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#1
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Handquilting with Rayon- A Good Thing?
For this little quilt of mine, I thought I could practice some handquilting
on since I really don't need it finished any time soon. I bought some scrumptious variegated thread, so scrumptious I am building up a little collection rather quickly. I really need to use it for something soon. The thing is, the stuff is rayon. Is this okay for handquilting or too difficult to work with and I should just MQ? BTW, the quilt is all cotton fabric and thread, anchor stitched STID to the batting with the clear nylon stuff. kitty in phx -- Remove "s" and "i" in email to respond. http://community.webshots.com/user/kittykatchee |
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#2
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I sure would try it on a little scrap "sandwich" first. In MQ, only a
little of the thread gets pulled through the sandwich, and only once. In HQ, the whole length goes through the sandwich multiple times. You may find it frays and tries to get out of the needle. Cross-stitchers working with rayon tend to cuss a lot. Try dampening the thread on a sponge first, and use short lengths. You will need to be very sure of your beginning and ending anchoring because rayon tends to weasel around a lot. I think MQ rayon is spun more tightly than stitching rayon, but I expect it has some of the same properties. Monique in TX KittyG wrote: For this little quilt of mine, I thought I could practice some handquilting on since I really don't need it finished any time soon. I bought some scrumptious variegated thread, so scrumptious I am building up a little collection rather quickly. I really need to use it for something soon. The thing is, the stuff is rayon. Is this okay for handquilting or too difficult to work with and I should just MQ? BTW, the quilt is all cotton fabric and thread, anchor stitched STID to the batting with the clear nylon stuff. kitty in phx -- Remove "s" and "i" in email to respond. http://community.webshots.com/user/kittykatchee -- ˙WPC5 |
#4
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Hullo Kitty
I do see why you love the rayon. I have some beauties in my drawer - but I only machine quilt. I wonder if it would be helpful to beeswax the rayon thread? I would think it would be very 'curly' without some kind of 'treatment'... and beeswax was what was traditionally used for 'difficult' threads. I would certainly try to find some way of using it, as it would be a pity to miss out on all the wonderful colours and colour combinations. .. In article 5jiHc.41$jJ.34@fed1read07, KittyG writes For this little quilt of mine, I thought I could practice some handquilting on since I really don't need it finished any time soon. I bought some scrumptious variegated thread, so scrumptious I am building up a little collection rather quickly. I really need to use it for something soon. The thing is, the stuff is rayon. Is this okay for handquilting or too difficult to work with and I should just MQ? BTW, the quilt is all cotton fabric and thread, anchor stitched STID to the batting with the clear nylon stuff. kitty in phx -- Best Regards pat on the hill |
#5
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From: Patti
I do see why you love the rayon. I have some beauties in my drawer - but I only machine quilt. I wonder if it would be helpful to beeswax the rayon thread? I also only machine quilt and my machine is also an embroidery machine :-). I have loads of machine embroidery rayons that I have used some for machine quilting. Before beginning on my "specialty thread adventures" I asked lots of questions, both here and at the machine embroidery newsgroup. What both groups advised and seems to work best for the specialty thread is to have it as far from the sewing machine as possible so that it can "relax" and sort of unwind before going through the eye of the needle. If you can afford it, invest in one of those specially weighted, free standing cones that hold any size spool of thread. It won't tip over and you can set it anywhere you want away from your machine, put your spool or cone of thread on it and then just bring the end of your thread through the "dohickey" (I am BIG on technical terms) on cone over to the machine and thread normally. With specialty threads, they seem to work better if they go through lots of spaces so that they have time to sort of unwind and relax. If you aren't able to get one of those specialty cones, do what the inventive people do. Get a large coffee mug or anything that is several inches larger than your spool or cone of thread, securely tape a large paper clip to the top edge of it, drop your spool or cone inside and bring the end of your rayon through the paper clip AKA "Thread Guide". Now, set the mug or whatever you are using, at arms length from your sewing machine BUT at the same height as the top of your sewing machine, bring the thread over to the machine and thread as usual. I am lucky -- my embroidery machine has a special thread "rack" made specifically to hold specialty threads. I paid a fair amount of $$ for it but it has been worth it. I also have a serger that sits right next to the sewing machine and I have used the spool pins on top of that too. Just remember to do a test run! Depending on your machine, you might need to use a special bobbin thread &/or needle. When I work with rayons, I can use a regular needle but I need to use special bobbin thread in the bobbin when I am quilting or doing machine embroidery. But that's my machine -- yours might be totally different. Remember -- each machine is different -- rather like children or spouses -- LOLO! CiaoMeow ^;;^ .. PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ Queen of Kitties Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS!! Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs! Online Photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary |
#6
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I agree! Thread Heaven is wonderful for any kind of hand stitching, and I
love it for hand quilting. -- Carolyn in The Old Pueblo If it ain't broke, you're not trying. --Red Green If it ain't broke, it ain't mine. --Carolyn McCarty If at first you don't succeed, switch to power tools. --Red Green If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer. --Carolyn McCarty "Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply " wrote in message ... From: Monique Reed ...... Cross-stitchers working with rayon tend to cuss a lot. Try dampening the thread on a sponge first, and use short lengths. ....... That's putting it mildly -- LOLOL! I don't hand quilt but I do a LOT of needlework and I *love* to stitch with rayon. I much prefer Thread Heaven over a damp sponge tho'. If you are gonna do ANY sort of hand stitching -- be it quilting or cross stitch or crazy quilting -- with rayon be kind to yourself and invest the $3.00 or less in that little blue cube of Thread Heaven. You WILL be glad you spent the money!!! CiaoMeow ^;;^ . PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ Queen of Kitties Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS!! Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs! Online Photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary |
#7
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Thanks Tia Mary. I have previously only used the clear nylon stuff and
never had that much of a problem with it. But I've got a bunch of the rayon now so how to set up the spools sounds like something good to look at. When you speak of special bobbin thread what kind of thread are you referring to? Would mercerized cotton not be A Good Thing then? kitty in phx -- Remove "s" and "i" in email to respond. http://community.webshots.com/user/kittykatchee "Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply " wrote in message ... From: Patti I do see why you love the rayon. I have some beauties in my drawer - but I only machine quilt. I wonder if it would be helpful to beeswax the rayon thread? I also only machine quilt and my machine is also an embroidery machine :-). I have loads of machine embroidery rayons that I have used some for machine quilting. Before beginning on my "specialty thread adventures" I asked lots of questions, both here and at the machine embroidery newsgroup. What both groups advised and seems to work best for the specialty thread is to have it as far from the sewing machine as possible so that it can "relax" and sort of unwind before going through the eye of the needle. If you can afford it, invest in one of those specially weighted, free standing cones that hold any size spool of thread. It won't tip over and you can set it anywhere you want away from your machine, put your spool or cone of thread on it and then just bring the end of your thread through the "dohickey" (I am BIG on technical terms) on cone over to the machine and thread normally. With specialty threads, they seem to work better if they go through lots of spaces so that they have time to sort of unwind and relax. If you aren't able to get one of those specialty cones, do what the inventive people do. Get a large coffee mug or anything that is several inches larger than your spool or cone of thread, securely tape a large paper clip to the top edge of it, drop your spool or cone inside and bring the end of your rayon through the paper clip AKA "Thread Guide". Now, set the mug or whatever you are using, at arms length from your sewing machine BUT at the same height as the top of your sewing machine, bring the thread over to the machine and thread as usual. I am lucky -- my embroidery machine has a special thread "rack" made specifically to hold specialty threads. I paid a fair amount of $$ for it but it has been worth it. I also have a serger that sits right next to the sewing machine and I have used the spool pins on top of that too. Just remember to do a test run! Depending on your machine, you might need to use a special bobbin thread &/or needle. When I work with rayons, I can use a regular needle but I need to use special bobbin thread in the bobbin when I am quilting or doing machine embroidery. But that's my machine -- yours might be totally different. Remember -- each machine is different -- rather like children or spouses -- LOLO! CiaoMeow ^;;^ . PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ Queen of Kitties Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS!! Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs! Online Photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary |
#8
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I'll put together a scrap sandwich and try that Monique. The brand is
Sulky, decorative thread, sort of general purpose I think. Not marked specifically for hand or machine quilting. It's sounds like my introduction to hand quilting might not go as smoothly as I thought. Ah well, what else is new? kitty in phx -- Remove "s" and "i" in email to respond. http://community.webshots.com/user/kittykatchee "Monique Reed" wrote in message ... I sure would try it on a little scrap "sandwich" first. In MQ, only a little of the thread gets pulled through the sandwich, and only once. In HQ, the whole length goes through the sandwich multiple times. You may find it frays and tries to get out of the needle. Cross-stitchers working with rayon tend to cuss a lot. Try dampening the thread on a sponge first, and use short lengths. You will need to be very sure of your beginning and ending anchoring because rayon tends to weasel around a lot. I think MQ rayon is spun more tightly than stitching rayon, but I expect it has some of the same properties. Monique in TX KittyG wrote: For this little quilt of mine, I thought I could practice some handquilting on since I really don't need it finished any time soon. I bought some scrumptious variegated thread, so scrumptious I am building up a little collection rather quickly. I really need to use it for something soon. The thing is, the stuff is rayon. Is this okay for handquilting or too difficult to work with and I should just MQ? BTW, the quilt is all cotton fabric and thread, anchor stitched STID to the batting with the clear nylon stuff. kitty in phx -- Remove "s" and "i" in email to respond. http://community.webshots.com/user/kittykatchee -- ˙WPC5 |
#9
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Hullo Patti
I keep thinking of these as jewel threads. I'm not even sure I want to use them! I'm going to look up Thread Heaven, as Tia Mary and Carolyn in the Old Pueblo suggested. I assume that is some sort of beeswax type thing to help control the thread and reduce friction. This is really the only thing I am *planning* to handquilt. Really. kitty in phx -- Remove "s" and "i" in email to respond. http://community.webshots.com/user/kittykatchee "Patti" wrote in message ... Hullo Kitty I do see why you love the rayon. I have some beauties in my drawer - but I only machine quilt. I wonder if it would be helpful to beeswax the rayon thread? I would think it would be very 'curly' without some kind of 'treatment'... and beeswax was what was traditionally used for 'difficult' threads. I would certainly try to find some way of using it, as it would be a pity to miss out on all the wonderful colours and colour combinations. . In article 5jiHc.41$jJ.34@fed1read07, KittyG writes For this little quilt of mine, I thought I could practice some handquilting on since I really don't need it finished any time soon. I bought some scrumptious variegated thread, so scrumptious I am building up a little collection rather quickly. I really need to use it for something soon. The thing is, the stuff is rayon. Is this okay for handquilting or too difficult to work with and I should just MQ? BTW, the quilt is all cotton fabric and thread, anchor stitched STID to the batting with the clear nylon stuff. kitty in phx -- Best Regards pat on the hill |
#10
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Yes on the Thread Heaven, no to the damp sponge. Rayon is weaker wet than dry and
the damp might cause more problems than it helps. Hand quilting with rayon thread that is meant for machine work should be fine. When a machine sews the thread see-saws back and forth through the needle many times before it makes a stitch, so going through the fabric sandwich will not be much different in any case, except near the eye of the needle. Use a single thread and move the needle down frequently and you should be fine. That all said, I don't understand why you have the top stitched to the batting without the backing.?? Usually it is easier to layer backing-batting-top, then stabilize to make sure the back doesn't have pleats while quilting. G Pati, in Phx Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply wrote: From: Monique Reed ...... Cross-stitchers working with rayon tend to cuss a lot. Try dampening the thread on a sponge first, and use short lengths. ....... That's putting it mildly -- LOLOL! I don't hand quilt but I do a LOT of needlework and I *love* to stitch with rayon. I much prefer Thread Heaven over a damp sponge tho'. If you are gonna do ANY sort of hand stitching -- be it quilting or cross stitch or crazy quilting -- with rayon be kind to yourself and invest the $3.00 or less in that little blue cube of Thread Heaven. You WILL be glad you spent the money!!! CiaoMeow ^;;^ . PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ Queen of Kitties Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS!! Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs! Online Photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary |
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