How to Choose Thread for Free Motion Quilting (Day 11/12 of FMQ FAQ)

One of the most common topics my students want to know more about is needles and thread, especially for free motion quilting, so let’s take a deeper look at those here, and about how to choose thread color as well.
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[@bonniesuejordan1265]

Hollyanne, thanks so much for doing the series, as always you are sharing great information for both the novice and experienced quilter. I learn something new with every video.

[@jkquiltsknits]

Love variegated threads too!! My fav!

[@jeanniecarter3933]

Hello, just learning about this so thank you

[@margolytle4804]

Thank you! I have just started using variegated threads. Aurafil is my favorite, too! Replays are awesome, since I can’t always go live with you!

[@morost1000]

Mary Rost thanks for answering thread question

[@dianerohrscheib9270]

Loved todays episode!

[@janetmaddox1134]

good morning. I so love to see the thread lay across the fabric before stitching.

[@shannonmartensen7982]

Good morning!

[@gaylemusker5568]

Hi from Roswell, GA!

[@karenbeatty1428]

Great topic! I just ran into this issue last night (how to pick a color when you have a big range of light and dark in the quilt) . I wanted to finish a wall quilt I made in the spring and tried to FMQ with a walking foot (also in spring). I switched to a quilting foot to do bumps around the hearts, but had tension nightmares, way tight and GIANT eyelashes, bunched up the back of the quilt. (threw it in the closet, until yesterday). The colors range from light pink to dark brown and the whole back is pink except for one block in the center. I had done some of the bobbin thread pink and ran out so switched to brown. Besides the horrible (clearly visible) tension problems I didn't like the brown thread on the pink. Yesterday I pulled out the brown thread and the bad tension places, even though the front looked fine, because I know now I can do better. trying to think like a Rockstar. At one point somehow the quilt unthreaded the top tension...but I felt it right away in my hands how tight the fabric felt and could hear a different sound and stopped right away, instead of just pushing through and breaking a needle of thread like I used to do. I used a pink on the whole quilt front and back this time and love it except for like two places where I went over the darkest brown twice. So I was soooo happy you showed us a close up of the exact same thing on your quilt. I love how it came out. LOL.. It was going to be my project for next week Quilting Plan Challenge, but I already have two more possibilities... Also side note The FMQA party/ kick off is on my birthday!!!❣🧁👏

[@kimweierman149]

On the 'rerun' from Montana

[@gaylemusker5568]

Hi from the replay. Do you use the same size needle on a longarm as what you have just the outlined for Aurifil?

[@terrythorne9395]

Hey hey HollyAnne

[@gaylemusker5568]

Watching replay. Does live chat replay have a delay before it is available? I saw it for yesterday, but not today’s (this one).

[@dcwatashi]

Yes, there is a delay before the live chat is available as a replay

[@debbielong1168]

Hello HollyAnne

[@susanc.2874]

What kind of needle are you using? Sz. 16, but is it a quilting needle, universal, or topstitch? Thank you! Oh, also, does the 16 needle leave an obvious hole in your fabrics?

[@StringandStory]

16 universal-- and the needle holes shrink right up when you wash the quilt 🙂

[@susanc.2874]

@@StringandStory thank you so much!

[@Debraseithel]

Hi

[@madelineking9104]

Hello ,

[@dcwatashi]

As soon as you mentioned Aurifil thread, that’s when I stopped your video That is a very linty thread There are so many better threads on the market.

[@StringandStory]

Aurifil makes a fine, strong cotton thread. However, yes, because it is cotton there will always be lint, just like there can be lint from your fabric and batting. I recommend leaning out your bobbin race any time you change your bobbin :-)

[@dcwatashi]

@@StringandStory superior threads makes a cotton that is far superior than Aurifil. I’ve looked at both underneath a magnifying glass. I have a ton of the Aurifil I need to get rid of or use up and I’m gonna stick with superior threads and there’s even other thread companies that make a better cotton and yes, I clean out my Bobbin Case and My Machine a lot because the machine was very expensive

[@terrythorne9395]

Hey hey HollyAnne