Invisible thread use
 

I am having difficulty with the bobbin thread showing on top. I have a 50wt thread in the bobbin. I was told not to use the invisible thread in the bobbin....any help out there? Need information on Brand, tension and tips for a 6600.

Loosen your top thread tension.....it's too tight and is pulling up the bobbin thread.....

And you may need to check the tension every so often, as the machine tends to adjust itself , you might say, while using invisible thread. I do prefer the polyester, rather than nylon

Definitely loosen the top tension.

I like the Monopoly monofilament polyester thread best but I use the nylon (.004) at times. All brands including Sulky and YLI. I don't usually change tension but sometimes a spool acts up, and I will have to keep an eye on it. It wants to catch in the tension guides, not all the time though. I use the clear threads a lot but they can be finicky.

We recently had a quilt instructor come to our guild that only uses invisible thread in her bobbin so I tried winding the bobbin with Monopoly thread-got it from Superior Threads-and machine quilted a wall hanging. It worked great and will use it again. I have a Janome 11000se and did not even need to adjust the tensions!

when winding a bobbin with the "clear" threads you need to slow it down if possible or do it in small increments. I've busted more than one bobbin before I learned how to do it.

In my opinion, I don't use clear on quilts that will be washed. I use the same thread on the top as on the bottom if you are FMQ. Invisible thread is OK on a wall hanging since they are seldom washed.

I have never tried the Monopoly in the bobbin. Nice to know it worked for you. I use the clear for the quilting on all the quilts I make, with the bobbin filled with white thread.

In my ignorance, wound a bobbin with invisible thread -- and then the bobbin would not come off the winder peg. Took the machine in thinking it was the machine's fault! It had created a tension of it's own, and squeezed it too tight to remove.... After hours of unwinding the bobbin was free, free at last!

Yes. What happens is that the invisible thread stretches more than regular thread. This is why you want to wind the bobbin slowly -- to keep the thread from stretching while the bobbin is being loaded. It's also a good idea to fill bobbins only 3/4ths full -- especially if you are using plastic bobbins, although I also do it with my metal bobbins. This is to ensure that the outer edge of the bobbin does not distort from the thread and create havoc when you go to sew.

When they first came out with the nylon thread they recommended to not use it in the bobbin area because it could damage the machine. Is that not the case now?

I use invisible poly thread in the bobbin on many occasions as it is much less stretchy compared to nylon. I don't think I've even used any nylon at all since good clear polys came out.

It probably depends on the quality of the thread. When it first came out, nylon thread closely resembled fishing line. The type of nylon thread I use (YLI monofilament) is about .003mm diameter and about as fine as a fine strand of hair. I do think there are some sewing machines -- especially those with plastic bobbin cases in addition to plastic bobbins -- that might wear out faster from using a lot of nylon monofilament, but most machines (including vintage) can handle it just fine.

is this happening all the time? are you piecing or FMQing when it happens? I have a 6600 and definitely need to adjust my top tension when changing sewing tasks.

I use YLI Invisible thread for all my quilts. When filling a bobbin, you have to slow down so as not to compress the plastic bobbins to the bobbin winder. I don't try to fill the whole bobbin at one time. I don't have to do any tension adjustment, but do make the stitch slightly bigger.

Never use nylon anymore! It was never satisfactory to start with because it stretched, messed up the machines and cut the fabric. I like to use Bottom Line thread from Superior to do the things I used to do with polyester monofilament thread. It is a fine polyester thread. I use it on top to stitch in the ditch to anchor my blocks before I do the decorative quilting. It disappears completely after I wash the quilt. I have mixed feelings about using it in the bobbin. It works quite well but I like my quilting to show on the back of the quilt.

I've always used the Superior invisible thread in the bobbin. No problems.

This might be a dumb question but how do you make your bobbin winder slow down as many have said here?

I learned the hard way (2 trips for expensive repair) that if you are using invisible thread -- no matter the brand -- in the bobbin, and you have plastic bobbins, you absolutely have to wind the bobbin slowly -- like at half-speed -- and don't fill it all the way. Maybe half to 3/4 full. When going full speed, heat is generated on the threads which tightens everything up and the bobbin will seize to the bobbin winder spindle. I broke TWO bobbin mechanisms trying to get the bobbin off the spindle. Since slowing down and not totally filling the bobbin, no more problems. Hope this helps.

It may depend on your machine. On my machine (an older one), I control the speed of the bobbin winder with the foot pedal -- same as when sewing.

Despite what we have all been told, sometimes you can use invisible thread in your bobbin. I took a class with Helen Weinman from Heartbeat Quilts in Hyannis, MA many years ago and she told us that she has used invisible thread in the bobbin. Of course, you would have to thread a bobbin with some of the invisible thread and see if you machine likes it or not, if you don't try, you won't know. I really hope this helps. I have a Jonome 4000 and it has worked fine for me.

I find on my Viking machines that I have to slow down the bobbin winder even with regular threads as they wind so fast and so tight it causes the bobbin to cling to the winding post and I've had to unwind several to get the bobbin off and to toss as it distorts them. I seldom use clear threads but may do so on applique on wall hangings.

When I used invisible thread I was lucky and don't have to adjust top tension. I use it as a zigzag on appliqué shapes before I embroider over. I. How do you use invisible thread in bobbin,? you could only do a straight stitch and white would end up on top. Puzzled.

I learned the hard way that clear "invisible" thread does not play nicely in the bobbin. Having said that, I have no problems using it on top. The trick is to set the top tension to Zero or almost zero and to use a neutral in the bobbin. Also, set the spool of invisible thread upright and wind it off the spool that way, rather than let it come off the top of the spool. This keeps the thread from stretching too much before it goes through the rest of the threading process to the needle ( make sure you have a felt disk under the spool to prevent back spin). Good luck.