Seasonal Tension
November 21, 2008
Well, it's been a while since my last QuiltTalk article! Things have been crazy in the Cavanaugh house this fall as marching band draws to a close. I still have to check in and clean those 150 stinky band uniforms, but it's time to move on to show choir! Faithful column readers will know that in a city of nearly 40,000, Ankeny must only have six women who know how to sew, counting myself. It seems only a dedicated few gather every Monday and Thursday night to hem pants, shorten sleeves, and glue on what must be thousands of rhinestones! You haven't lived until you've sewn boning into stretch velour!
Naturally, all the “graduating senior” stuff must be done as well—order senior pictures, write check. Order cap, gown, and invitations, write check. Apply to colleges for admission, write check. Select final college, write VERY BIG check . Daughter Nicole (pictured below singing a solo at the fall show choir performance) has mood swings as big as Texas, depending on what was said in the latest of 765 daily text messages she receives.
But with the holidays upon us, things won't slow down quite yet. I know you're scurrying about as well, frantically getting quilts done for your loved ones or for customers. This time of year, different threads join the quilting mix, such as metallics on Christmas tree skirts or decorative rayon on stockings. Remember to slow down as you quilt with these threads to reduce heat build-up from friction. The heat causes the metallic to fray and melt—and I know you hate thread breakage! Use a smooth bobbin thread, such as a pre-wound polyester, Bottom Line, or invisible thread. Cotton thread will increase thread snaps.
Be sure your spool is placed correctly; if you're stitching with a flat metallic thread, it will work best horizontally. Thread it through the 3-hole thread guide as pictured below.
This keeps it from twisting and breaking as it passes through the tension disks. Loosen the tension (you may need to loosen both top AND bobbin) with metallic thread. If your project will get lots of laundering, take extra care with your starts and stops, or bury your thread tails.
Speaking of tension, I escaped from the “mom” drudgery long enough to put together a video that gets more involved about needle flex and tension for quilters. It's called “QuiltTalk In-depth.” I hope to make this a series of videos that will help you become a more knowledgeable quilter. Take seven minutes and click on the link to learn more.
Be sure to let me know if you have something you'd like me to address in QuiltTalk. The show choir season is much shorter than marching band, so I should have lots more time to chat with you. There can't be that many more “graduating senior” duties ahead, can there?
|
