I love to applique with silk thread

[QuilterLynn]

I believe that is what Diane Guidenski (sp?) uses - 100 wt silk thread. She says it increases the cost of the quilt, but she just prefers the way it looks!

[Judymc]

I believe Sue Garman mentioned that the Piece 'o Cake ladies had some appliques fall off of quilts they had made a few years ago. I think the silk thread is too strong for the cotton and cuts through. I'm going to stick with the cotton thread--I use Superior's pre-wound 60 wt. bobbins that come in many colors. I put all the colors in a round rubber bobbin holder and it's really portable, too. I've used the cotton covered polyester thread by Coats and Clark on many of the applique quilts I made years ago--that was all that was available--and I've never had any trouble. You'd think the polyester might be even more of a problem than the silk--go figure! Judy in Torrance

[Stinki]

Judy, I would never have thought of using the pre=wound bobbin thread for my applique work.... how clever... much more portable and organized!

Carla

[pigtailpat]

OK I have a question about silk thread. I am in the process of preparing/planning for my first cathedral window quilt. I am doing the traditional way with muslin (the muslin is a tea-stained color - not the lighter natural muslin), and the foreground windows will be silk. I am very lucky, my SIL has extensively traveled abroad, and she collected alot of silk fabric over the years and she's not using it. So she's giving it to me free!

So my question is, if this was you and the windows will be silk, would silk thread by a good choice for the stitching of the foreground windows? I will be doing the stitching by machine - this will not be a hand stitch project.

I have drooled over silk thread for so long, maybe this would be the time to try. Is silk thread used in the top and bobbin? If not together, would pairing with a lighter thread (like 60 weight cotton for the muslin back) be a good choice?

Thanks.

Pat

[rehak]

Hi Pat -

I don't know what is the best choice for your Cathedral Windows, but I use #100 silk thread in top and bobbin for machine applique and I like how it looks. And this is with batiks in my current project. You could also use a fine cotton thread. For the windows, I imagine you'll be matching the thread to the muslin rather than to the silks, so I think you're fine with either.

Nancy

[pigtailpat]

thanks so much for the feedback. Yes alot of people match the thread to the muslin, I want to experiment just a little and see if a contrast thread whether it would work. I have yet to see the material from my SIL, so I have to wait until I see what I'm working with........if the material will make it better to match thread to the muslin, I will do that.

Have fingers crossed that what she has I will fall in love with!

Pat

[twiglet]

I have used light or darker grey rather than match the YLI 100 to the fabric and it still disappears. I think if you use a cotton in the bobbin then there is the risk of it damaging the silk thread :?

Hope you show us the fabric collection and your cathedral windows

[pigtailpat]

I shall. Getting together with SIL is like trying to extract a date with the president. She's so busy. But I shall do it sooner or later, and get the fabric. It is really no rush though, as I am in the planning stages, and I am doing experimental piecing to make sure I understand the technique, with scrap fabric and leftover muslin from a prior project. I have used mettler silk finish (not the same of course as pure silk thread), and I just have to try a little silk thread.

Pat