Thread tension not so fun?
Posted by Wendy Breakstone Ladd | Filed under Free Motion Quilting, Quilting for Beginners, Sewing Fun
I’ve been lucky enough to have not experienced the dreaded thread tension problems that so many people struggle with (to date). But given that I’m about to embark on my first free-motion quilting project for my son’s Thomas the Tank quilt (more later on my first quilt) I’ve been gearing up for the inevitable broken thread or tangled bobbin, etc.
Yesterday though I saw a few great articles about how to adjust thread tension and practice before you pay the price.
1. As usual I as on Leah Day’s 365 Days of Free Motion Quilting Filler Designs blog (I follow her religiously). She wrote a lengthy, yet not boring, post called Tension Tangles describing various thread tension problems and how regular adjustments to tension will remedy alot of your problems.
2. While reading the latest Winter 2009/2010 International Quilt Festival magazine (published by QuiltingArts) I saw an article on page 118 that was an aewesome read: Machine Quilting – Start Right. In it, free-motion quilter/extraordinaire Teri Lucas gives a great beginner overview to free-motion quilting and discusses the importance of thread tension.
Teri’s first thread tension tip and probably the easiest is:
“Rethreading the machine is always the first option in diagnosing tension problems.” Other quick topics she touches on include “selecting your batting,” “choose the right thread,” and “develop and quilting network.” Its all good tips and things to remember!
Photo Courtesy: Threads Magazine
3. Threads Magazine online offers a good article with diagrams called “Understanding Thread Tension.” Like most articles from Threads, its thorough and easy to understand.
Now the trick is to actually GO FOR IT and play with the thread tension. After all, what’s the worst thing that could happen?
Happy Holidays!
Tags: beginner sewing, Free Motion Quilting, thread tension, tips for beginning sewers
