I have also used bottom line. So fine is another good one both are from Superior threads.

BellaBoo

That shop owner showed her ignorance about thread use. All machine embroiders I know use the thinnest strongest thread they can find for their bobbins no matter what size of thread is on top.

SandyWh

I use a strong thin Cotten thread in the bobbin when I quilt with Blendables. Works best for me.

AFQSinc

I use Aurifil 50 wt or 40 wt in the bobbin with Blendables. It works nicely.

charlottequilts

Thanks so much for the helpful replies. i do have some polyester, although it's not bottom line, and I was just eyeing the Aurifil speculatively today at KQ. I wish now that I'd bought some.

Thanks, also, for the feedback about the shop owner. She has just won a dealer award from a major machine mfg and is known for customer support, so I reluctant to just discard her response, particularly given how vehement it was.

Hugs,
charlotte

kathy

if you can look at some of the dealer's work that may help you decide if you want to do it the way she does, make a sandwich and try different combos and see hoe they feel and look.

charlottequilts

Great idea! Although what I've seen in the shop, which is very impressive to me as someone without an embroidery machine, seem to be more wall quilts and table runners, which look stiffer than a quilt would. I'll look more carefully next time.

Hugs,
Charlotte

QuiltE

Don't just look ... ask your questions.
Sometimes what they said is "correct" ... but out of context to what your intent may be.
Or perhaps too, they just weren't totally focused on the discussion and said something inaccurate.
Ask for clarification ... and you might learn a lot more about thread uses and variables.