As God is My Witness, I Will Never Use Monofilament Thread Again--Oh My Lanta!!
#71
I used it for a wall hanging and it did pretty well but I wouldn't want to use it on a quilt. I was surprised though at how soft it was compared to the original stuff that came out years ago. That was pokey!
#72
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 9
Also, I found that reducing the tension helps - w/ my machine I reduce from 4 to 2 and use mono on the top - with the spool standing upright - and a regular cotton bobbin in a matching color for the back. I've quilted many a project this way and even when I think I want to do something else, I come back to it because it works so well.
#75
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Location: Here and there
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I absoutely hate the stuff. I bought several spools and after several tries using it, gave it to a friend who loves it. She used it to make a sweatshirt jacket and the ends of the threads are like little wires that stick you--inside of elbows, back of the neck, etc. I certainly would not want to use it on a quilt that I wanted someone to cuddle with. But if the object is to make the thread as inconspicuous as possible, monofilament is the thing to use.
froggyintexas
froggyintexas
#76
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,260
I don't understand why anyone would use that thread. From what I understand and mind you I don't know everything, but if you are using cotton fabric for your quilt, there is going to be a time when you will have to iron it and nylon/plastic/rayon or what ever it's made from will melt if you touch it with an iron that is hot enough to use on the cotton fabric.
So my question would be, Why use it?
So my question would be, Why use it?
#77
monofilament thread
You need to be very careful about using mono filament thread, as over the years as it drys
out some of the threads will crack, and then you (the owner of the quilted quilt might have
to put out all the cracked pieces of the monofilament thread, before you can re quilt it.
I have had the wonderful experience and it took me quite some time to remove all the
little pieces of broken thread.
Remember monofilament thread is fishing line.
out some of the threads will crack, and then you (the owner of the quilted quilt might have
to put out all the cracked pieces of the monofilament thread, before you can re quilt it.
I have had the wonderful experience and it took me quite some time to remove all the
little pieces of broken thread.
Remember monofilament thread is fishing line.
#80
I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with monofilament thread. There might be a variety of reasons why you experienced these problems. Did you have a new/fresh needle in your sewing machine? Needles that need changed often break thread. It may have been the type of thread you were using. There are two types of mono: poly and nylon, and quality of thread does count, in my experience. Harriet Hargrave has used monofilament thread with success since the mid 80's, so it can't be all that bad under the right conditions. She has used "Sew Art" with great success, and of course there are others that work well, too. Bob Purcell at Superior Threads says polyester is better over the nylon for a variety of reasons, yet, Harriet has used the nylon for some 35 years with no problem. Obviously, everyone has their own opinion.
I've used nylon and poly off and on for several years and my only finding is that quality counts more than content. I do tend to think that if a quilted item is going to get laundered a lot, then maybe poly is the way to go.
All that said, there is a little bit of a learning curve to using this stuff in general, but there are many applications that it's nice in which to use it, especially if you're going for that 'invisible' thread look. I'll still use it from time to time, but it is a personal decision. Here are some tips for you:
http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...ar-thread.html
Hope this helps,
I've used nylon and poly off and on for several years and my only finding is that quality counts more than content. I do tend to think that if a quilted item is going to get laundered a lot, then maybe poly is the way to go.
All that said, there is a little bit of a learning curve to using this stuff in general, but there are many applications that it's nice in which to use it, especially if you're going for that 'invisible' thread look. I'll still use it from time to time, but it is a personal decision. Here are some tips for you:
http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...ar-thread.html
Hope this helps,
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