The Sassy Quilter - saving the world one quilt at a time...

Time 2021-01-02 10:03:47

Web Name: The Sassy Quilter - saving the world one quilt at a time...

WebSite: http://www.sassyquilter.com

ID:154011

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Let s talk about Thread!Thread is our most essential tool for quilting . without it nothing gets pieced or quilted!So how well do you know your thread?Let s talk about types of thread and when to use them Photo by Irene Lasus on Pexels.comThread comes in several commonly used types. Each has its own purpose for sewing. Using the right thread for the job will make your quilting go much smoother. Using the wrong thread and needle combo can result in thread breakage and tension issues, so you need to know your stuff.Types of thread:Cotton Natural, soft, durable, low sheen(dull finish). Not at strong as polyester. It is the most common quilting thread. Cotton thread with cotton fabric is the goal to have a long lasting quilt and quilting. I m a big fan of Aurifil, but each machine will have a brand that works best for you.Polyester Strong, durable, colorfast, various finishes(shiny). It is also used in piecing and quilting there is controversy that polyester thread is too strong and the fabric will tear away from the stitching eventually. That is a long term result though. You will have to be the judge on what works for you. I have used both cotton and polyester for quilting and been just fine so far.Rayon Mostly used for embroidery, cheaper, less durable, not colorfast, high shiny factor.Monofilament Invisible, strong(but brittle over time), not colorfast(yellows over time), not heat resistant it will melt!Metallic Not really thread plastic cut into thin strips. You need a special needle and this thread breaks easily.Sizes of thread:The size of your thread is measured by weight(wt.). The bigger the number the finer the thread. Thick thread gives you bulky stitches that have a more primitive look. The finer the thread the more it becomes less visible in your quilting.8wt.- A very thick thread. Perle cotton is the most common. Mostly used for embroidery and big stitch quilting.12wt.- This is also a thick thread and can be used for embroidery and big stitch quilting.30wt.-Very common size thread. Used for general piecing and quilting.40wt.-A finer thread. Also very common. Aurifil has a 40wt. that I use most of the time.50wt.-A very fine thread, great for making your stitches blend, great in your bobbin, too! This thread will be the least visible.Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.comHow is your thread wound on the spool?How your thread is loaded tells you how it should stand on your machine. If it is cross-wound, it should be horizontal with a spool cap to keep it in place. If it is stacked, it should sit vertically. If not in the right direction it doesn’t come off the spool properly and can get tangled or you may even notice some tension issues. If your machine will not hold the spool both directions, there are thread stands to help you out. Thread stands are also used for those large cones of thread. Below is a pic of a straight or stacked wound spool(left) and a cross-wound(right).Tips:Monofilament and Metallic like to fall off the spool, so a net that fits over the spool keeps it in place and helps with tension. I bet you didn’t even know what that netty thing was for:)Quality, quality, quality! Cheap thread is linty and will get inside your machine and drive you nuts with machine troubles and thread breaks.Grey is an amazing neutral color to use, light or dark grey will blend with almost anything.Don’t listen to rumors! Experiment, try lots and see what you and your machine love .Here is a link to a great thread you should totally give a try!Aurifil ThreadKeep it Sassy You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter  on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin , Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)! Are you happy?I mean really happy???Well Quilting is one of the fastest ways to get there!According to the PERMA model of happiness, designed by Martin Seligman, there are five core elements of psychological well-being and happiness and Quilting will help you check all 5 off the list! These five elements can lead you to a life of fulfillment, happiness, and meaning.PERMA model of happinessLet s look at each element:Positive EmotionsThis is more than just smiling and acting happy You have to have a positive outlook and be optimistic. This positive mindset will inspire you to be more creative and take more chances. Now you know we need and use a lot of that in quilting! Positivity keeps our minds moving and thinking which is just one of the health benefits to optimism. Now there is a difference between pleasure and enjoyment Pleasure is meeting our basic needs, Enjoyment is evolves from intellectual stimulation and creativity. Quilting brings us much enjoyment and positive feelings.Engagement(Flow)We need a hobby that requires our full engagement to grow our happiness. It must totally absorb us in the present moment . creating Flow. I don t know about you but when I have a day to totally commit to quilting, I am totally in my Flow . it feels awesome and I am definitely happy. Everyone is different and we find our own Flow.RelationshipsWe are social people that thrive on connecting and interacting with other people. Having positive relationships is important for many reasons. They provide support, joy, love, intimacy and many others. It is even proven that pain centers in the brain are activated if we are at risk of being alone or isolated mainly because being alone ultimately doesn t protect your survival. Quilting is just full of social connections! I absolutely love all the friends I ve made through quilting and blogging. There is nothing better than connecting with someone who loves what I love. I m a dental hygienist and schedule extra time for all my quilty patients I need to talk longer to my sassy friends:)MeaningHaving purpose on this earth is essential to having a fulfilled and happy life. It gives us a reason to live. Taking the time to understand why you do what you do is important. I believe Quilting is like anything else that gives us meaning and purpose. Not only does it make us happy, it lets us show love and meaning to those around us. You only get a free quilt because someone loves you! I quilt because I love the physical tasks involved, sometimes tedious, sometimes not. I love sharing my love of quilting with others and helping them grow. I love how finishing projects makes me feel and last but not least I love giving someone I love a quilt. It s like wrapping myself around them, a never ending hug! Our hobby has great purpose!AchievementGoals, ambition these things provide us a sense of accomplishment. Making quilt goals and meeting them helps us thrive and grow! The feeling of finishing that difficult quilt or piecing those difficult blocks shows us we can do anything we put our minds to. I love to check things off  my list and my quilt goals list is no different. Make sure your goals are realistic so that you can see yourself grow and become the person you want to be.So get out there! Find what makes you happy, be positive, dive in, engage with friends, and challenge yourself! Enjoy your quilting and take pride in how it makes you feel . even if your friends still think you knit and or make blankets, lol.Information for this post was found HERE. I ve been doing a Let s talk about Quilting series about all the different parts and pieces of quilting. You can find my two previous posts here about Batting and Starch. I hope you are enjoying them they are a little on the educational side. Sometimes its good to dig deep and really get to know about our quilting tools and supplies!Let s talk about Sewing Machine Needles First things first, what are the parts of a needle?Parts of a NeedleDid you know a needle had a scarf???The scarf of the needle is a small trough that helps the hook(in the bobbin case) pick up the thread.  The eye of the needle is actually bigger on one side, so if you are having a hard time threading your needle try the other side. The side where the groove is also helps to guide the thread through the eye.Needle SizesNeedles come in all sizes and there are several types of needles you can use.The most common universal sizes are:70/10- used for lighter wt. fabrics like polyester or silk80/12-most used for medium wt. fabrics like cotton and linen90/14- used for heavier fabricsMicrotex(Sharp)-slimmer needle with fine point. Excellent for piecing and using with batiksOther types of specialty needles are:Ballpoint-used for knitsDenim and Leather-for heavy fabrics like denim or leatherCurved-for hemmingPhoto by Alex Andrews on Pexels.comHow often do you change your needle?Sewing machine needles are good for about 4-8hrs of sewing. That being said Needles are inexpensive and I recommend changing with each project and especially when machine quilting.You can tell when a needle is getting dull by a punching sound it makes when trying to pierce the fabric. Another clue is thread breaking, skipping stitches or tension issues.Hope you enjoyed this post! Leave a comment if there is anything you would like to know more about:)Keep it Sassy You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter  on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin , Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)! We are on Block 4 in the Threadology Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop!Block 4Churn Dash Blocks are finito!I think they came out great I m biased:)They are super simple and easy to put together!These baby blocks are just tooooo cute!If you haven t joined in it s not too late!Just head on over to The Jolly Jabber blog by Fat Quarter Shop. The pattern is FREE, but proceeds are going to the Make a Wish Foundation, so donations are encouraged.They are sold out of the Threadology Quilt Kit and Backing set so if you are just joining in, you can find the full fabric requirements HERE to make a Threadology Quilt just like theirs. I am loving seeing all the different varieties of fabrics used in these quilts.The winner from the Log Cabins and a giveaway! post is Brenda NiedermeyerThanks so much guys for following along!Keep it Sassy You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter  on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin , Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)! Disclosure Statement All blog content is my own unless otherwise noted. I love when you share my work, just make sure you link back to this blog and credit me. Please no copying of entire posts. This blog has paid sponsors and uses affiliate links in order to operate. Affiliate links/ads may provide a small commission when an item is clicked on and then purchased, but all opinions are my own and 100% authentic. Compensation in no way influences my opinions, content, or posts. I promise to only share content that adds will benefit and be usefull to my readers. My current affiliates are Craftsy, Google Adsense, and Share-a-sale. For any questions or concerns please email me thesassyquilter@gmail.com. Thanks!

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