How many of you quilters
 

How many of you quilters trim off all the loose threads from the back of the quilt top before getting it ready to quilt. This top was handled lots in the piecing, pressing, and laying out. Some of the fabric has raveled . I read somewhere that you should trim the threads. This quilt was completed about two months ago and I have been procrastinating getting it finished. It measures 63 x 75 which meant I had to use a queen size batting and trim to make it work. I am trimming all the threads right now, but am curious as to how many do the same.

I only really trim if it's the ravels of a darker fabric that may scootch over to a lighter one and show as a shadow. I piece everything in beige or gray and machine has cut off or I use L&ES so there are no tails from piecing

I trim as I press the blocks. Then I only trim as needed on the rows.

I agree with all the above. I do trim my blocks and will trim anything that is a darker fabric showing behind a lighter one. When you trim your blocks down from being slightly oversize, it cuts down on the raveling.

Me, too! I've heard of a tool that is tiny enough to slip "through" the top or backing, allow you to grab the offending threads to pull up through the fabric and be snipped. Anyone know of it? I have some black showing under a top.

I trim the threads that would show through light fabrics. If they aren't going to show on the finished top I leave them. It is a tedious task but well worth it in the finished quilt.

this is what i do too, but make sure i address any darks showing through on a light block

I'm about to trim the back of a large lap quilt. Lots of dark sashing with light fabrics. ugh. I did try to trim as I went but it frayed more when I was putting the blocks together. Tons of matching seams so there was a lot of fiddling.

Possibly a very, very fine crochet hook? When I Googled, it showed the smallest U.S. size as a B/1 but I think I used to have a 0 and 00 a long time ago -- probably from some garage sale. I think these might have been small enough to go between fabric threads.

I trim as I go. When I finish that last stitch I trim as close to the fabric as possible. I use the embroidery shears with the one paddle (I call it) shaped blade.

Yes, you can use a tiny crochet hook to fetch out offending threads. It takes a bit of work but I've used this one Boye 13 [ATTACH=CONFIG]498353[/ATTACH]

Definitely! I would not want the show through, particularly if the quilt was made with a lot of light fabrics.

An extremely sharp pair of precision scissors makes the job so much easier. I bought a pair of Dovos for just such a purpose--worth the expense!

I have been told numerous times not to cut close to the material unless I have tied off the seam as they can wriggle and eventually will open the seam. When I first started quilting I was told always use beige thread and don't worry about threads they add to the warmth of the quilt so don't waste them. I do cut back to about 1-2". I do a lot of white backgrounds and have yet to see a dark thread showing thought. I try to buy heavier whites and not those thin ones.

Thanks Prism99. I have one similar to that from some cheapo craft thing. Doesn't "like" going through Premium muslin, but will with some encouragement! It'll work for me!

This one is terrific - Clover Soft Touch Thread Pic http://www.joann.com/clover-soft-tou...c/2359024.html I have one and it works really well!

There is another discussion on this topic with other suggestions, here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t241358.html

Definitely try to remove as many loose threads as possible before sandwiching / sending out for quilting. They can show through the top. I do trim as I go and am pressing, and take a another look when pressing the completed top before sandwiching.

I trim all of those threads if I am sending the quilt to the LAQ. It takes me forever. That is my least favorite thing about quilting. If I quilt the quilt myself, I omit that step and have never had a problem.

http://www.nordicneedle.com/prod/6725.html This is a great tool ......

Like others, I trim dark threads around lighter fabrics. Otherwise leave most unless there seem to be lots of threads in one area then I try to trim them.

I just went through that process with a King size scrappy quilt. Despite having trimmed the blocks before adding them to the quilt, by the time I was done with it and the borders there were lots and lots of loose threads.

I laid the quilt out on the dining table where I could do 1/2 the width at a time (and perhaps 1/5 the length). With a small thread snip in my right hand, and tape wrapped around my left fingers, I would snip then stick them to the tape.

A long tedious process, but I was sending the top to an LA. If I was quilting it myself on my longarm I wouldnt have bothered because I float my tops and I could have flipped it to remove any offending theads when quilting.

For me, it was worth it. I know how discusted I would have been if I saw threads showing through after spening so much time on the quilt. Better safe than sorry.

I trim as I'm piecing and again before quilting. It takes a while if it sits in my pile getting bumped. But it is worth it to me. I used to send out to LAQ and made sure that there were hardly any loose ravel sorry threads. Nevertheless, there would be some by the time she unpacked it and got it set on the LA. I can't make myself only do the darker strings, I go after them all!!

Thanks, Tartan! That is very tiny. Will try the other, (Clover Pic) but have bookmarked the Boye. I'm sure Marci J's post has helped a lot of us!

Okay, so as a beginner quilter, this is something that did not even cross my mind! I love coming on to this board every day and learning all the tricks, tips and suggestions of more experienced quilters! Thank you all!

You can also use one of the ultra fine hooks used by stylists when colouring hair and pulling very fine sections of hair through a rubber cap. You can pick them up in Sally, really fine and cheap.

I trim as I go but those little b________ keep reappearing when I come to sandwiching. I try to remove as many as possible but I think they breed once you leave them alone.

I trim as I go along. Seems like it takes less time.

I try to trim my loose threads on all my quilts but I think it is a personal choice.

I have had quilts arrive to be quilted, which, when put under tension on the quilting frame, have opened up at the seams because the threads were cut too short. When I cut I usually leave almost an inch.

I have used a long pin to get at the offending thread and push it to the side and out of sight. Don't know if it will stay that way after washing though but it might as most of those threads tend to stick to the batting which hopefully will keep it in place.

Like several others, I trim as I go. Trim dark edges as well. :)

It is always my intention to trim anything that I think might be a problem, but honestly, by the time I finish both the top and back, I get in such a hurry to get it sandwiched and ready to quilt, that I often just forget. Once I've got that sandwich done, there is no going back. I may fish out something that really bugs me, most generally just let it go.

I am very fussy about loose threads, when I see one I have to clip it. I clip as I put my blocks together then look at each step to make sure I have got them all.

I won't say how long ago when I was in Home Ec. class, our teacher, Mrs. B. was adamant about cutting and trimming threads when sewing, so I don't have many threads hanging around. I have learned to use small pieces of fabric stitched at the end and beginning of each item, as that cuts down the amount of loose threads. It's amazing how her insistence on snipping threads as we sewed became a habit even to this day. God bless you Mrs. B.

I always trim the back of my quilts before batting and pinning. Any stray threads on the front of the quilt I remove with a pair of tweezers. They usually come away easily but if not I trim as close to fabric as possible.

I try to trim as I go, but if it doesn't show thru, then I leave it. My feeling is if I trim too much then it's more likely the seams will give. So If I can see them after putting the batting on then they stay. Never had a problem yet, but then I try to match the tread with the fabrics so they don't show through.

I trim as I press.....it saves so much time at the end.

I so agree with you Vicki I had never even thought about it. Now I have to go look at my son's quilt (blk/wht/red) before I mail it off to him. And your right I learn something new here every day :thumbup: