Good Morning, Quilters!
Do YOU know what the photo above is?
It’s Invisible Thread!
LOLOL
(The hardest part about blogging–you can’t tell if YOU have the same lame sense of humor that I have!?)
Last week, a reader asked about invisible thread and I thought we needed The Whole Group’s help on this one. (10,000 heads are better!)
WHAT IS INVISIBLE THREAD?
Well, it’s thread you can’t see…
When used for machine quilting, one notices texture and the motif, not the thread.
Invisible thread can be used for top and/or bobbin thread.
Usually, invisible thread is another name for monofilament thread.
WHAT IS MONOFILAMENT THREAD?
Monofilament thread is a single, (mono) extruded line of nylon or polyester. (Think of a garlic press with one very tiny hole…Press down and you create monofilament garlic-yum!)
Monofilament usually comes in two colors: clear and smoke…(Hmmm….how does that work–invisible colors???)
NYLON v. POLYESTER MONOFILAMENT
The quilting debate: Which is better nylon or polyester monofilament thread?
Advocates for nylon say nylon has a better “hand”-it is softer and machines like it better. A few popular nylon monofilaments include: Aurifil 1000 Invisible YLI Wonder Invisible Thread,
Advocates for polyester say nylon stretches too much, can be brittle and sometimes turns yellow. Polyester monofilaments include: Sulky Invisible and Superior’s MonoPoly
MY EXPERIENCE WITH MONOFILAMENT
When I first started machine quilting, my favorite quilter, Diane Gaudynski, frequently used monofilament thread for her award-winning quilts. Naturally, I experimented with monofilaments. Unfortunately, my sewing machine HATED the monofilament and I needed to have my machine serviced after using it. I was stitching on a BERNINA, just like Ms. Gaudynski–so it must have been user error. I don’t remember if I was using nylon or poly. Ever since then, I have steered clear of monofilament thread.
Whenever I wanted an “invisible thread” I used a thread color that matched my fabric. 
A NEW ADDITION TO MY THREAD BOX
Recently, I tried Superior’s new thread line, MicroQuilter.
MicroQuilter is 100 wt polyester thread and my machine LOVES it!
The thread is very fine and almost invisible like monofilament, but behaves like a well-mannered polyester!
While I was teaching at The John Campbell Folk School, several students tried it and loved it too.
OPEN LINE FRIDAY–SHARE YOUR “INVISIBLE” THREAD FAVORITES
It’s important to understand that one of the criteria for choosing a thread is: Does YOUR machine like it?
We all have different machines and we all work a little differently.
Threads that work for Diane Gaudynski do not work for me…What works for me, may not work for you…
Don’t be discouraged if a new thread isn’t working. Give it to a quilt friend and try something else!
Half the challenge (and fun) of learning machine quilting is finding YOUR favorites!
What about YOU?
Do YOU use invisible thread?
What brand? Nylon? Polyester?
Do YOU use something else?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Your Thread Maven,
Lo (the other letters are invisible)
PS…If you like these motifs and tips, be sure to check out my book, Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 or any of my Craftsy Videos!
PPS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
