Create a New Forum Admin Login Member Login Contribute to Voyager Search VoyForums Help Desk VoyForums Exchange VoyForums Directory/Categories VoyForums Homepage VoyForums News FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: [1] ]

Subject: Thread/Needle Tips Author: Anonymous [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 12:20:32 03/06/02 Wed In reply to: K 's message, "Tips/Techniques" on 15:47:31 03/10/01 Sat [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> [> [> Subject: Metallic Thread Author: Anonymous [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 12:26:03 03/06/02 Wed I am having trouble using metallic threads on my machine. They keep breaking! Also one particular thread has broken 3 needles! Does anyone have any tips, hints or suggestions to prevent this? It is very frustrating. Replies: -I've done a lot of embroidery with metallic threads on the two dresses I've made for my older daughter -- she loves the look of metallic embroidery to set off the appliques. A few suggestions -- always use a "metallica" needle, they are specially constructed to accommodate the threads; try a different size needle; only use the best quality embroidery threads (I use Sulky); make sure your machine is threaded properly; clean the lint from between the tension discs; try reversing your spool of thread so the thread feeds off the spool differently; loosen the upper tension a little; always use lightweight bobbin thread; sew more slowly. - Metallic thread problems?? Well, here are a few tips I hope will help you. 1.Use the metallic thread on an upright spool pin only and have the thread feed off of the backside of the spool only. 2.Use only a size 90 TOPSTITCH needle as the groove down the shaft is deeper and the eye larger than even a metallic needle. 3.You need to loosen your top needle tension considerably with metallic threads. Take a sample of fabric and play with the tension until you can see the metallic thread being pulled through to the backside of the work. Use a lightweight thread (60 OR 70 weight) in the bobbin. 4.If all this has failed to help, e-mail me with the brand and I can be a little more specific. 5.You can also use sewer's aid with your thread but only if you know that you do not have any plastic or nylon parts in the tension paths. Sewers aid is made with silicone and I think it is safe for use in a Bernina, but a quick call to you dealer can give you the answer. 6. Last but not least--slow down. You don't want to sew as fast as you normally would--go about 1/2 to 2/3 normal speed. - One more thing is to make sure your needle plate or the hook of your bobbin do not have any rough spots. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: Black Thread Type Author: Anonymous [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 13:18:40 03/15/02 Fri Does anyone have any tips on how to embroider with black thread. The problem we have been having is it snagging and breaking very easily. We have tried practically every brand on the market. We have been told that black is the most dyed colour so the thread fibre has taken more abuse. Any ideas? Replies -I use Madeira and have never had a problem -try using a polyester embroidery thread instead of rayon. It snags less. I use Madeira brand as well., -This is my area of expertise as I used to teach decorative sewing with metallic/decorative threads. You have to make sure that your machine is clean--the bobbin area needs to be cleaned often as it collects lint and metallic fibers from applique. You need to check your bobbin and stitch plate for burrs as well--every time you run over a pin, you run the danger of creating a scratch or a nick in these areas. You can get emery cloth at the hardware store to take care of these problems. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: How much to buy Author: Anonymous [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 13:33:58 03/15/02 Fri About how many meters of thread does it take to applique and embroider a solo dress? I want to order enough so that it all comes from the same dye lot. Replies: -Are you talking about hand or machine embroidering? For one dress, 1000m spool (machine) of each color should be plenty. If you are hand embroidering, get 5 - 6 skeins of each color. -There are so many variables that it is almost impossible to give an actual recommendation. The size of the dress, amount of embroidery, width of the stitching line, and number of colors all must be factored in before making a recommendation. The best solution is often to purchase the maximum amount you could imagine needing, plus 10% from a store that would allow you to return unused, unopened spools of thread. That way you are assured that the dye lots match, while not having to pay for unused thread. -I am currently working on a dress for my daughter, a complex design -- all applique outlined in black, and have already used 4 1000 yard spools, and I'm about 2/3 done. This dress is for a 5'4" tall 12 year old who wears a size 7-9 in most clothes, so I'd consider it a "medium" size dress. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]