? for LAQ
 

I am so VERY lucky that I have a newbie who recently purchased a LA (don't know model info) that is happy to quilt my charity quilts as she learns to user her new toy. I have been quilting for 25 years and have certain habits.

My question is if she uses Sulky rayon thread on the top, should she also use it in the bobbin?? I always made sure I used matching cotton thread in my bobbin. I want to be helpful to her so I just wasn't sure what the answer you would be from all you LAQs. THANKS for you input.

most of the time I match my top with my bobbin thread. If I have trouble with tension, I try to match a slippery thread (glide, magnifico..never used rayon) with something less slippery but close in weight..so maybe with a light weight thread, I would use SoFine. Most long armers find what works in their long arm by trial and error. You might suggest she check out Jamie Wallen's You Tube video about tension. I found it very helpful when I bought a pre-loved longarm and got no new owners class. Here is a link:

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...A3EF3279102A80

It's definitely easier to hide tension issues if you use the same thread in top and bobbin. It's not necessary, though. Longarmers can mix top and bobbin threads just as domestic machine users do.

However, I am curious about the selection of Sulky rayon for quilting. Rayon thread is not nearly as strong as cotton or polyester thread and I think is not usually used for quilting for that reason. Some time ago I asked here on the QB about using rayon thread to quilt a charity quilt I was finishing up (the thread color was a perfect match), but got quite a few posts that advised against it.

I have used Sulky rayon for machine applique with aurifil cotton on the bobbin. However, it is my understanding that the rayon is not strong enough for quilting. I know it breaks easily with applique unless I place the spool a distance from my machine.

I always use the same color upper and lower threads. I do have issues in curves with going too fast and the bobbin thread does get pulled up to the top more than I would like. I'm trying to learn to be consistent.

I don't believe the Sulky rayon thread will work in a longarm machine. The machine stitches very fast and I think the rayon would break constantly.

I bought rayon thread years ago for a quilt I was making my daughter for Christmas. I never used it because it kept breaking. I only use cotton or poly thread now.

Same on upper and lower....but I'm with others, Rayon is NOT a good thread to use on quilts. Tell her to check out www.metroemb.com and try that thread out. I used it all the time when I longarmed for customers and NEVER had a complaint. The website doesn't say you can use it on a longarm, but I have successfully for 100s of quilts. AND it's CHEAPER!!!!!

Yes this! I would also be concerned about that especially since donation quilts are often used and washed.

Have to agree with all the others, tell the newbie to nix the rayon for quilting, it is too weak and is often not colorfast. Especially for kids quilts which will take a lot of "hard love'n" and laundering. Also tell her to avoid serger thread for strength reasons but I have heard many LAers run it with no problem I would prefer to err on the side of caution.

If she wants pretty, shiny thread go with any of the beautiful polyester embroidery/longarming threads that are on the market like Filtec Glide, Superior Magnifico, Metro Embroidery (although made in China and I try to support American made whenever possible)

As far as bobbin, many do use the same color at least but not always the same thread. I know many quilters who will run Superior Bottom Line in the bobbin and be running a different thread, in the same color family on top. I regularly run magnaglide bobbins in the bottom and Glide in the top but have also run King Tut, Invisifil, YLI Cotton, or even Connecting Threads cotton in top.

I prefer to use the same color family in my bobbin but I won't hesitate to go different if that is what the client wants. Using different colors in top and bobbin does help you get better at adjusting your tension.

or go absolutely BONKERS trying to get it the tension right!!!!!! ROL ROL I finally gave up years ago....but I know some longarmers are able to do it without problems. :) Some have the talent, some of us don't.

I always use different threads from top and bottom....My machine loves 70 weight superior threads bottom line, or so fine.........for the bottom thread. The top thread is any kind of 40-50 weight thread.. I will tell you, that the rayon thread isn't a great idea. I love signature and marathon thread on the top. Using the same colors is helpful but sometimes isn't available. Try to get as close as possible. Hope this helps

I should mention that there is a rule-of-thumb out there for longarmers, that it is best to use a "grippy" thread such as cotton with a "slippy" thread such as polyester. The grippy thread helps lock the slippy thread in place. This is probably why using something like Bottom Line (fine poly) in the bobbin with King Tut (heavier cotton) on top seems to work well.