THE REPLY FROM NIKKI:-
Hello Chris
Firstly, never let a thread stop you from using it! I've used Perle thread successfully on numerous quilts, although it's fair to say that it slides far more happily through an open-weave fabric than a closely-woven fabric.
Regardless of what number Perle you choose, firstly, make a neat, simple knot, ie a 'tale in a circle' knot and NOT a fancy quilters' knot, and certainly NOT a wet-finger, roly-poly knot.
Pull the knot as tight as you can to make it as small as you can. This should 'pop' through most cotton fibre fabrics quite easily (see ** and *** below).
You will presumably be using a larger-shanked needle to accommodate the thicker thread: the larger shank should feasibly provide a hole in the fabric which is large enough for the thread to pass through - sometimes, you can help the 'knot popping' stage by gently prising the fibres a little wider with the point of the needle, and then running a fingernail over the tiny hole afterward to 'close' it.
However, some cotton fibre fabrics are quite densely woven and may be hard to work with. If you have any worry at all about your quilt surface fibres being distorted or ruined, or if the fabric is too densely woven, then make an exception in that case and 'pop' your knot through your backing fabric. Very useful to remember when working with silks, etc.
**You should be taking your needle into the fabric and running it through the wadding for approx. three quarters of the needle's length to give the knot somewhere to travel. A quarter inch or so is not enough space, especially for thicker threads.
***If your knot sets up resistance (ie you get it as far as the fabric surface and it won't 'pop' through), pull the knot about an inch or so away from the fabric, hold the fabric taught with one hand and try to pull and 'pop' the knot in one fluid motion: it's called "catching the knot unawares" - don't give the knot a chance to think about it (ie the Psychology of the Knot!).
I hope this has answered your questions? Good luck with your quilting - come back to me if I can help any more.
Please feel free to post my reply on your forum, if you feel it may help others.
My NTL address will become obsolete soon, but I can always be contacted via my (non-commercial) website:
http://www.nikkitinkler.com, or my alternative email address:
mailto:nikkitinkler@hotmail.com.
All best wishes
Nikki Tinkler
http://www.nikkitinkler.com
Author of:
"Quilting With A Difference", and
"The Quilters' and Patchworkers' Stitch Bible"
(details on website)
