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Thread Confessions

4/13/2017

 
I've been thinking about doing this post for a while but it became relevant when I was working on the sailboat postcard. I needed thread for the edging and wound up checking all of my thread stashes to find the perfect matches. 
I'm pretty sure that I have more thread than fabric and I'm A-OK with that. I hate starting to quilt a quilt and not having just the right thread to go with it. Thread is like crayons. If you can afford it are you going to buy the Ultimate Crayons or the 8-pack? You are buying the 152 ultimate pack that includes glitter and metallic crayons.
vicki welsh thread
vicki welsh thread
vicki welsh thread
vicki welsh thread
Well, let's start with the fancy metallics, glitter and other special threads. These are in a cabinet right next to my Brother sewing machine (where I make postcards). Like many of my threads, several are in the original wrappers but they were there when I need them! But there's nothing there for my postcards.
vicki welsh thread
Next stop is these 2 drawers of mostly acrylic threads. These are under the Brother table and I use these a lot on postcards but it runs fine on the longarm too. Many, many years ago there was a website called Lunn Fabrics that sold hand dyed fabrics. Debra and Michael now design batiks for one of the fabric lines. They also sold this thread and when they went out of business they sold off the remaining inventory at deeply discounted prices. I bought over 50 cones but, seriously, this was so inexpensive that I'm sure I've gotten my value out if it now. The colors are beautiful and the sheen is wonderful. But none of them matched my postcards. Down to the basement.....
vicki welsh thread
Nothing in the Masterpiece collection matched. I primarily use this as bobbin and piecing thread. 
vicki welsh thread
vicki welsh thread
I used a variegated poly threads on the front of the cards but didn't want a varigated effect on the edges so no Rainbows or King Tut. These days I use these threads primarily on charity quilts where I do an all over pattern. I'm using up a lot of King Tut on the veterans quilts.
vicki welsh thread
The threads I use most often for quilting are these polyester (not shiny) neutrals and I'm glad I have lots not choose from....but not for these cards.
vicki welsh thread
I expected to fin the matches here in either the So Fine or Bottom Line collections but no!
vicki welsh thread
vicki welsh thread
How about the solid polyesters? I love these threads and use them a lot. But no matches here either and I'm running out of options.
vicki welsh thread
vicki welsh thread
Back upstairs I have another cart of thread next to the Juki. The top drawer has my piecing threads. The second drawer has some heavier cottons that are used almost exclusively on postcards but this wasn't what I was going for.
vicki welsh thread
Years ago when I was primarily sewing garments some online store had an amazing price for Mettler thread and I bought every possible color. This supply has come in handy so many times and I consider it one of my best purchases ever.
vicki welsh thread
That was doubly true when I made these postcards. Look at those perfect matches!

​I love my thread collection and wouldn't trade it for anything. I think I'd give away all of my fabric before I gave away the thread. It's my ultimate crayon box just bigger and spread all over the house. At least they don't stain carpets when they are accidentally smushed.
Claire Christiansen
4/13/2017 11:16:17 am

LOL! And I thought I had a thread obsession. At least I stick to spools not cones most of the time since I don't have a longarm to eat it up.

Vicki link
4/13/2017 02:37:06 pm

Yeah, the cones make it look a lot worse! :)

Laceflower
4/13/2017 12:24:24 pm

I have a modest collection, nothing on your scale, but it is wonderful to be able to have the right colour and fibre of thread to carry on what you are creating instead of stopping everything and shopping online for the thread you NEED. My worry is that thread has a shelf life, so I try to keep mine in the dark, unfortunately, they don't multiply there.

Vicki link
4/13/2017 02:38:43 pm

I've not had any problems with thread aging and getting brittle. I do keep them out of direct light. The ones in the basement are mostly in the dark and the ones upstairs are in drawers. But I have some serger threads (oops, forgot to include those!) that have to be 30 years old and they are still great.

Quiltdivajulie link
4/13/2017 01:54:28 pm

SO MANY COLORS . . . I totally get it.

A Left-Handed Quilter link
4/13/2017 03:25:11 pm

I love your collection - and your "crayon" analogy. Before I read your post, I thought that I had a lot of different types and colors but you have me beat my miles - ;))

Susan
4/13/2017 03:28:01 pm

FYI...I was just in Lancaster, Ohio and visited Michael and Debra's shop. What a treat...but alas, I couldn't tell you if they had thread! My eyes just bled beautiful batik color!! If I quilt straight lines on my home machine, do I use 100% cotton? 100% polyester?

Vicki link
4/14/2017 06:19:39 pm

Oh that visit must have been wonderful. I'm jealous!
When I'm quilting I only worry about color and the weight of the line. I don't care what thread I use as long as I get the effect I want.

Carole link
4/13/2017 05:17:42 pm

OMG, someone actually has more thread than me, LOL!! Love the postcard!!!

Mary Anne link
4/13/2017 06:07:30 pm

You have thread. A lot of thread. I don't have thread - but I do have buttons!!

Vicki link
4/14/2017 06:20:35 pm

Oh I'm embarrassed to share my button collection that's stored in a tall file cabinet!

Gene Black link
4/13/2017 08:07:19 pm

I thought my supply was nice..but now I feel just a bit deprived. LOL. Great stash!

Mary Johnson
4/13/2017 10:36:10 pm

OMG - I have a what I'd consider a fair amount of thread but no where near what you shared here!

Sue Kelly link
4/13/2017 10:40:42 pm

My collection is vast (for me) but not quite on your level, but I hate not having just the right color. I have been collecting lots of variegated threads lately. I look for bargains, though. I am always drawn to thread. Just re-organized my sizeable hand embroidery thread collection and I don't even do much embroidery...just acquire supplies for it!

Virtual Quilter link
4/14/2017 05:44:11 am

Wow! I bow to the museum quality Thread Collection!

I collect buttons ... hate sewing them on anything, so just collect them!

Cindy Pilkington
4/14/2017 06:02:38 am

"She who dies with the most thread is the winner!" I think that's going to be YOU! I thought I had a lot of thread until I saw a portion of your collection. It is beautiful for sure!

Lynda link
4/14/2017 08:17:45 am

OMG! What a collection!

shirley swift-bruner
4/14/2017 09:25:32 am

good lord, woman....you are the thread queen. hahahhaaha i no longer think i have a lot of thread. you have about 10 times as much as i do. you're my hero. hahaahahaha

Mrs. Plum
4/14/2017 01:01:14 pm

Vicki, your thread collection makes mine look puny! I had my husband read your post because I thought it explained the "why" of having so much thread (and for me, fabric) so well. So glad you found the colors you needed. By the way, if thread keeps breaking, rub a little mineral oil on it. More than likely, the thread is just dry. I learned that little gem in a class with Sharon Schamber.

Vicki link
4/14/2017 06:24:19 pm

That's a good tip. Generally I use Sewer's Aid. It's a silicone lubricant and helps tame unruly threads.


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    About Vicki

    I'm Vicki Welsh and I've been making things as long as I can remember. I used to be a garment maker but transitioned to quilts about 20 years ago. Currently I'm into fabric dyeing, quilting, Zentangle, fabric postcards, fused glass and mosaic. I document my adventures here.

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  • Welcome
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        • Penguins on Ice Quilt
        • Corona Cats Quilt
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      • 2019 >
        • Indonesian Batik Quilt
        • Lost My Marbles
        • Remaking Flora's quilt
        • I'm Not a Snowflake Quilt
        • Where In The World Is My Cat Quilt
        • Fireworks
        • The Groovy Quilts
        • The Puppy Quilt
      • 2018 >
        • The Maine Quilt
        • Stars At Sea
        • Antelope Canyon Quilt
      • 2017 >
        • The Wedding Quilt Quilt
        • Rainbow's End Quilt
      • 2016 >
        • CSQ Challenge Quilt
        • Wholecloth Quilt of Valor
        • Luras Choice Quilt
        • Black Swan Quilt
        • 2016 Quilt of Valor Quilt
        • Non Unus Pluma Quilt
      • 2015 >
        • Snaps Quilt
        • Batik Crossroads Quilt
        • Wild Goose Chase Quilt
        • Fractured Fragments Quilt
        • Tell It To the Stars Quilt
        • Cathedral Window Quilt
        • Time In Place Quilt
        • Shaken Not Stirred Quilt
        • Pleiades Quilt
      • 2014 >
        • Spinning Stars Quilt
        • Fractured Spiral Quilt
        • Autumn Leaves Quilt
        • Sea Dreams Quilt
        • Woodland Star Quilt
        • Zombie Ball Quilt
        • Innova Angles Quilt
      • 2013 >
        • Murder For a Jar of Red Rum Quilt
        • Patroitic Quilts
        • Red Sunset Bedding Quilt
        • The Infamous Fish Quilt
        • Gratitudes Quilt
      • 2012 >
        • Illuminated Blocks Quilt
        • Kims Wedding Quilt
        • Crossing The South Anna Quilt
        • Coming Home Quilt
        • See Reverse Quilt
        • Overboard Quilt
        • Floras Fans and Modern Crumbs Quilt
        • The Patriot Quilt
        • On Point Quilt
        • Grinch Quilts
      • 2011 >
        • Star Struck Quilt
        • On A Whim Quilt
        • Catena Quilt
        • Zig Zag Scraps Quilt
        • Purple Keepsakes Quilt
        • Fiberactions Challenge Quilts
        • Journal Quilts 2011
      • 2010 >
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        • Fiberactions Challenge Quilts
        • Wootten Memory Quilts
        • Teal Tomorrow Quilt
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      • 2008 >
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        • Citrus Quilt
      • 2007 >
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      • 2006 and older >
        • Scrap Bin Quilt
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        • The Gift Quilts
        • Reversible Quilts
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        • Foundation Pieced Quilts
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        • Kathy's Memorial Quilt
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      • Blocking a Quilt
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        • Gratitudes Quilt Pattern
        • Strength Quilt Pattern
        • Blockade Quilt Pattern
        • Redoubt Quilt Pattern
        • Regiment Quilt Pattern
        • Bars and Stripes Quilt Pattern
      • Rainbow Quilt Free Pattern
      • Binding a Quilt
    • Surface Design Tutorials >
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      • Snow Dyeing Mandala
      • Sun Printing Tutorial
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      • Hold the Retayne
      • Painted Shower Curtain Tutorial
      • Metallic Paint Effects on Fabric
      • Curing Metallic Fabric Paints
      • Zentange Pens
      • Leaf Printing Tutorial
      • Printing On Fabric
      • Life of MX Dye Concentrates
      • Testing Soda Ash in fabric dyeing
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    • Basic Tutorials >
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      • Liquid Spray Starch Recipe
    • Crafts and Small Projects >
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      • Trash To Treasure Holiday Ornaments
      • Pet Bed From Scraps Tutorial
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      • Shooting Shirt Tutorial
      • Making Paper
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      • Favorite Soap Reicpes
      • Lotion Making
      • Bowl hot pad pattern
    • Longarm Quilting Tutorials >
      • The longarm machine does matter
      • Double Wavy Crosshatch
      • Wavy Crosshatch Longarm
      • Quilting Letters on a Quilt
      • Centering a Quilt back on a longarm
      • Quilting Snowball Blocks
      • Easy Longarm Piano Keys
      • Using Channel Locks
      • Sewing/Serging quilt backing to zippers
      • Adding backing on the longarm
    • Crochet and Other Tutorials >
      • Crochet Wheelchair Shawl
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