First check to see if there is a burr along the thread path of the needle. I have had brand new needles fray the thread so don't assume a new needle can't be the culprit.

Also, the needle size could be too small (try using a 90/14 instead of a 70/10) or the top tension might be too tight. The old adage - you get what you pay for - really applies to thread so buy the best thread you can afford.

How do I choose my thread colors?

First of all, the more you choose thread colors the better you get at it. But a general rule of thumb - thread will lighten at least 2 shades as it stitches into your quilt or garment so choose thread at least 2 shades darker than what you think you will need.

How do I know which thread weight to use for thread painting?

On the side or bottom of a spool there is a number which indicates the "weight" of the thread. These numbers generally are 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 100. - the lower this number the heavier the thread. So a 30 weight thread is a much heavier than a100 weight thread.

Threads can be cotton, polyester, metallic or silk, but generally for thread painting I use a 40 weight polyester for the majority of my designs. This thread is a bit heavier than the 50 weight cotton most of you use for piecing, plus it has a nice sheen and fills in faster.

For designs that are very delicate and intricate, such as the eyes on a dog or the mouth on a horse, I use a 100 weight polyester. This thinner thread gives me more time to stitch in the details I need. For the bobbin I use a 60 weight polyester. This thread is thinner than the 40 weight on top and keeps the thread from building up on the back of the quilt.

How long are the color runs on variegated thread?

There are a lot of beautiful variegated threads on the market and normally they come in a 30, 35 or 40 weight. Superior, Mettler and YLI are polyester threads with 1" color runs - the colors change every 1" and range from subtle light to dark color changes in the same color family to dramatic, bold color changes such as purple, to red, to gold. Sulky makes rayon thread with color changes approximately every 5".

The final destination of the thread will determine the length of the run. For example, in quilting a quilt you might want longer runs of the same color where as when thread painting small flowers, you might want a very quick color change.

The brands above are the ones I use the most but there are other equally good national variegated brands so check with your sewing machine shop for the brands they might carry.

What's New?

I am happy to announce that the new website is up and running - with a few limitations.  None of the online video workshops are available yet.   However, you can click "online video workshops" to find out how the process works and get a sneak peek at the first available workshops - coming soon.   

We have a lot of cosmetic things to take care of, but now you have all my information available in an easy-to-read format.

Techie Tom Talks...

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