This and That...

 Do you remember the awesome program we had in January on Wool Appliqué? There was a lot of interest so here is an update on sourcing materials for this technique.




The Fabric Cupboard (22 Brandon St. Moncton) now carries Sue Spargo 100% premium grade Australian Merino wool. This richly dyed luxurious wool is available in 60 vibrant colours with unparalleled colourfastness.

Just look at those rich colours!!!  Yummy!

Complementing this irresistable wool fabric is Ellana 12 weight 50/50 merino wool/acrylic blend thread also from Sue Spargo. Engineered and finished to the highest quality standard, Ellana is very user friendly and the perfect wool thread for hand appliqué, wool appliqué and machine work. It is fray resistant, has significantly less fuzz and unparalleled smoothness.















If you travel a little further to Port Elgin area, Spruce It Up Quilt Shop (2063 Route 960) is also carrying Sue Spargo wools and some of her threads- Eleganza, Dazzle and Razzle as well as Valdani perle cottons. Lorette is now dyeing her own wool and also offers repurposed wools in many different colours and textures. Wool yardage in white, natural and black is available as well.  Books by Sue Spargo and Wendy Williams will give you further inspiration.
Of course, a visit to www.suespargo.com is the ultimate inspiration if you are interested in wool appliqué. Oh the COLOURS!! I am drooling on my keyboard...

If you are on Facebook, you might consider joining the new FB group Canadian Wool Appliqué - lots of ideas, inspiration, help and encouragement offered there whether you are new or experienced!

Have you been to St. Andrews this summer? If so you might have found a new quilt shop - The Wee Fabric Shop at 209 Water Street. It's actually just off Water Street, between The Red Herring Pub and the Seasons By The Sea Bistro (stand on Water St. with The Red Herring Pub on your left and walk towards the water.) They carry Kona solids, Riley Blake, Tilda, and Robert Kaufman among others, precuts, Mettler and Aurifil thread, and a good variety of notions. You can visit from your armchair by clicking here.


Are you a CQA member? Do you enjoy a good mystery? If so you may want to join the CQA/ACC Member Mystery Quilt. The fun starts tomorrow, Sept. 2, when the complete list of fabric requirements will be posted. Six monthly installments with step by step instructions and full colour diagrams will follow in PDF format. Check it out here.

Have you been missing visits to quilt shows this summer? Here's an opportunity to visit a big show from the comfort of your own computer screen. Due to the Covid pandemic, The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show is going virtual- it will be a free online-exclusive virtual experience this Sept. 10-12. Free registration is now open at quiltshow.com  You must register to "attend" and you'll be able to view the quilt exhibits, attend lectures, browse the virtual vendor mall, and watch an exclusive sneak preview of PBS Wisconsin's new documentary Nancy Zieman: Extraordinary Grace. Don't wait, register now!

Using Poly Threads

Just a quick post today to pass on a bit of helpful info re. thread. I'm a lover of cotton threads, but I know some of you piece with polyester. I receive regular emails from Superior Threads and they are so great about allowing people to share their educational info, so here's today's tidbit....

"We always teach that when piecing with polyester thread, set the iron to medium heat. The length of time the iron is in contact with the thread also can affect the thread. Polyester thread can melt at temperatures above 300°. All irons are not equal in their temperature settings. Below are the average ranges of iron temperatures.

* An iron set at High = 300 to 400 degrees
* An iron set at Medium = 230 to 300 degrees
* An iron set at Low is below 230 degrees"

So there you go gals, something to keep in mind if you use poly threads in your quilting...

Thread Talk and More...

It's been a while since I have posted an article by Bob Purcell, President of Superior Threads. In most of his newsletters, there is an educational component on threads, needles, or something related to stitching and he graciously gives permission for these articles to be shared. With the holidays approaching, I'm sure most of you will be feeling some increased tension as you try to get all the Christmas preparations done, as well as some special sewing projects. This article contains a link to some really useful info on tension- thread tension, that is, not personal tension! And, if you're the sort who likes to add a little glitter and glitz to your Christmas projects with metallic thread, there's some helpful info on sewing with metallics  on a longarm as well. The article is below. And here is a link to some Tips for Successful Stitching with Metallics on your home machine.

There are some new entries of beautiful quilts in our For Sale section, and all are hand quilted. Have a look! If you know of someone who's looking for a beautiful quilt, please tell them about our "listing." Just click on the "For Sale" sign on our sidebar to view them all.

You can click here to see all the winners of the International Quilt Festival held recently in Houston. Just click on the first quilt photo, for a larger view of all quilts. You will notice one of the winners is Margaret Solomon Gunn of Gorham Maine; you may have seen this quilt or some of her other incredible works at Maine Quilts.

Our November meeting is just days away- see you all next Tuesday night, Nov. 18th, back at our usual meeting spot on Johnston Avenue.

And now, from Bob, Thread Professor and self-certified Threadologist:

		EDUCATION:  Why does Thread Education matter?
		I was having a splendid conversation with a prominent quilter this past week and we discussed education as it relates to the industry. With the explosion of Pinterest, Craftsy, Etsy, YouTube, and other websites, there is an endless amount of education available. These online resources didn't exist just a few years ago. The digital age has revolutionized our industry and we expect many more advancements to come in the near future. We strongly encourage all to spend time studying and constantly improving skills. There is an immeasurable benefit to learning and knowing all aspects of your machine, needle, thread, and notions. We are strong advocates of thread education and will continue to emphasize education, service, and quality as our top responsibilities. We've recently released several articles, videos, and infographics such as Understanding why Egyptian-grown cotton matters, how simple quilting with Metallic can be (even on a longarm), and why Tension control is so important in getting a good stitch. As we learn more about the products we use and why we use them, we will not only excel in our passions, but we can teach the next generation and pass onto them all the knowledge we've gained.  We take extreme care in the quality of our threads, needles, and notions. We have the highest standards for both the raw materials and the manufacturing.  A large portion of our website is devoted to Education. You will find 100+ educational articles, 100+ educational videos, tutorials, and reference guides. We have released two infographics which explain in detail the selection and processing of materials and how they are turned into thread.  They are fun to read and full of useful information.  Please share them with your friends and you will sound like an expert.  For continuing education and announcements, please subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and pin with us on Pinterest.

The Importance of the Needle...

Following is another in the "Threads" series of articles, reprinted with permission of Bob Purcell, President of Superior Threads. This article stresses the importance of the proper needle. Using the correct needle for your threads is as important as having correct tension settings.  If too small a needle is used, the thread may fray, shred, or break. There's not too many things more frustrating than having your top thread break constantly. How do you know what size of needle to use with a particular thread?  We've made it easy for you with our Thread Reference Guides, available for both Home and Longarm machines.  Within the Thread Reference Guides, you will find information on the proper needle size, recommended bobbin thread, and recommended tension settings for all our threads.  By following these three recommendations, you will have success. When a thread is shredding or breaking on your machine, find the point where it is occurring. It will probably be at the needle or just after the tension disc area.  If the problem is at the needle, change the needle to the next size larger.  The most common reason why thread shreds, frays, or breaks at the needle is because the eye is too small to accommodate the thread, causing stress and friction, which results in shredding or breaking the top thread. As an additional safeguard to eliminate thread shredding or breaking, we use and recommend Superior Topstitch Needles. The Topstitch needle has an elongated eye which is nearly twice as long as the eye in most other needle styles (see photo below). This extra space allows the top thread more room to move and thereby alleviate extra stress placed on the top thread. Notice the difference of the eye What happens to thread when it shreds If you follow Superior's Thread Reference Guide and match the correct needle size to the thickness (weight) of your top thread, you will find more joy in sewing, quilting, and embroidery due to less thread breakage and better stitching capabilities.

Baby, it's cold outside!!! Perfect quilting weather!

Hello everyone! I hope you are all safe and warm and spending some time with your sewing machine when it's too cold to be outside. Haven't we been getting some incredible winter weather?!! For those who ski or do other outdoor winter sports, I guess all this snow is great.. for the rest of us, it provides a good excuse to stay inside and sew/quilt!!
I am off tomorrow on a little "jaunt" - I won't tell you where, I'll keep you guessing, but watch here later this week for some photos... I'll be seeing a Guild member who has several pieces in a BIG Quilt Show... complete with ribbons!!! Hopefully I'll have a few photos to post, so check back here on the weekend...
Until then, here is another in the Thread Series from Bob Purcell at Superior Threads, reprinted with permission from the Education portion of their newsletter.  This article explains all about their King Tut thread....

As far as I can tell, we are the only thread company that can honestly say our cotton threads (King Tut and MasterPiece) are extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton. Dozens of other thread companies label their cotton threads as 'Egyptian cotton, made in China,' or 'Egyptian cotton, made in India,' or other countries.  That is dishonest. True Egyptian-grown cotton accounts for less than 1% of the world’s cotton, so it is not possible that all the threads, clothing, bed sheets, and towels that claim to be "Egyptian cotton" are really Egyptian cotton.  King Tut and MasterPiece are certified extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton. This is why we guarantee every spool or cone we sell.  It really is the best available. 

King Tut is an extremely low-lint #40/3 extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton thread. It is different from all other cotton quilting threads because the high-quality nature of the raw products and the special processing it undergoes. Below are points which detail why King Tut is nature’s finest thread.

Perfect Growing Conditions
The best cotton in the world is grown in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. Because this geographic area has an excellent combination of weather and nutrient-rich soil from the Nile River, the cotton produced here is premium. Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton is the highest-quality cotton thread available.

Extremely Low Lint
When cotton thread comes into contact with a machine, needle, or fabric, some lint will rub off.  Lint buildup is not good, as it can cause problems inside the bobbin case, tension area, and clogging the thread path which results in poor stitch quality.  King Tut is an extremely low-lint thread due to the nature of extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton and the special processing it undergoes.

Increased Twist
Although it is never printed on labels, thread twist is measured by the number of twists applied per meter.  Why is this important? A loosely twisted thread requires less total fiber, unravels easily, and is less expensive to manufacture.  Regular cotton thread may have as few as 150 twists per meter (think of a budget thread that can easily be untwisted by rubbing it between your fingers.)  King Tut has almost seven times as many twists per meter, resulting in a smooth, consistent surface.

Mercerized Cotton
Although the main difference in cotton quality is determined by the staple length, processing also contributes to the quality of thread.  Most cotton threads are mercerized whether it is stated on the label or not.  Mercerizing is the process of treating cotton thread in a special solution, which causes the fibers to swell. This allows dye to better penetrate the fibers, resulting in even coloration and strengthened fibers.  King Tut thread is mercerized.

Extra-Long Staple
The overall strength and quality of cotton thread is often measured by the length of the staple. Staples are the individual fibers from a cotton boll. King Tut is certified as Egyptian-grown,  EXTRA-LONG  staple cotton.  This is the highest grade cotton in the world and is one reason why King Tut thread is smooth, strong, and has extremely low lint.

Precision Dyeing
Variegated King Tut colors are precision-dyed with uniform one-inch color change intervals. The benefits of precision-dyeing are consistent color flow, even color distribution, and uniform appearance.  You know how the thread will appear in any part of your quilt.

Gassed Cotton
King Tut undergoes a special process called gassing.  Gassing refers to passing a cotton thread at a high speed though flame, which burns off excess fuzz and lint. This process gives threads a brighter and smoother appearance.  You can tell whether or not a cotton thread is gassed by the length of fuzz on a strand of cotton thread. If the fuzz has very little variation and appears uniformly short in length, it has been gassed. A non-gassed thread will have a combination of short, medium, and long fuzz in an irregular pattern. Reduced fuzz means less lint displaced inside your machine.  King Tut thread is gassed.  We don’t have room on the label to print all the details such as Mercerized and Gassed, but I’ve seen some labels advertising their thread as “Double Mercerized” and “Double Gassed.” I asked our factory technicians about this and their response was, “If it were done properly the first time, there would never be a reason do double mercerize or double gas the thread.”

Thread Talk Part 3

Earlier this summer I started a series of posts on the differences among threads, reprinting, with permission, the educational portion of the Superior Threads newsletters from Bob Purcell. Here today is part 3. You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

This is Part three in a series discussing the differences in threads. A generation ago, there were very few thread choices.  It was almost is if one type of thread was used  for every project, whether that was piecing, quilting, clothing construction, upholstery, and so on.  Times have changed and much better quality products are available today.  Thread has become more specialized to enhance and improve our sewing projects.   There are differences between quilting, embroidery, bobbin, applique, serger, upholstery, and, construction threads. Applique Thread Although some applique techniques call for a medium or heavy thread to show off the thread, most applique techniques intend to hide the thread and therefore use a fine, blending thread. We will discuss the blending applique threads. #100 silk  Kimono Silk is a very fine, smooth, and lint-free multi-filament silk thread.  The highest quality silk thread is multi-filament (multiple strands twisted together) silk.  Lower grades are spun silk (short pieces of scrap silk spun together).  Because Kimono Silk is so fine, it seems to disappear into the fabric. Available in 80 colors Ideal for hand and invisible machine appliqué, detail quilting, lacework and bobbin thread Silk naturally has a lustrous sheen 50 wt. cotton  A little heavier than a fine silk or poly, but blends very well.  The highest grade cotton is Egyptian-grown extra-long staple MasterPiece cotton. Cotton is iron safe.  A low lint (to avoid bulkiness), high grade #50 cotton thread is fine enough to blend into the appliqued fabric, yet strong enough applique by either hand or machine . Recommended: MasterPiece available on 600 yd. spools (3-ply) in 75 colors and on prewound bobbins (2-ply) in 70 colors. 60 wt. multi-filament polyester. Fine, strong, lint free, and blends well.  Bottom Line is a 60 wt. 2-ply lint-free filament polyester.   Available in 55 colors Ideal for hand and machine appliqué, detail quilting, embroidery, stitch-in-the-ditch, bobbin thread, trapunto, binding, free standing lace, heirloom sewing, serger thread, and garment construction. Several colors blend into fabrics so well that they appear invisible. Available on 1,420 yd. spools on prewound bobbins dozen sets and a set of 35 in a BobbinSaver ring. Recommended: Bottom Line Note: Bottom line 1,420 yd. spools are on sale through the end of July. See Specials below. Monofilament thread.  Invisible polyester monofilament thread available in Clear and Smoke colors.  Commonly used for invisible applique.  Recommended to set iron to low or medium heat.  If you like monofilament thread, make sure you use polyester monofilament and not nylon because nylon tends to go brittle, discolor, and has a lower heat tolerance.  Some brands of monofilament invisible threads are labeled "polyamide" which is the chemical name for nylon. Recommended:  MonoPoly invisible thread.  100% polyester.

Used with permission from Bob Purcell,   www.superior threads.com

Thread Talk

Following is the second part in a series of articles on threads, their differences and their uses. This is used with permission by Bob Purcell of www.superiorthreads.com

A generation ago, there were very few thread choices.  It was almost is if one type of thread was used  for every project, whether that was piecing, quilting, clothing construction, upholstery, and so on.  Times have changed and much better quality products are available today.  Thread has become more specialized to enhance and improve our sewing projects.  
There are differences between quilting, embroidery, bobbin, applique, serger, upholstery, and, construction threads.

Bobbin Thread
Some teach that we should always use the same thread in the top and in the bobbin.  I think the reason they recommend this is to keep things simple and also thinking there will be fewer tension problems.  However, it is perfectly fine to use a different thread in the bobbin and, in most cases, it is actually preferred. Here's why:
Quilting
a.  A fine bobbin thread reduces the bulk in the seam.
b.  You can wind more fine wt. thread on the bobbin than a medium wt. thread.
c.  Tension can be easily adjusted to accommodate different threads.
d.  A finer thread blends well.
e.  A finer thread is usually less expensive.
Embroidering
a.  A fine bobbin thread leaves a softer, more pliable embroidered design.
b.  You can wind more fine thread on the bobbin than a medium wt. thread.
c.  A finer thread is usually less expensive.

Whether quilting or embroidering, it is recommended to match the color of the bobbin thread to the top thread just in case a little bobbin thread occasionally shows. The most common bobbin threads are 50 wt. and 60 wt. threads.
Recommended bobbin threads
MasterPiece  #50 extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton.  Very little lint.  Iron safe.  75 colors.  600 yd. spools and 2,500 yd. cones are 3-ply.  MasterPiece prewound bobbins are 2-ply.
So Fine #50  #50 smooth, lint-free polyester. Polyester is stronger and less expensive than cotton.  Recommended to set iron to low or medium heat. 134 colors.
Bottom Line  60 wt. smooth, lint-free polyester.  Recommended to set iron to low or medium heat.  55 colors.
MonoPoly   Invisible polyester monofilament thread available in Clear and Smoke colors.  Commonly used as a bobbin thread for quilting and thread painting when using many different colors on top.  Recommended to set iron to low or medium heat.  If you like monofilament thread, make sure you use polyester monofilament and not nylon because nylon tends to go brittle, discolor, and has a lower heat tolerance.  Some brands of monofilament invisible threads are labeled "polyamide" which is the chemical name for nylon. MonoPoly invisible thread is 100% polyester and the preferred type.  

Perfect Quilting Weather!

Hello! I hope your summer is going well. It seems we have one of two extremes- rain, rain, rain or heat and humidity - both are perfect for sewing and quilting. You can't garden when it's raining- perfect for quilting! And when it's too hot and humid to be outside- stay indoors and work on your quilting projects! Just kidding of course, but I do hope you are finding some time for your favourite hobby...
I don't know how many of you receive the regular newsletter from Superior Threads, but since they allow the educational portion of their newsletter to be shared, I thought I would post some of their info on threads. They have just started a new series of educational pieces on Threads, and this is the  first one, taken from the mid-June 2013newsletter. I hope you find it useful.

 What is the difference between Quilting and EmbroideryThreads?

A generation ago, there were very few thread choices.  It was almost is if one type of thread was used  for every project, whether that was piecing, quilting, clothing construction, upholstery, and so on.  Times have changed and much better quality products are available today.  Thread has become more specialized to enhance and improve our sewing projects.   There are differences between quilting, embroidery, bobbin, applique, serger, upholstery, and, construction threads.  In this newsletter we will discuss the differences between quilting and embroidery threads.  Other threads will be discussed in future newsletters. Quilting Threads The most common machine quilting threads are cotton and polyester. If you have heard “don’t use polyester in your quilt because it will tear the fabric,” that is the biggest myth in the quilting world. (Click here to read about that myth) Cotton Thread Facts Low Quality   Short staple cotton.  If the label does not specify the staple length, most likely it is short staple.  Companies do not print “short staple cotton” on the label because that is nothing to brag about. Medium Quality   Long staple cotton. Highest Quality   Extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton Egyptian cotton   99% of cotton products labeled as Egyptian cotton are lying.  Egypt does not grow enough cotton to make all those “Egyptian cotton” bed sheets, towels, clothes, and threads. In fact, Egypt grows less than 1% of the world’s cotton. Countries such as Greece, Mali, and Syria grow more cotton than Egypt. So why is the term Egyptian cotton so coveted?  Egyptian cotton is the best grade and most manufacturers want that label on their cotton products, whether honest or not.  I’ve even seen labels stating “Egyptian cotton, Made in India.”  As far as I can discern, Superior is the only thread company that can honestly say “Extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton.” We buy our extra-long staple cotton in Egypt and turn it into King Tut and MasterPiece thread.   Mercerized   A term printed on the label when there is nothing else to brag about.  It tends to divert your attention from the fact that it is not Extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton.  Mercerized cotton is a good thing and nearly all cotton thread is automatically mercerized during the production process.  Whether the cotton labels states Mercerized or not, it probably is. Polyester Thread Facts Spun poly is a less expensive grade of polyester threads. It has a fuzzy appearance similar to cotton and produces some lint when sewing.  It is primarily used for clothing construction, including serger thread.   It is stronger than comparable wt. cotton threads.  Our spun poly quilting thread is Poly Quilter, a #30/3-ply variegated thread which is in the heavier thread category. Our new Tailor Made thread is also spun poly and recommended for clothing construction and serger applications, not quilting. Multi-filament polyester is smooth, lint free, and stronger than spun poly. It is more expensive that spun poly threads and is a much cleaner thread, meaning very little or no lint.  Threads in this group are Bottom Line, So Fine #50, So Fine #40 (variegated), and So Fine #30. Trilobal multi-filament polyester has a nice high sheen.  Traditional trilobal poly is not as strong as regular multi-filament polyester, but a new HTT (High Tenacity (strength) Trilobal) polyester has recently been developed.  Magnifico, Fantastico (variegated), and Twist are HTT polyester threads. Poly-wrapped poly core thread is made with a multi-filament polyester thread core and then wrapped with a spun poly thread.  The appearance is like cotton due to the outer spun poly wrap, but it has the strength of multi-filament polyester due to the inner core.  It is less expensive than a 100% multi-filament poly thread. Omni is poly-wrapped poly core thread. Embroidery Thread 1. Embroidery threads usually have a looser twist than quilting threads.  The tighter the twist, the less the sheen.   2. Depending on the machine and embroidery speed, embroidery threads may not require the strength of a quilting thread. 3. Most embroidery threads are two-ply to preserve the high sheen. Due to the three differences just described, embroidery threads are usually less expensive than quilting threads. Rayon    Traditionally, the most common embroidery threads have been rayon.  Rayon is a half natural/half manufactured fiber with a beautiful sheen.  The problems with rayon threads are twofold: a. most rayon is not colorfast (meaning bleach-safe), and b. rayon is a weak fiber.   Rayon production also causes substantial pollution so the U.S. banned domestic rayon production many years ago. Polyester  For a high sheen look, the best thread for embroidery is trilobal polyester or HTT (high tenacity trilobal poly). These polyester threads have a sheen equal to that of rayon, are stronger, and are colorfast.  HTT polyester is much stronger than regular trilobal poly. Is there a thread that is suitable for both quilting and embroidery? Many threads can be used for both.  It depends on what look you want to obtain in your project. Some people embroidery with cotton because that is the look they want.  Some quilt with polyester because they like a high sheen thread or a strong, very fine thread.  If you want both high sheen and high strength for both embroidery and quilting, the best choice is HTT polyester such as Magnifico or Fantastico (variegated). These are like hybrid threads, combining two features into a single thread.  Magnifico is much stronger than regular trilobal polyester threads.  It has already replaced our former Highlights (regular trilobal poly) line of threads. It is available in 200 solid colors.  Fantastico is the exact same thread type, but in variegated colors.  There are currently 20 colors of Fantastico available, but over 100 more are in process.

Used with permission from Bob Purcell, www.superiorthreads.com