Ask Quilting Questions Here

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Pat M. — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:05:39 GMT

I wonder if it wasn't a case of using the wrong size needle and not the thread that caused the problem. I would contact Superior Threads and ask about this. Superior Threads is great about answering questions.

Pat--"Keep Calm and Carry On"

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Lindsey — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:44:43 GMT

Ok, now that is bad news!!! I don't want this happening to my dh quilt, that I've spent time and money on! :-(

I've just bought some Aurofil thread. Maybe I'll use that for quilting in the bobbin instead and send the other spool of polyester back.

I'm going to have to do a test patch now before I go ahead I think. If I was going to make a wall hanging I would keep the thread but I don't plan on doing that anytime soon, so I may as well get some cotton for my next quilt.

Thanks again for your help and consideration!

Happy sttiching, Lindsey, Norfolk, UK

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Jeanine — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:15:44 GMT

http://www.quiltingismytherapy.com/2010/08/13/machine-quilting-thread-cotton-vs-polyester/

https://www.superiorthreads.com/videos/2-cotton-thread-vs-polyester-thread/

Just a couple links that talk about thread.

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Thea — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:35:28 GMT

Lindsey, I will only use cotton thread on my quilts - if you look into the types of thread - over time polyester thread because it is man made and stronger and more brittle then cotton will cut into the cotton thread that your quilt is made of. I had a quilt that was quilted by a friend of mine who does long arm work and I couldn't figure out why the backing was wearing in spots and starting to make holes and it was around where she had heavily done McTavish style quilting. I called her and she told me she had been using bottom line in her bobbins because it is such a nice thread and had stopped. I had not been the only person that had called her and talked to her about this.

I am not saying that this will happen to a quilt hung on a wall - but the quilts she quilted for me were heavily appliqued and she used the McTavish style of quilting around the appliques on the quilt - the quilt was beautifully quilted - but because of this I tell anyone that quilts for me that I request only cotton threads.

Poly does not have any lint which is nice but for me I am very old school and just want cotton.

I use bottom line when I am doing machine embroidery and it is wonderful for that. Only time I use any of my polyester threads. I have a rainbow in both cotton and polyester - quilting - cotton only.

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Barbara — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 22:51:05 GMT

Thanks Lindsey, that is a good link ,I have seen this and I do use their thread quilt a bit . Good luck on your quilting and keep us posted on how its going .. Barbara

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Lindsey — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:06:39 GMT

Hi again!

The shop where I bought the thread from sent me a link which is very good at explaining the thread.

I'm going to take some time off work in the next couple of weeks, so I can have a go at quilting the quilt, uninterrupted hopefully! And also when I can clear the dinner table and use it!

Here is the link if anyone is still interested! Thanks again for all your help. Will let you know how I get on!

http://www.superiorthreads.co.uk/home.php?cat=391

Happy stitching, Lindsey, Norfolk, UK

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Annie — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:45:57 GMT

For a long time I thought that anything but cotton was inferior. I only used aurifil and really liked it. Quilted just fine. But then I accidently bought a poly thread on line and loved it so much that I use it for FMQ on my DSM. I use the aurifil I have left for all my piecing.

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Barbara — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:01:47 GMT

Pat, I do love quilting with the poly thread it just does such a nice job and I love the way it looks on the quilt .I think you will like it

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Pat Lancaster — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:56:10 GMT

This is a great thread, no pun intended. I have always gone with cotton thread because of all those who way you should only use cotton thread with cotton fabric. I read where someone was having lots of problems with her machine because of all the lint. After she switched to poly thread she doesn't have the problem anymore. I am getting ready to quilt a quilt made with fabric that I paid way to much for. Because of some of the problems I have been having with lint in my machine I ordered some poly thread. As soon as it gets here I will give it a test and hopefully it will be the answer I need. I was really glad to read about all of you ladies who are using poly.

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Pat M. — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:32:04 GMT

Hi, Lindsey!

Sorry, I'm not a Brit. (Although my grandmother came from Scotland and my American-born-and raised sister can put together a great high tea!). I was born and raised in New Jersey (USA) and after living in California and Ilinois I now live in Iowa. Both my daughter and I do enjoy most things British and "Keep Calm and Carry On" is a great way of looking at life.

I'm not sure how mixing King Tut and Bottom Line will work for you. I usually use the same thread on top and bottom. Looking at the chart I received from Superior Threads (available online on their website) I see that So Fine 50 wt. is suggested for use in the bobbin when using King Tut on top. Bottom Line is a bit thinner, but I would do a sample piece and see what happens. Hope it works for you.

Pat--"Keep Calm and Carry On"

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Barbara — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:09:46 GMT

Lindsey ,we will look foward to seeing your quilts. I'm sure they will be beatuiful . I very happy we could help you out. Barbara

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Lindsey — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:44:32 GMT

Hi Pat! Many thanks for your reply! Good to know I won't be the only lone soul using it! I'm hoping it will help the tension problems I've been getting recently! I've got King Tut variegated for the top thread, so hopefully it'll make the top look pretty!

Judging by the "Keep calm and carry on, can I guess you're british like me?

Where are you in the UK? I'm in Norfolk, although my dh will be out of a job at christmas, so I'm not sure if we'll still be here next year.

Enough rambling! Thanks again, happy stitching, Lindsey

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Lindsey — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:36:33 GMT

Hi Ramona and all the other kind people who replied!!

I think I will give it a go. There must have been something that I read that made me buy it in the first place!! Plus I can't be bothered to send the thread back, lol!!

I'm sure it would be withdrawn from the shops if many people had problems with it, and I like the fact that it "disappears" into the backing fabric. The tension on my machine has been playing up a bit which is really annoying, as it means I have to unpick, grrr!!

So. again, many thanks for your replies. I will post a picture of the quilt once I've started stitching with it. All that's left is for me to book 2 afternoons off work to enable me to do the stitching! Got to get it done ready for christmas! Lol! Watch this space as they say!

Happy stitching! Lindsey, Norfolk, UK

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Ramona — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:29:16 GMT

Lindsey,

There are some who have always felt that if you have cotton fabric then use cotton thread. With all the new thread technology and all the different threads, I feel anything goes. We use metallics, poly, cotton, cotton wraped poly, decorative threads, etc.

As you see here there are several who use the Bottom Line thread and love it. Myself I use the same thread in the bobbin as I use on the top of the quilt. My longarm likes it that way but the Bottom Line works great as a bobbin thread. For my Gammill I have found that I have to slow down and go through the thread guides differently if I want to use it in both the bobbin and top. The speed of the machine tends to break the threads when doing custom quilting. I have other brands that my machine prefers. It does very well with Sew Fine for custom work. If you are using a home machine, I'm sure this will work very well for you. As for it being polyester...not a problem. Go for it.

Re: Help! Bottom Line 60 wt sewing thread question!

Barbara — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:41:32 GMT

Donna, I just got real tired of buying the cotton thread for my machine to hate it . My machine just works so much better with the poly thread ,and I 'm going to use what my machine likes.Saves me so much time and no trouble . I have not any problems using it to FMQ and It looks beautiful on the quilts.