needles for applique over fusible web
i'm brain dead tonite and have promised an answer to a new quilter, so i'm hoping someone on the board can help.
a new quilter is using fusible to do applique and then is going over it with "invisible" thread. she asked me if there is some special needle she should be using. i've drawn a blank as i only recently began doing machine applique, and i'm turning under my pieces not using a fusible. i would imagine a sharp point would be prefereable.
thanx for any and all input.
dutchrose ---{-@
a new quilter is using fusible to do applique and then is going over it with "invisible" thread. she asked me if there is some special needle she should be using. i've drawn a blank as i only recently began doing machine applique, and i'm turning under my pieces not using a fusible. i would imagine a sharp point would be prefereable.
thanx for any and all input.
dutchrose ---{-@
posted by dutchrose @ 1:01 AM
5 Comments:
At September 6, 2008 at 7:56 AM ,
Judy in Ohio said...
It depends on what kind of fusible she used. If she used Heat and Bond's Ultrahold then no kind of topstitching will be needed at all; a needle will not penetrate that stuff.
You have to ask her what kind of fusible she used and then she should read the instructions that came with the fusible. IMHO invisible thread would not be a wise choice in any case but that's just one quilter's opinion. (Making two synthetic products "play nice" together sometimes is frustrating.)
Judy
At September 6, 2008 at 9:45 AM ,
jdb in AZ said...
I use Steam-A-Seam-2 because it doesn't make the fusible board-stiff.
All brands of invisible thread are not created equal -- make sure your friend has quilt-shop quality stuff and not the thick thread that looks like fishing line (which will melt when ironed or in the dryer.)
I fought MQ with invisible thread for years because it kept doing loop-de-loops and leaving thread throw up on the back. Then Ruth McDowell recommended using a tiny needle. Makes sense cuz the thread is so thin. She said if you use a regular sewing machine needle the thread will flop around inside the eye, and the friction will make the thread/needle heat up, and stretch the thread, which was what caused my problems. So I switched to a 60/8 needle which is the skinniest needle with the smallest eye I've ever seen. It handles MQ with invisible thread really well, as long as I don't make any sudden moves while doing free-motion feathers. (I broke 2 needles this week -- grrr.) The needles aren't all that easy to find; you may need to special order them. Since the needles are delicate, I wouldn't try using them with anything but the lightest fusible.
SeamSTRESS Sally
At September 6, 2008 at 3:14 PM ,
Judy in Ohio said...
Sally, I would have to hire one of my granddaughters to thread that tiny needle with that tiny thread! You must be younger than I thought you were. (I will now duck and run for cover. LOL)
At September 22, 2008 at 10:00 PM ,
astroiguana said...
I always wondered how to machine quilt with invisible thread! Thanks for the tip, jdb
Your local Iguana
Ronna in Happy Valley
--/^^^^^o>
At September 23, 2008 at 4:19 PM ,
Sternenquilter said...
Judy, a great trick I learnt to thread machine needles is to take out the machine needle, thread it comfortably either with glasses VBG or a regular hand needle threader, then insert the needle back in the machine. Works for me! I love the 60/8 needles for stipple quilting with silk thread.
Sue in Germany
aka littlefrog
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