Clipping Threads
 

The quilting job I like least is trimming off the threads on the back of the top. You know, the threads that could possibly show through the finished top on a light colored block.

Soooo, how important is this task? Have any of you skipped this task and regreted it later?

Cheryl

PS How do you spell regreted? Two t's? I can't spell anymore.

I clip as I go so I don't have to do a lot of clipping later.

Yes, 2 t-s.
Are you talking about the thread that you piece with? (I clip as I go) or threads that have raveled from the fabric patches? I've only had one top with a lot of raveled threads, but the fabric was dark, so I just left them.

I clip my threads from my blocks as I go also.

I clip them mostly when I am pressing and then at the end. I don't really mind. It's all part of the process.

I use auto thread cutter so nothing to clip.

I clip as I go. I also never use white backgrounds for this very reason.

If I see any that are obvious, I trim them when I see them prior to sandwiching, usually when pressing and checking the back of the top. If they unravel during the FMQ or sandwiching process, you can use a very fine crochet hook and carefully fish it out or push it under the seam.
The only time I really notice them is if I use a white or cream background.

Uh-oh. Okay, I can clip when I finish a block. Next time. Right now I have to take care of the 120" x 120" king size pineapple top I just completed which has LOTS of hanging threads. I'll be back in a few days.

Oooh, Tartan, I'll try the tape thing, thanks

Thanks for the spelling correction, PaperPrincess.

if you have any white in your quilt, do clip any threads on seams inside the top. they will show.

I consider it important, because it's very hard to fix if it's causing a problem. I don't like thread trimming, so I chain piece everything I can. For pineapples, I would work on more than one block at a time so I could chain piece.

Pudge, the rule for doubling is simple: if the word is one syllable (got) or has the stress/accent on the last syllable (regret), and the last three letters are consonant-vowel-consonant (commit, but not comment; spin, but not rein), when you add -ing or-ed, double the final syllable (gotten/regretted, but spinning/reined). But, in the case of two consonants (comment), just add the endings (commented, commenting). More examples: spend/spending, but shed/shedding; bang/banged, but bag/bagged. You have made me thing this out and I can think of one exception: spray/sprayed/spraying.

I clip as I go - if I miss any - I'll find them as I hand quilt.

I absolutely detested clipping threads when I finished a top, so I have started to clip as I go throughout the process, then take a final look at the end.

I clip at the ironing board any seam threads that show thru white fabric. I place a stickey square from a lint roller on the board and toss the threads onto that. Once it's full I put another one down.

I use the threader cutter on my Janome 6600P but I still have short threads left on the back of my quilt so I clip them off. Does anyone else have this issue?

My Pfaff QE 4.2 has the auto thread cutter, it leaves about 1/2" tails on the back. I still have to clip them.
Sharon in Texas

Wow. I had no idea I was supposed to be doing this. I chain piece so I don't typically have much in the way of extra lengths of thread, but I certainly don't fuss over loose threads coming off the end of fabric. Between those & some of my buried quilting threads that I occasionally will lazily bury on top, rather than pulling to the back, there definitely are threads that will show through the white/snow/yellow fabrics when wet, but they usually aren't noticeable when dry. If it's not a show quilt, I totally wouldn't worry about them! :p But I guess I'm in the minority.

I am a clip as you go gal. I hate that task of having a million (I know I am exaggerating) threads for me to try to find and clip off as I am about to quilt it. All threads do show more if the fabrics are light and thin. Even though the threads wouldn't show up that much on a batik quilt, I still trim them off. I hate them hanging everywhere and potentially getting caught up in new seams that I am making.

I clip as I go. But my issues are dark fabrics fraying, and you can see the dark "hairs" through the light fabrics. It can be a lot of clipping before I add the backing.

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

I clip as I go. I can't stand to have all these dangling bits of thread as I work, so I get them out of my way.

The tails of starting threads on the back of quilt-as-you-go are more likely to be noticed than threads that end up sandwiched inside. BUT if one of those unclipped inside threads sneaks out a subsequent seam and you pull on it or clip it too close and snip the block ...uh-oh. Clip as you go!

I clip as I go because it is too daunting to do all at once. Sometimes I use a needle to fasten threads close to the seam so they will not show on the front. I secure them as I go because I don't want them to pop loose.

I wait until I am ready to sandwich before clipping everything close. Otherwise, some of the seams will pop loose at the edge, particularly if I have had to do much "easing" to get seams to match. I would rather snip all at one time than have to go back and secure edges of seams. Setting my stitch length on "2" helps with that, to some degree.

If we are going to correct someone's spelling or give instruction we should really proof read our own first. Just saying.

Since those pesky thread tail will show through on a light top, I'd say it's pretty important (on a light top). I am not as diligent on a dark top.

My friend uses the battery-operated beard trimmer to "shave" her quilt before she sends it to the LAQ. She folds it in quarters and deals with one quarter at a time.

I clip as I go so I don't have to do a lot of clipping later.and the thread doesn't get under the quilting

I clip as I go, but I tend to have finished quilt tops lingering around for quite some time before I get around to quilting them. Some of them get folded and unfolded several times (either as I'm slowly marking them, or as I'm showing them off) so they get frayed on the back. If it's really bad I'll spend some time trimming off the "hair", but I tend to use a lot of darker fabrics so I can usually get away with just leaving it as-is.