I just placed an order for Aurifil 50 wt thread for the appliques. Since I'm not sure which of the fabrics we'll be using by the time we finish the borders, I ordered thread to match all the fabrics in the kit. I have a "real thread" card for Aurifil, so these matches should be reliable.

#5006 "aquabee" for the lt turq solid
#2810 "turquoise" for the dk turq solid
#1154 "orange" for the orange solid
#2870 "green" for the green solid
#2140 "autumn gold" for the yel/orange leaves
#2865 "green work" for the grn/lt grn leaves
#5005 "scarab" for the turq/lt turq fronds
#4026 "dark green" for the dk grn swirls
#5002 "atom red" for the red/orange swirls
#2892 "ivy" for the dk/lt green circles
#2260 "bright red work" for the red dots
#2810 "turquoise' for the turq dots

beckyezra wrote:
Becky, I use any fine thread (50 or 60 weight, like MasterPiece or Aurifil) in the bobbin in a color that matches the applique shape. The MonoPoly is very slick, so I like to use the teeny-tiny stitches to secure the ends at both the beginning and the end. A cotton thread will "grab" the MonoPoly better than a slick one like Sew Fine, but I will use about anything that is a color match if it's not too thick.

I also select my bobbin thread more for VALUE than for color. For instance if my applique is a very light blue, I would use a white thread rather than a dark blue.

small question margo,
when you use monofilm thread on the top, what do you use in the bobin?

suehenyon wrote:
No, I tend to prefer texture rather than flat applique, and I have added Stable Stuff to every layer to provide some puff, so my layers are very thick, but they will not be stiff after my quilt is washed. I think that the extra weight of the applique layers will be balanced with the weight of all the piecing in the sashing and arcs, so I'm OK with it.

And yes!! I will definitely wash my quilt after it is bound to get rid of all the starch and glue that I have added.
My quilt is intended to be used and laundered!

Actually, most of my pokies with the CF Thread are from my lousy stitching, dark thread against a light background. Maybe it's not so bad after all! I just rinsed the sample and it's nice and soft.

Are we really going to wash this quilt???

My Charlotte's fusible thread came today & I tried a flower from scrap fabrics to see how it would react to both a batik and a more loosely woven fabric. I have to say, that there are a few pokies here and there, tiny ones. Back when Sue Nickels did her first show and we got a free project, I did the applique her way. Although that project didn't get washed, there really were no pokies at all. I'm probably going to try another sample following the directions as written. With the Charlotte's fusible thread, we still have to carefully stitch on all the lines, then carefully cut. It wasn't as fast for me as the one gigantic heart on the Youtube promotional video.

The first thing I had to figure out was how to wind a bobbin with this thread. My bobbin winder (on my Bernina) did not like it at all. I ended up just holding the thread in the bobbin winder with two fingers; four tries and I got it.

I didn't use a stablizer. With the starch, it doesn't appear to me like it needs stabilizer. After the first layer of the flower, we are stitching through a couple of layers.

Margo, did you cut out any of the background fabrics?

Ordered from Amazon, they should be here by the weekend. Yeah!

AND they have a lifetime warranty! I had a pair that I had used for years that broke and Fiskars replaced them - no problems at all in the replacement. And they were very prompt. Bev

They're great...especially if one has hand /wrist issues.

suehenyon wrote:
Susan, mine are really old, but are similar to this pair of Fiskars:

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/982603/Fiskars-Softouch-Spring-Action-Multipurpose-Micro/

I'm embarrassed to say how many different pairs of scissors I own, but I really like the spring loaded Fiskars, both these small ones as well as the larger ones:

http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Fiskars-Softouch-Spring-Action-10-inch-Scissors/3127630/product.html?cid=202290&kid=9553000357392&track=pspla&ef_id=BPpNSnXIAQAARYc:20130402211915:s

Margo wrote:
I have a gigantic roll of that. I got it and wondered why? An accident, maybe? At least I can use it now

Margo, what scissors are you using? It looks like they are spring loaded & thumbs don't go in holes. My thumb is worn out cutting templates.

I just got this info from Josh at Superior Threads about the stabilizer used with the fusible thread in the video with Heather and Annie.


Margo,

The stabilizer that was used for the Charlotte's Fusible applique video was OESD Polymesh cut away stabilizer. Heather said you should be able to find it at any Bernina store. Call before you go. We also know it is sold online. It is a product we don't carry at the moment, but may in the future.

Thanks JoJo! I luv seeing all the different color combinations on the TQS BOMs. It is just amazing how totally different the quilts can look depending on the fabric choices.