Breaking thread

I've just finished quilting the quillow in cotton, used a cotton
backing, and everything went wonderfully. Now am on to the final baby
quilt which has a polycotton backing and I wanted to use a rayon thread
but, guess what, the thread is breaking again.

I'm using a new but the same type needle and same settings. Its a nice
variagated thread and not particularly thick so will go and persevere. I
tried an assortment of needles last time when I had trouble jeans,
quilting and embroidery, - perhaps I will try one of the needles from an
unmarked box I have!
--
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
http://community.webshots.com/user/sallyswin

Hi Sally! I found last week that Rayon does snap easier! Have you tried a
different bobbin thread? Finer, the tension might need to compensate for
the finer top thread maybe!
--
Estelle UK
http://uk.photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos
"Sally Swindells" wrote in message
...
I've just finished quilting the quillow in cotton, used a cotton backing,
and everything went wonderfully. Now am on to the final baby quilt which
has a polycotton backing and I wanted to use a rayon thread but, guess
what, the thread is breaking again.

I'm using a new but the same type needle and same settings. Its a nice
variagated thread and not particularly thick so will go and persevere. I
tried an assortment of needles last time when I had trouble jeans,
quilting and embroidery, - perhaps I will try one of the needles from an
unmarked box I have!
--
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
http://community.webshots.com/user/sallyswin

Hi Sally,
I don't know what make of needles you use but I find Schmetz seem to
be the best. Try also using a microtex needle and as Estelle
suggested a different bobbin thread. Sulky do some bobbin threads and
the Mettler 60 thread is nice in the bobbin too.
Also sew slower than you usually do. And maybe try putting your top
reel into a mug behind your machine so it moves freely. Sometimes I
find that the thread comes off the reel spindle and gets caught and
wraps itself around the spindle.
Rayon is a difficult thread to use. I have some gorgeous colours in
it but hardly use it as it is a pest. Have you tried free machine
quilting with it?
For a baby quilt I would be tempted to use a poly thread as it's
hardly going to last anyway. If you haven't done much free machine
quilting then this is a good opportunity to have some practice.
Let us know how you get on.
Elly

Sally Swindells wrote:
I've just finished quilting the quillow in cotton, used a cotton
backing, and everything went wonderfully. Now am on to the final baby
quilt which has a polycotton backing and I wanted to use a rayon thread
but, guess what, the thread is breaking again.

I'm using a new but the same type needle and same settings. Its a nice
variagated thread and not particularly thick so will go and persevere. I
tried an assortment of needles last time when I had trouble jeans,
quilting and embroidery, - perhaps I will try one of the needles from an
unmarked box I have!
--
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ukhttp://community.webshots.com/user/sallyswin

Victory! - at least so far. I'm using a Madeira needle from my
embroidery days. The packet says Metallic No 40.15.12 Spectra. Jewel
Heavy Metal(no 'proper' sizes given) So Heavy Metal wins!! I will now
mark the packet for Rayon Thread! Apparently the eye is a special one
that doesn't fray threads, though I still feel that the tightly woven
backing has a hand in things. I had a packet of embroidery ones with the
same eye, but had used the larger sizes.

I'm only doing a few outlines in this thread, just to highlight round
the pictures, and will then probably revert to cotton. I'm only doing
straight stitching which is why it was so frustrating. I also loosened
the presser foot and the tension a bit.

When this is done I can concentrate on what I want to do rather than
what has to be done for a deadline. After this, no more deadlines -
unless DD decides I can have a grandchild!!

Thanks everyone for your input.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
http://community.webshots.com/user/sallyswin



Sally Swindells wrote:
I've just finished quilting the quillow in cotton, used a cotton
backing, and everything went wonderfully. Now am on to the final baby
quilt which has a polycotton backing and I wanted to use a rayon thread
but, guess what, the thread is breaking again.

I'm using a new but the same type needle and same settings. Its a nice
variagated thread and not particularly thick so will go and persevere. I
tried an assortment of needles last time when I had trouble jeans,
quilting and embroidery, - perhaps I will try one of the needles from an
unmarked box I have!