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There is a lot of good lessons in the Superior Threads newsletter.  Be sure to sign up for more info. Here is a very good article from the last newsletter.

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EDUCATION: It's a Tug-of-war 
I don't mean to boast, but . . . I have done something that very few people have ever done.  I have read a sewing machine Owner's Manual from cover to cover.  While reading the chapter on tension I had an Ah hah! moment.  It was such an awakening, I still remember it today although it was six years ago.  I was reading page 51 about tension.  The manual stated that the top tension setting was factory preset to sew with a 50 or 60 wt. polyester thread. This particular machine was the top of the line machine at that time.  Although it offered everything including fancy stitches, embroidery capability, features for excellent piecing and quilting, I realized then that it was designed first and foremost as a sewing machine, not as a quilting or embroidery machine.  This explains why the top tension settings were factory preset to sew with a 50 or 60 wt. polyester thread.  That is sewing thread, not the usual quilting or embroidery thre ad.  Sewing machines are made around the world for the world.  The world sews. We quilt.

This realization led to greater curiosity and subsequent research into sewing machine tension.  One of the best lessons I heard on this topic was from Libby Lehman.  Think of the top and bottom thread as having a tug of war. 

If the threads are identical and you are sewing on a single layer of fabric and the tension settings are perfect so both sides have equal strength, the result will be a draw. The sewing should therefore produce perfectly even stitches with no top thread showing underneath and no bobbin thread showing on top. However, in the real world, the teams are rarely equal. One team will be stronger or bigger or faster or smoother than the other. We sometimes use decorative or sensitive threads on top. We often use different fibers for the top and bottom threads. We also add stabilizer or batting. Sometimes we might use a cotton bobbin thread and other times we use a polyester bobbin thread. All these factors make it necessary to adjust the tension for each project. By adjusting the top tension either up or down, we are able to add or take away strength on the top thread team to equalize the tug of war battle. Following is a list of things that affect stitch results: 
1. Batting. This adds drag on the top thread. Cotton batting tends to grab the thread more than poly batting, adding more friction on the thread. 
2. Fabric type. Dense fabric puts more stress on the thread. 
3. Top thread thickness and type. Metallic is less flexible than cotton or poly. Poly is usually stronger than cotton or rayon. 
4. Bobbin thread type. Cotton bobbin thread tends to grab more than a smooth filament polyester. Sometimes grabbing is preferred (when piecing) and sometimes it causes problems (with metallic thread). A smooth filament poly thread (not spun poly) in the bobbin will work better with metallic and other sensitive threads because its smooth finish acts almost like a lubricant, sliding nicely with the thread. 

Conclusion: We cannot rely on automatic tension settings.  There are too many variables.  As illustrated in the above diagram, if the top thread is showing underneath, either the top tension is too lose or the bobbin tension is too tight.  Either tighten the top or loosen the bobbin. If the bobbin thread is poking through the top, either the top is too tight or the bobbin is too loose.  Loosen the top or tighten the bobbin.  When making adjustments, begin with the top tension. 
Full page printable image of above diagram 

 

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Textiles by their very nature have been considered worthy of saving, and recycling, throughout the world for centuries. Unlike today, prior to modern technology, a large wardrobe of clothing was only attainable for those with status or great wealth.  In general the production of clothing was a long and labour intesive process.   Thus, every piece of clothing was considered precious and worthy of keeping-but not just for quilting.  Read more about producing and recycled clothing here...

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The Textile Museum's newest exhibit, Second Lives-The Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles, features an astounding collection of 're-purposed' clothing from their permanent collection worthy of making anyone take a second look at what could be done with their out of fashion wardrobe.  If you happen to be in the Washington, DC area during the next year, you just might want to add this exhibit to your itinerary.  The show runs through January 8, 2012.  For more info on the exhibit click here.


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Last week as Justin and I were heading to Puyallup, WA for the Sewing and Stitching Expo we were able to snag our 10th Drive-by Quilting. Valerie and her daughter found a safe spot on a pedestrian overpass in Portland, Oregon to show of her beautiful quilt. One person commented how great it was that she chose a Mariner's Compass to show us the way! Congratulations Valerie. Read the full story here.

Today we are heading home to Colorado. It will take at least three days. Here's hoping the snow stays away and we can make good time. A Drive-by Quilting requires lots of updates so stay tuned by following me (LIKE) on Facebook.

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It's Monday morning.  Do you need a little inspiration to get you going?  How about a little fast flowing paint and a touch of beautiful color?  Can you see a new abstract quilt your future?

The music is from the Kronos Quartet.

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Ruth Lee was born in Nebraska and moved to Kansas at the age of three. She liked to tell the story of tumbling out of the wagon and rolling under the wheel, but suffering no serious damage to her daughter Loretta.

She was an excellent seamstress and earned money tailoring furs and remaking men's suits into women's. This quilt was made in 1930 and is about 70" x 90."  It is made from cotton and hand pieced and hand quilted. Of all of the thousands of Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts, this one stands above the others.

To learn more about Ruth, click here.

Grandmother's Flower Garden 1 - 99 pieces non-rotating

Grandmother's Flower Garden 2 - 90 pieces rotating

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John Flynn, a good friend to TQS and fishing buddy to Alex, was the featured quilter at this year's Road to California quilt show. John had his own exhibit and spent some time hanging out there, hand quilting, while his fans watched. These quilts are from different periods in John's career. You can learn more about John in Show 410: Feathers, Pickles, and Gifts.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

 

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In Show 805: Feed Sacks, Fun, and Old Friends: Quilts of the 1930s, Alex and Ricky visited with Darra Williamson and Christine PorterFormerly Co-editor of British Patchwork & Quilting magazine, Christine is now a freelance writer and her quilts are mostly inspired by mediaeval and Victorian tile designs. Her latest book is "A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue" with Darra Williamson. Today Christine is sharing a bit of her quilts and a peek at her stash. Come along a take a look.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

 

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Quilt artist Jean Ray Laury, a key national figure in the renaissance of quilting during the 1970s and 1980s and an internationally known fiber artist and author, died Wednesday. She was 82. Her husband, Frank, has said a memorial service will be held in the future.

Jean Ray Laury was a freelance designer, quilter, and writer with one-woman, and group shows at museums, galleries and universities across the country. Her quilts are in both private and museum collections.

Jean made her first quilt in 1956 and went on to write numerous books about quilt making and taught classes throughout the world.  Her quilt, Barefoot and Pregnant , was considered one of the twentieth century's best American Quilts. Her name appears in the book 88 Leaders in the Quilt World Today and she was elected into the Quilter's Hall of Fame in 1982.

She was a treasure who will be greatly missed.

To learn more about Jean, click here.

 

 

 

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Look close at the unusual head dress.

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The joy of being around quilters is, as most of you know, over the top and often unexpected. Look what I just found at the Sew Expo in Puyallup, WA. These quilters were from Eguene, Oregon! What crazy or fun things do you wear to the quilt shows?