Quilt thread
 

I have been hand stitching a couple of quilts this past week while recovering from an injury. My problem is that my thread keeps knotting, or breaking, or just disintegrating. It is so frustrating!

I have tried three different threads, just plain cotton/polyester thread, a silk thread, and what is called quilting thread (Gutermann 100% cotton quilting thread). The Gutermann was the worst for knotting up and breaking, and the silk thread was the best, but still breaking off or unraveling at the ends.

Do any of you have suggestions for me? I will be chair-bound for a few months, so I have plenty of time on my hands to quilt. :rolleyes:[TABLE="class: products products-table width-100"]
<tbody>[TR="class: last product-name-row"]
[TD="class: product-cell"]
[/TD]
[TD="class: highlight product-cell"]
[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

I use the Aurifil cotton thread and have no problems with it.

When you thread the needle, do you put the end that comes off the spool into the eye? The way the threads are wound, that is the "smooth" direction. I usually thread the needle and THEN cut it off the spool just to make sure I put it in the right way.

Make sure not to cut the thread too long. 12"-15" is usually my max that I want to work with.

After I thread the needle, I gently smooth out the thread by pulling it through my fingers. I also let it untangle before sewing. If I find that it gets tangled, I let it unwind during the sewing process.

You can get waxy substance that you run your thread through to condition it.

Good luck.

did you try a different type of needle. perhaps there's something wrong with the needle eye that makes the thread shred.

Not sure if this will help re knotting, but my mom always said to insert the end of the thread that you just cut nearest to the spool into the needle eye. For some reason unknown to me, it seems to work.
Wishing you a quick recovery!

thread heaven is a thread conditioner which helps cut down on tangling, knoting problems- it is very inexpensive & goes a long way- comes in a little blue 1" square box- it's kind of like using bees wax---which is another option- also it is best to be sure you are using the correct size needle for the thread you are using- and only cut pieces about 18" long. i know people always want to cut pieces 40"+ long---to (save time) then they spend more time untangling than stitching---it really is faster to have shorter lengths and not spend so much (wasted time) untangling---you can alway thread a number of needles to have handy-
i know a lady who will thread 20-30 needles (she does not cut the thread- she just strings needle after needle onto her spool-then when she needs a new length of thread she picks up the next needle-pulls it up pulling the length of thread she wants- clips- the rest of the needles stay with the spool--she can sew a long time before having to re-string a new batch of needles.)

Thread heaven works great for me.....have had the same box for years now....only problem is one of my doggies tried to eat the box.....:(

There is MACHINE quilting thread and HAND quilting thread. The HAND quilting thread usually has a waxy coating which helps avoid tangles and shredding. Perhaps you have the MACHINE quilting thread instead? Just be sure never to use HAND quilting thread in your sewing machine - the coating can cause havoc with the 'innards'.

I found i tend to twist my thread and needle myself. so every few stitches, i must let the needle and thread hang loose to unwind. funny, i never twisted a telephone cord by putting the receiver on the cradle, but needle and thread, yep!

You do realize that anyone under twenty or so will have no idea what you're talking about?!?!?!? Cords on phones??????? LOLOLOL

I use Coats and Clark for hand quilting and Aurifil for machine.

I was having that problem when I was using the easy to thread needles -- the thread kept shredding because of the needle, so I've gone back the the old fashion needles that are hard to thread for this half blind lady!

I love the Mettler, silk finish thread for hand piecing(it's cotton not silk but has a nice smooth finish). It doesn't tangle like the Gutterman thread which is a real PITA. I am very lazy and usually cut my thread around 30"-35" long and I use a long thin needle, which will shred the thread where it goes through the eye if you don't move it every couple of stitches. I hope this helps, I love hand piecing :)

Thanks so much for the helpful hints! I think I was doing several things wrong which contributed to the knots and fraying. I will follow all of your advice and look forward to less frustrating quilting time!

Thanks again, I appreciate your advice very much.

I just bought thread heaven today with one of my Joannes coupons! So glad people have had good luck with it..been going crazy..I too found the Gutrmann thread was ther worst I ever used..Actually the best one I have used is the cheaper Coats and Clark hand quilting thread...

You are going to LOVE your thread heaven and wonder how you ever survived without it....just keep it up and away from children and pets and will last a long long time.

This is a great tip! I don't usually hand sew anything on my quilts, but I do hand-sewing for making stuffed animals, etc. and this will save me time & headache. Thanks for posting it!

Get yourself a little cake of bees wax, sold in most sewing stores and run your thread through it. Does a great job of keeping your thread from tangling. This way you can use any thread.
Dena

Use "Tacky Fingers" or Finger Moistioner - the stuff you put on your fingers to count paper or money. I find this helps keep the thread from tangling. You can get it at the office supply store or most places that sell office supplies. Run the thread thru it before sewing. I think it better than bees wax or the Thread Heaven silicone stuff in the little blue box.

If you were to look at the thread under a microscope you could see that there is a direction to the wind. One direction (coming off the spool) the thread will lay nice and smooth. Going the other direction, the tiny little thread-barbs stick up will force the thread to go agains the grain.

If you don't have any Thread Heaven, you can run a piece of drier fabric conditioning sheet down your cut thread.

When I'm hand sewing I thread both ends of the thread through the eye and then thread them through the loop made by the thread. Pull tight onto the eye of the needle. Then knot the ends. The needle doesn't rub the thread. It almost never tangles.

This would never work for me. When I hand quilt I use a tiny needle with an eye that I can barely see. I have to use my clip on book light to thread the needle. I bought a needle threader, but it seems the eye is even too small for that!

I have used a bar of bath soap or bees wax and pulled my thread through it and it helps.

I have used the Thread Heaven..LOVE IT!! Best purchase I made today

I find that the longer thread I start with, the more knotting I get. I like to cut a piece no longer than from my wrist to my shoulder. Seems to work better. I have also had less shredding with a shorter thread. I also use a gold eye needle.

Make sure you thread the needle from the end of the spool. Run your thread through your thumb and forefinger, and the 'correct' way feels smoother than the other way. Try to keep the length of the cotton about 18" at maximum and move the needle along the length of thread every now and then to stop it getting thin in one spot. Hope you find the tips useful.






'



'

I was always taught to put the needle through the fabric, then to put my thumb on the thread right where it first is coming through the fabric, then pull the thread.I can use very long lengths of thread this way, and all kinds if thread, and it never knots.

Try waxing it after you thread your needle.

Gitermann thread is the worst to hand quilt/sew with. I love it for piecing though. Most of my friends use Surafil.

Use the bee's wax circle. Bee's wax comes in the plastic circle with slots in the circle. Just thread your needle and from the needle end, put you thread thru a slot, or you could pull the thread thru before you thread it in you needle. Hope this helps

I've used Gutermann but right now I'm hand quilting with Coats Cotton, but always run my cut thread through my little blue box. The blue box is "Thread Heaven" tread conditioner sure takes care of tangles..

I buy the hand quilting kind to make yo-yo's, but never really hand quilted anything.

I use beezwax on my thread and have no breakage or tangling.

Bee's wax works well. Just run your thread through it before sewing. Also, if you are hand sewing something, don't use quilting thread as it is too heavy. I use regular cotton for piecing and silk for applique.

I know an old trick, I will try to explain it, when you thread your needle pull the thread between two fingers and twang it like a guitar string, it works for me every time!

Just had that conversation with one of my kids, the grands have no idea. A house phone?????LOL

If you can't find thread heaven, use beeswax or run your thread across a candle stub.

I keep a small candle on the table, to run my thread..