An interesting day-spending some hours machine quilting a commission quilt with my sweet little 3 Series. It is good to get my hands back onto fabric, adding texture and dimension to a quilt after the madness of pre-moving life.
It is work for me- but lately it has also been soul quenchingly wonderful to spend some hours working at the needle, moving towards finishing work that needs to be completed soon.
I came across something very curious today. This is not my normal thread for machine quilting. I bought it because the colour was particularly suited to the project and I didn't have time to place an order for thread with my usual suppliers who's products constantly delight me with their consistency in quality and colour ranges.
It is machine quilting 100% cotton thread. I have used it in the past on occasion but not by choice- when a customer requested it specifically in their own quilt in a different colourway. 
First was what appeared to be a much thicker area of thread coming off the spool, catching my attention out of the corner of my eye.
Closer examination revealed it could perhaps be a hand tied knot with twists in the tails. It is not something you want to pass through a sewing machine. So, I cut the thread, removed the above from the machine and inspected the spool. Hmmmm.....seemed ok.
Maybe a one off? I started again, re threaded the machine, overlapped my stitches, melding one into the next, and continued for about a minute of quilting before discovering this...
This wasn't caught out of the corner of my eye, it dangled down onto the top of the machine as it was attached to the thread working its way rapidly towards the tension disks from the spool. Noooooo!! If you ever have this happen with any thread, stop. You really don't want it entering the thread path.
I have certainly never seen something quite like it in over 35 years of sewing and sat quite intrigued, studying it, for a few moments.
Again, this was irritating in that it slowed me down, required cutting thread to remove the area involved, re-threading the machine and starting over again- and disturbing the line of stitching.
I thought you may like to see it. I still find it astonishing. If this had this entered the sewing machine, any sewing machine, the result would not be pretty.
After I am done with the quilting and binding of this quilt I have some new class samples to make for upcoming interstate workshops- some fusing and machine applique to do. And, just for fun and because I currently own zero casual dresses, I'd like to make a simple cool dress ready for summer. It may be I will cut it if I have time and sew it when I arrive in Canberra once the kids are in school. I have some vintage inspired cotton I am itching to make up and wear with cute sandals on hot days.
On to House News, the first offer is in on our home already, but since there are multiple interested parties it will be interesting to see how things develop.
Before we prepare to be packed, I am this week squeezing in both lunch and time sewing with a friend Lesley, who is working her way through Harriet Hargraves' Quilting Academy series of books on her blog BLOCK HEAD and fitting in a dash up and back to Deloraine for the Tasmanian Craft Fair. Its an event that once showcased exclusively Tasmanian hand crafted items of many sorts with working displays of artists at their craft- as well as fabulous food and much to see. I haven't been able to attend for a few years- last time was when I was pregnant with our twins- but this time it will be with quilting friends, leaving early in the morning, enjoying as much as we can fit in to the day before returning South again. There is a display of the Hoffman Rotary International Quilt Challenge finalists which will be well worth the trip to enjoy, along with many other displays. Quilters sharing company, food and driving along the way. What fun, with plenty of fodder for blogging guaranteed!
Happy Quilting,
Stephanie
3 comments:
Hi Steph, It looks like that spool of thread is junk! Were you able to finish the project with it? I too in my almost 40 years of sewing have never seen knots in the thread as it comes off the spool. Totally weird.
Great news on the house, I hope you find something suitable in Canberra soon.
I've actually had thread issues like that before, in more than one brand of thread. I've had the hand tied knots as well as the bad tangled sections. It is always frustrating!
Yes....lets just say I won't ever buy it again and Tammy I suspect you are totally right in your evaluation of it. How I love my Superior, Aurifil, and Mettler threads by comparison.
Interestingly it is not "cheap" thread to buy. Less expensive than some of my favourite brands but I have never quibbled over buying the best thread.
I did struggle along and quilted as much of the quilt as I had to with it so it would match in key areas, and have changed my plan as to applying that colour to the quilt and switched to something else that will work if not be better from a quality and also colour respect.
Melodie, how is all the cooking coming along? :)
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