Machine quilting on your standard machine with fun colored thread is a great way to add some fun and interest to your quilt!
You need your sewing machine and a few Aurifil thread colors.
The thread that I used came in a collection pack designed specifically for a fabric line by Tammy Silvers – Tamarinis.
The thread is 28wt – which is a little heavier thread.
How to use Aurifil thread for machine quilting-
- adjust your tension- this is a heavier weight, so you’ll want to check your tension on a test section prior to starting on your main project
- you may need to use a larger needle. If you start running into issues with thread breaking or simply giving you issues, check your needle size and make any adjustments – going larger to get rid of the issues
- have fun with the colors! Pick colors that compliment the fabric that you are quilting on or go crazy contrast so the quilting pops right off the quilt!
I played around with 3 different colors that complimented the fabrics that were in the quilt. Teal thread on the blue, green thread on the stems and yellow on the tulips
It was a lot of fun to sew with!! I quilted lines on the inside of the block 1/8″ and the outside of the sections as well around 1/8″.
In the background area, I kept with the traditional white thread. I may go back and add a few stitches here and there. The pack had a yellow variegated thread that maybe would be fun to add in the background areas.
Adding some Aurifil to your quilt – in the machine quilting part is a lot of fun!
There are a lot of options, ideas for making it accent your piecing.
Even if you aren’t a fan of machine quilting, you could easily have the same affect with hand quilting.
This thread would lend very nicely with that type of application as well. I have another table runner that I may give it a try on.
There is 109 yards on each spool, so you have a lot of thread to play with!
The quilt pictured – Picking Flowers is found in the IAQ and available to members! More info here. This was a Quilting Bee that all the members participated in.
Have you tried using thicker thread in your machine quilting?
I would have liked a needle size and tension. My thread shreds and breaks every time I try the thread, which is very frustrating. I have done the bigger needle and adjusted my tension, but I do not get the results that I am looking for.