I love to applique with silk thread

[oldmitz]

I LOVE to applique with YLI silk thread. The stitches just seem to melt into the cotton fabrics.

You have to knot the thread at the eye of the needle to keep it from coming unthreaded.

I highly suggest using it. No commerical involvement just a happy user.

Barbara

[oldmitz]

I so agree. Silk threads are the best for applique. And yes, don't forget the knot or you will be frustrated. Start out with a neutral color that goes with a lot of colors. It's not necessary but I now have one in every color. Should last me my lifetime.

Sherry Lynne

[oldmitz]

:lol: I had just "discovered" silk thread last summer and fallen in love with it. I then needed to put in a hem on some sheer, delicate panels for a pair of pants for my daughters wedding. It had to be done by hand and the silk thread was perfect. I now use it for all my delicate things and hand applique.
Cheryl

[oldmitz]

Here is another way to keep your needle threaded when using silk thread. I found this in "Perfect Hand Applique" by Liuxin Newman. Thread your needle and knot the far end as usual. Hold the short end of the thread (about 1-2 inches) between the thumb and index fingers of your non-sewing hand. Pierce the thread with the needle tip about 1 inch from the end. Let the short end of the thread make a half loop and pierce the thread again with the needle. Make another half loop and pierce again. You should now have what looks like an 'S' or squiggle of thread on the needle. Gently slide the loops of thread down the needle, over the eye and on to the long piece of the thread. Gently pull the long end of the thread to position the loops at the eye of the needle. No way will this slip off or hang in the finest fabric.

[QuilterLynn]

Ruth, I was just going to add Ms. Newman's methodology which I use every time I thread a silk thread to hand applique. I love YLI thread also. I have used others (Gutermann) and they are OK but not nearly as fine (small size thread) as YLI. That's what Luxin uses also.

My very first applique class was taught by someone who advocated NOTHING BUT COTTON thread because it was being used on cotton fabric. But after I used silk thread, there was just no comparison in ability to really attend to the finer details of hand applique. Her concern was the strength of silk/vs/cotton fibers and the silk wearing through the cotton fabric.

I'm 62 and I figure I'll be long gone when that happens, and they can fuss at me in my grave! :lol: :roll:

[QuilterLynn]

I discovered silk thread in a class where we were doing English paper piecing. I'm not really an applique person but I am taking a hand applique class in two weeks. I was already planning on taking along my YLI neutrals. They are great. I've got to try that knot technique.

[QuilterLynn]

Can anyone recommend YLI silk ribbon for embellishment purposes?
I began a Florida Album quilt yesterday with YLI ribbon included in the kit, but our teacher suggested we buy another brand..she said she had "shredding" problems with the YLI ribbon? What other brand would you suggest if you've had a bad experience with the YLI silk ribbon?

[QuilterLynn]

See how to keep silk thread on needle for applique.

Here is another way to keep your needle threaded when using silk thread. I found this in "Perfect Hand Applique" by Liuxin Newman. Thread your needle and knot the far end as usual. Hold the short end of the thread (about 1-2 inches) between the thumb and index fingers of your non-sewing hand. Pierce the thread with the needle tip about 1 inch from the end. Let the short end of the thread make a half loop and pierce the thread again with the needle. Make another half loop and pierce again. You should now have what looks like an 'S' or squiggle of thread on the needle. Gently slide the loops of thread down the needle, over the eye and on to the long piece of the thread. Gently pull the long end of the thread to position the loops at the eye of the needle. No way will this slip off or hang in the finest fabric.

[QuilterLynn]

Hi, i found this indian shop selling sating for a very cheap price and bought some yards! Now I would like to hear some suggestions, can I do applique with silk thread in satin fabric?? Is silk thread ok for machine applique??
thanks, I bought those satin fabrics and want to do some fancy quilt out of them!

[RoxyB]

I read what Sue Garman said in her chat last week about silk thread. She said your applique could fall off if you used the quilt, or handled it. I've used silk thread and loved it, but that worried me. So instead I purchased what she said she used---Mettler -60. Has anyone had problems with the silk thread when doing applique?

[RoxyB]

I tried silk thread after I had done a Luixin Newman applique class but I honestly didn't get on very well with it so went back to the Mettler 60

BUT I think it may have been an operator error ( my problem) as I know of other people who get on well with it

But like EVERYTHING in quilting find what suits YOU and stick with it!


Maureen

[Seesaw]

Sewso - My first experience with silk ribbon was about fourteen years ago and all I had was Wal Mart. I've never had trouble with the brand they carried. It was made by Bucilla who also made yarn. Of course Wal Mart discontinued this many years ago. Now I purchase my ribbon from ingoodcohanddyes.com. They are located in Hamilton, MT. Judith Baker Montano also carries silk ribbon. She lives in La Veta and has been on TQS. Good luck. Carolyn in Kerrville, TX

[EditorAnne]

Here is another way to keep your needle threaded when using silk thread. I found this in "Perfect Hand Applique" by Liuxin Newman. Thread your needle and knot the far end as usual. Hold the short end of the thread (about 1-2 inches) between the thumb and index fingers of your non-sewing hand. Pierce the thread with the needle tip about 1 inch from the end. Let the short end of the thread make a half loop and pierce the thread again with the needle. Make another half loop and pierce again. You should now have what looks like an 'S' or squiggle of thread on the needle. Gently slide the loops of thread down the needle, over the eye and on to the long piece of the thread. Gently pull the long end of the thread to position the loops at the eye of the needle. No way will this slip off or hang in the finest fabric.

Liuxin demonstrated this technique on TQS. I forget which show it was.

I love YLI silk thread for machine quilting. It's gorgeous!

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

[EditorAnne]

dear valeri (quiltcreations),

is it silk satin or polyester satin?
either way, you may find it rather slippery and have to use some fusing or foundations to keep things in place.
i was also born in rio de janeiro and now live in canada

[Sewdreamy]

I love the silk thread for my machine applique. It's gorgeous and makes the applique look very close to hand applique. I have never had trouble with sillk-sewn applique falling off. Silk is tough has lasted for hundreds of years in antique items. I might not use it for utility quilts that I would be washing frequently, but for wall art it can't be beat. Cheers, Betty Jo