Hi I need help! I started machine quilting a quilt...got a section say 15"x 4" done. I had a side piece to test out the tension and stuff. Things were looking good. Then I rolled it... OMG, eyelashes all over the place. So I started taking all those loops and stars out. I wanted to cry. Tedious but had to be done. Now, the top is released from the batting anfd backing. How do I get rid on the kazillion little pieces of thread on the top and back? Can I throw them in the washer and dryer and hope that will do it? Do I have to spend the rest of my life picking threads??? Advice please... Thanks in advance. I know you ladies know what to do.

Maybe a lint roller

I use a lint roller with the adhesive or masking type tape.

Do not throw it in the washer unless you want a tangled mess. Do as others have suggested and use a sticky lint roller or masking tape. I put the masking tape circled around my hand (inside out) and pat,pat, pat over the area. Any stubborn bits can be pulled out with the tweezers.

Lint roller, sticky side of tape, OR, try the hook side of Velcro, slide it across the threads.

To heck with the lint roller - get some wide packing tape - make a large loop sticky side out around your hand and "pat" away. It is MUCH stickier than a lint roller (now you wonder why I know this . . . LOL) and works so much quicker and easier (at least for me).

Before you "rip out" next time - I have found if you have loops on the back, if you clip the back thread once where it goes around the curves - the piece of backing thread pulls out easily. Then the top thread is not held down and it too pulls out in a long strand.

Sorry - Good Luck!

I use an old soft bristle hair brush to help remove the little pieces of thread and then a lint roller or a piece of tape wrapped around my hand.

I always use the blue painters tape to pick up little threads.

I have had that happen a couple of times and hate it. I thread the machine and check the bobbin and then all is well. I never know why it really happens. Tape or lint roller is a great idea for removing the loose threads after picking.

I just knew you all would help! I will try your suggestions tomorrow and hopefully be back to quilting...and hope the tension trolls stay away. Many thanks. This is the best group.

Lint roller is what I use. Definitely wouldn't wash an unquilted top, because you're just looking for your edges to fray.

Good tip, thanks for sharing this information.
It will come in handy sometime.

Static build up in the bobbin will cause lots of loops and birdnesting. I started using the Bobbin Genies and they work! Sharon Schamber at a class said they were a must for her machine quilting. When I have to pick out quilting stitches and have all those little threads to remove I just take a deep breath and relax and get it done.

Same thing happened to me and I took the backing off and turned it around as I had tons of backing fabric that wouldn't be used. This saved me more time that a lint roller cause if your lint roller isn't sticky enough you still have to pull the threads out.

what a great hint!!
:thumbup:

Yep I use them too, and clean the bobbin case every bobbin change. My machine sometimes just hates me. and sometimes I hate her too!~ I had thought we were getting along that day but obviously I was wrong.

don't throw your unbound-unquilted top into the wash! you will really create a mess- you can use a lint roller- or masking tape to help remove the little threads.
wait until it is quilted and bound- then wash it.

I used duct tape when it happened to me. It is much stickier than other tapes

I thought of that...duct tape is the stickiest. If I had laundered it I would have serged the edges first. But, I'm going the tape route. I will launder it after quilting and binding as there are lots of needles holes to be closed up.

I was having the intermitten eyelash problem on the back and couldn't figure out why. I started doing research and found out that when you thread your machine, you need to be sure the presser foot is UP so the thread can get properly seated between the discs. I have made sure ever since and have not had the problem again.

Also, when removing the bad quilting, I also, as stated above, snipped and pulled out the bottom thread which left the top thread easy to remove...and there were yards and yards of it.

I always rip from the bottom unless it's such a tangled mess I can't get at the stitches. I get bigger pieces of thread that way instead of the little tiny bits. I'm not sure I'd use duct tape -- it is very sticky to catch the treads yes.. but I'd be afraid it would leave some sticky on the fabric, and duct tape sticky is nasty to try and get off.

A lint roller, pick the threads off and put them on the roller.
I just took out some quilting and had to do that.

Tweezers! I've ripped out more yards of thread than I care to remember. Consider it pennance for whatever!
MK

Get yourself the pet hair remover from pledge. It's a extra large lint roller. I use mine all the time.

Can you vacuum them off - gently, mind you.

I've done this before and it's worked for me - saved a lot of time.

I've used a plain old eraser on the end of a pencil to get them out. If you have large areas you could look for one of those two sided erasers to cover a larger area.

I did the hair brush and packing tape procedure...worked like a charm. There were only a few stragglers and I grabbed them with tweezers. Many, many thanks to everyone who responded to my plea. Now time to remount on the frame and get to work. Wish me luck.

Tape should work and maybe tweezers.

Always test the upper tension before you start to quilt by lowering the pressure foot and tugging on the thread to see if it is in the tension discs. If it pulls out easily rethread and try again. I get those snarls when the thread isn't in the upper tension properly. Also the sticky tape is a good idea

I use a lint roller all the time to get rid of those pesky little threads, especially when I'm doing pp! So I think you would be happy using a lint roller - it will do the job for you just fine! Happy rolling!

Yep, this is the way I do it. I Hate when I forget to put the foot down.

What is a Bobbin Genie? I'm known as the "Notion Queen" in my group, but that one must have slipped by me!

I went to the 99cent store or the dollar tree as it too , and bought a roller for lint on clothes. You roll it across and all the strings disappear . When it quits working you remove the paper and stickey stuff appears and you roll again. I had the same problem with one of my quilts and it works great. So I use it on all of my quilts when I finish them.

I get a cheap roll of masking tape and fold it back on itself on the roll. That way I can stick my hand in the middle and roll the tape over whatever needs to be cleaned. I also "roll" it on the design wall (or across furniture to get rid of dog hair). When I fold it back on itself I leave the end slightly off center so there is a little 'tab' on the edge where I can lift it off itself to start a fresh piece.

I use a fabric lint roller. It picked up all the threads when I was having eyelash problems . I want to think that everyone goes through that learning stage. It helps me to believe that anyway! It also picks up the paper pieces when I'm doing paper piecing. Good luck....

I have found that a clean pencil eraser "grabs" the threads and pulls them out or gathers them in a bunch that I can pick up.

yep, link roller works best. I'm sure it has happened to all of us.

I use mailing tape or duct tape, whatever I have around that is wide and sticky. Cheaper than lint rollers. Or masking tape or the blue painters tape. What ever you have available.

I use the pledge hair roller! It picks up even the tiniest threads and I've been using the same roller for a year! Lots of room left in the catcher area

Try using a Pet Erasur. It is made by Pledge and can be found by the Pledge, cleaning items. Works great on cat, dog hair and lint.