Thread and Fabric Combinations for Machine Quilting

July 30, 2019
Thread and Fabric Combinations: Heavy weight thread on linen
Gorgeous floral quilt motif on green fabric
Good Morning, Quilters!

Today we are going to look at thread and fabric combinations for quilting and compare using one quilting pattern.

Every good quilting project begins with a doodle! (YOU doodle, right?!–If not, you might like Easy Doodles for Those Who Think They Can’t)

While I haven’t had much time in my sewing room, I always find time to doodle!

Two Garden Inspired Motifs

I always have this large pad of paper on my coffee table, along with my two current favorite pens for doodling, Pilot Frixion and Flair Pens.

Most of my doodles go right in the trash, some get saved and a rare few get stitched immediately…

This doodle inspired me to stitch!

The pattern is a combination of two of my favorite motifs- The Easy Breezy Flower and The New Leaf

Doodled flower quilt motif
My Favorite Thread/Fabric Combination

First, I stitched the motif in one of my favorite thread and fabric combinations:

Aurifil 28wt thread on Kona cotton fabric.

Thread and Fabric combinations
I just LOVE this combination!  I LOVE white thread on solid fabric.

Lori Kennedy Easy Breezy flower motif
Spagetti on Linen

Generally speaking, spaghetti does not mix well with linen…seems like a laundry disaster in the making!

But, I love how  Spagetti Thread by Wonderfil looks on linen!

Spagetti thread is 12 wt which is probably the heaviest weight thread you can stitch on a domestic sewing machine.

Be sure to use a large needle size–100 or 110. (Read Understanding Thread Weight and What Needle Size Should I Use?)

Thread and Fabric combinations

Doesn’t that look scrumptious?!

Heavy thread on linen, Thread and Fabric combinations
Brief Programming Note

Summers are very short in Minnesota and I LOVE to spend as much family time outdoors as possible when I have a chance.  As a result, you may notice an erratic blogging schedule….

I’m sure YOU will understand–and maybe YOU are in YOUR garden, too!?

What about YOU?

Are YOU enjoying beautiful weather?

Can YOU take your stitching or doodles outside?

What’s YOUR favorite thread and fabric combination?

We’d LOVE to hear!

Happy Stitching,

Lori

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thank you!

PPS…This post contains affiliate links.  If you choose to purchase at NO additional cost to you, I may receive a little “pin-money”.  Thank you for supporting LKQ in this way!

Signed copies of my books are available at LoriKennedyShop

 

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16 comments

  • Elly McLean

    Lovely design…will certainly try it. Here in Tasmania, Australia it is winter right now. -3C this morning. Don’t remember what that is in Fahrenheit ha ha. So I am working on finishing a few UFOs. Enjoy your summer,

  • Barb Michel

    Hi I love seeing what your quilting Lori. I always doodle first. Sometimes for several days before I feel right.

  • Marta

    Oh Lori, your doodles are just so beautiful!!! Thanks for your sharing with all of us!!
    Here in Bologna, Italy, after a weekend of strange rainy autumn weather, we’re back to hot and humid! LOL!! When it is so humid and hot and no longer bearable to stay outside, I like to stay inside and work on one of my many many WIPs. I hope soon to be able to try your beautiful FMQ designs. 🙂

    • Marta

      Wow, I didn’t know I had taken a trip to Italy!!! However, I soon figured out there must be 2 of us…No gardening here at our place in south Georgia USA…. too hot and humid. Hottest summer I can remember. Even my sunflower seeds didn’t make it past a few inches tall. Started and finished a lap quilt yesterday and mailed it to my uncle for his 96th birthday.. I used the design in the print fabric as a quilting pattern…. yep. in a hurry to get it in the mail. I have a question for Open Line Friday when it gets here.. LOL

  • When I experiment with different types of thread/fabric/batting combinations, I always cut out a 8×10(ish) chunk of the finished product, and write on it in Sharpie pen: fabric type, thread brand/type/weight, needle size, tension settings, whether I used my free motion bobbin case or not, and batting type. I keep these little samples together so that I can replicate the look anytime I want. Its so much easier to set up the next time if I want to replicate the look on a real quilt.

  • Karla Shinnick

    I love the look of the spaghetti green on white linen. Do you find yourself moving slower when using the heavier thread? It must certainly be critical to keep stiches even when ithe quilting is so prominent.

  • vivian383

    How lovely- the white linen with the green 12 wt thread looks fabulous! I hope someday that I can quilt like this! I love the combination of these 2 quilting designs. Enjoy your summer!

  • Janette

    Very hot and humid here in central Ontario, so have been spending time gardening and sewing. When l do finish a quilt top l do doodle to figure out what motifs to do . Still experimenting with different weights of thread. Have used 50 wt Aurifil in top and bottom to FMQ.

  • Debbie Wren

    The weather here in central Ohio is great. My favorite combo is Aurifil 50 wt top and bobbin on cotton. I split my time in my garden and inside sewing something😊

  • Hi Lori, I have been away cycle camping all the way from the UK up through Denmark to Norway. I saw many lupins on the road side and want to make a quilt to include them. Not sure how to do it but will work it out. Working on a BOM from the Quilt show that is really stretching me and I sent wool home from Norway so have started a Norwegian cardigan (kofte) too. The weather here in the UK is very variable but we have had the hottest day ever recorded but the humidity was really high so very uncomfortable. Enjoy your summer

  • Myrna Klokow

    A new FMQer. So appreciate all your ideas!!! And in N Calif. we have beautiful weather a lot so always trying to balance garden time and quilting time.

  • Patricia Stein

    Lori, your shapes are always so perfect and even. I can’t even doodle that well! I know practice helps but I do wonder how it always comes out so even.

  • Linda Paredez

    Beautiful combination! Wish I had seen this 2 days ago…would have used it in my quilt that I’m now putting the finishing touches on!

  • Andrea

    With the 28 or 12 wt thread, what thread do you use in the bobbin?

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