Machine Quilting Over the Same Place Twice?
by Rory Ross
I would like to machine quilt between the applique butterfly wings and it would be easier to go over a section more than once...I have been out of quilting for years and did all my other art quilts by hand...I will be showing this quilt so I need to be correct in how I do the quilting...the quilt is done in Wonder Under and machine stitched with blanket stitch...the quilt is being done of a painting I did in the 90's with batik fabrics will post picture later... ANSWER:Yes, you can machine quilt over the same place multiple times to get from place to place.Your thread choice is critical in keeping these stitches from showing. A fine thread of matching color or value or monofilament would camouflage your stitches best. MonofilamentYLI makes a soft nylon thread in both a smoke or clear version. You will need to test which works best on your fabric. For the bobbin, Aurifil 50 wt is fine. You can use the monofilament in the bobbin if you'd like. However, if you've got plastic bobbins, wind them S-L-O-W-L-Y and only about 1/2 way full. The thread can stretch as it winds onto the bobbin. Winding slowly and evenly helps with this.100 wt Silk ThreadEither match the color or the value of the thread to your fabric. Make your stitches small, they look better with this fine thread. It does have a bit of a luster. But because this thread is so-o-o-o fine, there is little thread build up when you travel over previous lines of stitching.We use lots of YLI 100 wt silk for machine quilting because we can backtrack over feathers and spines and not have it show. Love this thread. For the bobbin you can use either the 100 wt silk, Aurifil 50 wt cotton or Superior's Bottom Line, a 60 wt polyester. WonderFilMade by a Canadian company, this is a 100w 2 ply soft polyester that comes in 30 colors. It's got a matte finish so it'd hide in the well of the appliques. Use it both needle and bobbin.I cannot find it locally here in Illinois. I have played with a spool, just playing around with free motion and did like the results. Needle ChoicesI'd suggest a Microtex Sharp. If there were no fusible involved, then go with the smallest needle to make the smallest hole because all these threads are so very fine. That'd be the 60/8.However, because of the fusible, you may need to go to a bigger size so that you're not breaking these "staple" like needles...try a 75/11 and move up if needed. As always, test, test and retest on a practice quilt sandwich, but you already know that if this is for competition! It isn't any fun to get part way into a quilt that you love, only to find that you haven't made the proper needle and thread choices and the quilting has turned into a drudge instead of being the pleasure it should be. Good Luck to you, Rory. I hope this has been of help. We can't wait to see the finished quilt! Piecefully, Julie Baird Editor
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