My goodness, you are quick to call others to task. :shock: I simply said that if she backstitches on the corners of her binding, as most quilters are taught to do, then she can backstitch on her quilting. I most certainly did NOT tell anyone to disregard what their owner's manual says. The question of what brand of walking foot we are talking about has never been answered either.

Hi Everyone
Thank you for all your help. I'm on my way back to work, so tonight I will address some of your questions when I settle down for the night. I do appreciate all the help.
Thanks, Kris

I don't knot my stray threads. I simply catch the thread in the slot on the side of the Spiral Eye Needle and start sewing, I try to keep the stitches inside, between the pieces and the backing so when I run out of thread I just remove the needle and the thread is totally hidden. By sewing inside a few stitches I seem to have avoided any problem with the stitches coming undone.

As to how my needle works, it has an opening on the side, and the opening remains open, but the geometry of where the slot enters keeps it from snagging, and then the "stop" or "bump" inside the eye keeps the thread inside. Depending on the material I sew with my needle, I do have some minor snags occassionally, but quilt material isn't one of the problem textiles. It is more with stretchy elastic material or silky stuff.

Hi Everyone
As most of you know I'm new at this. The reason I asked about what to do with the tails is because someone said to make sure and start my SITD in the middle. Yes I took that as starting in the middle of the middle of the quilt. That is why I had so many tails to take care of. Someone else said to bury them and also explained how, but nothing was said about tying a knot before they were buried. I had already buried them before someone else said to make sure they are tied first. At least I now know this for my next quilt. I also get what the middle is now :lol:

The walking foot I have is a universal one. My manuel says not to backstitch using this foot but I can do a small zig-zag. I looked at a few web sites that carry this foot and they also say not to backstitch. I have a Brother CE-5000. When I have sewn using my regular foot I do backstitch.
I will try all the suggestions about the tiny stitches at the beginning and end.

To the person asking me about mitered corners. I haven't mastered that yet. All in due time :wink:

I know there are plenty of books I could get to teach me all of this but for the most part they are not "clear as mud" for me. I learn more from this forum. Video's are out of the question also. I'm still on dial-up and it takes forever.

I'm now putting the binding on my quilt. I got the first side on no problem. Now when I try to put the other side on my upper thread keeps breaking. I haven't changed anything on my machine so don't know why it's giving me problems now. I will have to say though I think its turned out pretty darn good. :D

My next quilt is going to be a hunting and fishing theme for my hubby. I'm going to do the D9P. I have one print and 4 tone on tones that match the colors in the print. Just have to figure out how to lay it out.

I hope this has answered some of your questions. I'm off to try to figure out why my thread keeps breaking.

Kris

When is the last time you changed your needle?
Can't tell you how many times I have found that to be my problem - - us old factory workers just keep using a needle until the blamed thing breaks!
One time, I couldn't get my machine to sew right, tried taking it apart, only to find out that I hadn't put the needle in correctly! The needle has a groove in the pointy end of the needle that the thread glides through ... if that ends up on the wrong side, well ... it just won't do what you want it to! (Just a word in advance <g> because I am sure it will come up for you -- we all have dealt with it in one form or another.)
You sound like you have a really good fabric selection for your D9P ... after talking about doing one for WEEKS, even teaching a lady to take back to her sewing group to learn ... I started a D9P today.
I made twenty two blocks today, before I realized I really didn't know how many blocks it will take to make a lap/twin sized quilt. <sigh> that is just the way it goes, sometimes!
I am so glad you are planning your second quilt ... you will learn a lot with that one, also!
If changing the needle doesn't help, then re-check your tensions ... they don't always hold consistently, and don't forget that with all the fabric, intersections, and batting ... you will want to lengthen the stitch to three or even four ...
I have heard of some who have had to change the needle three or four times before they got one that worked ... but, that doesn't usually happen.
Let us know how you are doing <g>
it is a lot of fun to help another person get excited about quilting!

The tension on my machine is almost always the problem with breaking thread. Sometimes it is because I am using cheap thread. I have made a commitment to only buy good thread for now on. Bargain brands aren't always a bargain!

I have always taught my students to bring up the bobbin thread, start with very small stitches then continue. I recently been told by one who should know that you can use Fray Check on those starts and stops, after using the short stitches and then clip them off! No need to bury them in the quilt. Jan

Pam, what a wonderful way to thread a needle! Are they available for sale and where? Jan

next time consider a backstitch or fix stitch and then you just cut them off. You will need to bury the threads I think.

stormatsea45, Spiral eye needles are sold in Hobby Lobby stores as well as at my website...www.spiraleyeneedles.com. There are more sizes of the needles on my website and you can order just one. Hobby Lobby has the most popular sizes and sell them in packs of two.

Thanks for the support.

I'm glad you said MOST and not ALL because I have not been successful in using a thimble. Dumb question, but why does one need a thimble in using a self-threading needle? I've never used that kind of needle.

My machine does a self knot. That makes it easy to do the SITDing.

Why the thimble? Most people when they talk about a self threading needle are referring to the calyx-eye aka French spring eye needle. This self threading needle is made by putting a slot at the top of the eye. It was invented in 1850 when metal and technology could not do anything better.

That self threading needle has two small points, one on each side of the slot, at the top of the eye, and is very hard on your finger if you push. That is why they recommend the thimble when using a self threading needle.

My side threading needle (the Spiral eye needle) is also sometimes called a self threadingor easy threading needle, but it has the slot on the side and it is no harder on your finger than a traditional eye needle.

I think these sound WONDERFUL...and I have ordered several different ones.....

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW that is pricey but it looks like it would do the trick.