Welcome to Shiralee Stitches. I live on a cattle farm in Australia with my family.
I am passionate about all things fabric so much so I started my own online and mobile store. Link is on the sidebar to my store. I teach patchwork classes and take my shop to quilting and patchwork groups and also attend various craft markets.
I love English Paper Piecing, applique, machine quilting, working with woven wools. I have started making my own designs which I love.

Tuesday 8 November 2011

There's been a lot of talk about thread..........

As all the Stitch-Along ladies begin their needleturn blocks for the latest quilt, Some Kind of Wonderful, there's beeen a bit of debate over the thread to use and why..........

I have enjoyed doing needleturn applique for some time now, and was always an avid Guterman cotton only woman, mainly because of the old argument that the thread type (cotton) should match the fabric type for similar wear and tear qualities. I did find though that cotton thread is not as strong as I would have liked and I did learn of an alternative, which I reluctantly tried (I say reluctantly because it is a polyester thread and it didn't match my cotton theory!!!)  But one try and I was in love with it..........I justify allowing a polyester thread on my needleturn quilts this way.. 
 1..... a needleturn quilt of mine won't hit the washing machine on a weekly basis, so I'm not so worried about the fabrics wearing at varying rates                                                   
2......the stitches are completely invisible, and my work in turn looks more professional                                    3..... the thread is strong and does not fray to nothing as I work with it 
4......it is cheaper as the thread is sold as bobbins so I can have many smaller amounts of lots of colours for variety, which is really essential for applique

........so you may ask what is it called??????.......
It is from the Superior Threads range, more particularly their Bottomline Polyester thread......a 60weight thread (fine), and you can buy it like this..........

 ....it's called a Superbobs Donut....how cool is that???????.........
......every colour to suit.................................
Just ask me in the comments and I can let you know where I got mine and how much I payed.......as the saying goes....."I think it's the best thing since sliced bread!!!!!!".

Oh and I have made a start on my first block, the patty cakes.....here's the proof.........


Anyway, I hope this may be of help to some of you as you gather everyone's ideas in order to make your own decision on the issue of thread............
I hope you are all keeping your hands busy with fabric........

10 comments:

Anita said...

ok.......so where'd you get it and how much did it cost?? LOL

Kate said...

Yeah spill I want to know too lol

Chookyblue...... said...

the threads are great aren't they.............and the mix of colours in the donut i great.........

Cardygirl said...

I love my donut!

linny said...

I'm not a part of the stitchalong(no blog) but do a lot of needleturn & would love to get hold of a donut.
I also follow all you girls on the stitch along blog & love seeing what you are up to.
lyn.robyn.smith@gmail.com

Lyn said...

Ok, I'll ask where you got it from- there is a good selections of colours

Sam said...

Thread looks great, so does your stitching. Would love to meet at rainbow sometime. Sadly I don't get there very often. Let me know next time you are going & i will see if I can get there. Sam

Sam said...

Thread looks great so does your stitching. Would love to meet at Rainbow sometime, sadly I don't get there very often. Let me know next time you might be there & I will see if i can get there.Sam

Anonymous said...

That donut looks great. I have the ring but no treads in it... I must get something started with my SAL too. Yours looks great.

rosie said...

Hi,just found you! I love your theory for using non-cotton... I was taught to use cotton for the reasons you first gave but I completely agree with you about the breakages and the larger stitches.. Where did you get the little donut from? It's a great idea..