Machines and thread question

muse9 wrote:
Do Kenmores just hate Gutermann thread or was I doing something wrong? Is
there anyone out there that has a Kenmore that could advise me on what
thread is best to use with these machines? And how about needles?

I used both kinds of needles, and I only used Gutterman thread with my
Kenmore. I think I usually had the tension set to 3. The only problem I
had with the Gutterman is that it made lint like mad, and I had to
change the needle and clean the machine between projects. I did use a
wide variety of needles and threads with no problems with my Kenmore.

With the problem you described, I'd have rethreaded the bobbin- take it
out and put it back in again, and try to sew again. Sometimes it doesn't
sit right after. OR rethread, or take out the needle and put back in.

If in doubt take it in for a professional tuneup. I did do that twice
with my Kenmore.

I bought my Kenmore new in 1996, and it died this spring- the repair
person told me it would cost as much to repair as it would to buy a new
one. I've never had such a short-lived machine.

-georg

georg wrote:

muse9 wrote:

Do Kenmores just hate Gutermann thread or was I doing something
wrong? Is
there anyone out there that has a Kenmore that could advise me on what
thread is best to use with these machines? And how about needles?


I used both kinds of needles, and I only used Gutterman thread with my
Kenmore. I think I usually had the tension set to 3. The only problem I
had with the Gutterman is that it made lint like mad, and I had to
change the needle and clean the machine between projects. I did use a
wide variety of needles and threads with no problems with my Kenmore.

Yikes! You mean you *DON'T* do that anyway? I put a new needle in at
the start of every projects, and usually at least one more half way
through. I also clean the machine at least every time I change the
needle... Both inside the bobbin case and under it, and floss the
tension disks... New Jeans or quilting needle when I start the
quilting, too.

With the problem you described, I'd have rethreaded the bobbin- take it
out and put it back in again, and try to sew again. Sometimes it doesn't
sit right after. OR rethread, or take out the needle and put back in.

Make sure the bobbin is in the right way round! I forgot to say that
earlier...

If in doubt take it in for a professional tuneup. I did do that twice
with my Kenmore.

I bought my Kenmore new in 1996, and it died this spring- the repair
person told me it would cost as much to repair as it would to buy a new
one. I've never had such a short-lived machine.

That *IS* short lived!

-georg



--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

My JoAnn's only sells the hand quilting variety. The rest of the
Gutermann's is the 100% poly. In fact, the only place I can get 100%
cotton thread for machine sewing is at the LQS about 30 minutes away or
on line.

Maureen

...Mickie Swall.. wrote:

Come to think of it, I was going to buy some cotton Gutermann
yesterday too, until I realized their cotton thread was intended
for hand quilting. Not sure if they make other cotton threads?
Or maybe they do and Jo-ann's doesn't carry it?
Mickie

"Judie in Penfield NY" wrote in message

Have you tried Aurifil? It's thinner, but the same strength as regular
machine thread. It works great on small blocks.

Betty

"Patti" wrote in message
...
Oh?
Having very few Q. shops near me (3 within 30 miles!) and only one
stocks cotton thread - Gutermann - that is all I have used for piecing.
I've always thought it a little on the thick side. If it's meant for
quilting, that would explain it. I've just had a look on a nearby spool
- there is a code and a number '50' which I've always assumed was the
thread weight/thickness. I thought that was about right for piecing?
So maybe they do do different weights? Their polyester thread doesn't
have a similar 'number' on the spool - nothing at all.
I don't get machine problems with it, but I do get slight size problems.
I do a lot of miniatures and the width of the stitch line, even though
it might look negligible, is important. I always have to adjust the
seam's position under the foot a tiny bit. Two, quarter inch seams on
three-quarters of an inch strip! makes it vital. I will check out one
of our mail order companies later on, to see what they offer.
.
In article , ..Mickie Swall..
writes
Come to think of it, I was going to buy some cotton Gutermann
yesterday too, until I realized their cotton thread was intended
for hand quilting. Not sure if they make other cotton threads?
Or maybe they do and Jo-ann's doesn't carry it?
Mickie
--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

Kate Dicey wrote:

georg wrote:

I used both kinds of needles, and I only used Gutterman thread with my
Kenmore. I think I usually had the tension set to 3. The only problem
I had with the Gutterman is that it made lint like mad, and I had to
change the needle and clean the machine between projects. I did use a
wide variety of needles and threads with no problems with my Kenmore.


Yikes! You mean you *DON'T* do that anyway? I put a new needle in at
the start of every projects, and usually at least one more half way
through. I also clean the machine at least every time I change the
needle... Both inside the bobbin case and under it, and floss the
tension disks... New Jeans or quilting needle when I start the
quilting, too.

Some of us need to be reminded. I tend to overlap projects, so it's
hard to say when I finish with X it's time to change the needle and
clean. I'm also lazy.

But definitely, if you *see* lint- CLEAN IT.

-georg

IIRC, the Gutermann thread is for only hand quilting. If so, it has a coating
on it that may gum up your machine (any brand of machine). I like YLI and
Mettler for the machine. As for using Coats & Clark, if it ain't broke, don't
fix it ;-)

I think Schmetz needles are wonderful.
--
Anne in CA
"It's not having what you want; it's wanting what you've got." -- Sheryl Crow
http://home.covad.net/~arudolph/annes.htm



muse9 wrote:

Do some machines simply not like certain thread brands? I have a 3 year old
Kenmore machine and until now I have only used Kenmore needles and Coats and
Clark thread. The more I learn about quilting the more I realize that I
should be using a better thread and maybe better needles as well. So
yesterday I bought some Schmetz Quilting needles and some Gutermann cotton
thread. (OK, I did buy that brand thread because JoAnn's had it half price
for the day) Well, thinking I was so smart I changed my needle and thread
and gave it a try. It was not good at all - the bobbin thread was too loose
and not pulling through at all. The top thread looked great but obviously
the tension needs to be right for both threads. So I tried adjusting with
the tension repeatedly and it got no better. I thought it might be the
needle so I put the Kenmore needle back in but it was still no better.
Finally I took the Gutermann thread out and re-threaded with the Coats and
Clark and it began to get a better adjustment on the tension.

Do Kenmores just hate Gutermann thread or was I doing something wrong? Is
there anyone out there that has a Kenmore that could advise me on what
thread is best to use with these machines? And how about needles? Is it OK
to use the Schmetz needles in a Kenmore or is it better to stick with
Kenmore needles? Geez. Someday I'd like to have one of those fancy new
Janome quilting machines but the affordability of that day is far away....

Thanks for any help or suggestoins.

Bonnie

--
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnied9

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wrote:

IIRC, the Gutermann thread is for only hand quilting. If so, it has a coating
on it that may gum up your machine (any brand of machine). I like YLI and
Mettler for the machine. As for using Coats & Clark, if it ain't broke, don't
fix it ;-)

No, Gutterman has a variety of threads- cotton, cotton/poly,
hand-quilting, button, and silk. All of which I've used.

-georg

If it's made for hand quilting, do not use it in the machine. It will gum
things up. Great for hand quilting---terrible for a machine. Even the
newer machines with automatic tension won't take it.
Gen


"..Mickie Swall.." wrote in message
...
Come to think of it, I was going to buy some cotton Gutermann
yesterday too, until I realized their cotton thread was intended
for hand quilting. Not sure if they make other cotton threads?
Or maybe they do and Jo-ann's doesn't carry it?
Mickie

"Judie in Penfield NY" wrote in message
...
I was looking at that thread yesterday when I was at Joann's, it looked
very
thick and heavy to me, maybe the problem is that the thread is too
thick.

Judie


"muse9" wrote in message
...
Do some machines simply not like certain thread brands? I have a 3
year
old
Kenmore machine and until now I have only used Kenmore needles and
Coats
and
Clark thread. The more I learn about quilting the more I realize that
I
should be using a better thread and maybe better needles as well. So
yesterday I bought some Schmetz Quilting needles and some Gutermann
cotton
thread. (OK, I did buy that brand thread because JoAnn's had it half
price
for the day) Well, thinking I was so smart I changed my needle and
thread
and gave it a try. It was not good at all - the bobbin thread was too
loose
and not pulling through at all. The top thread looked great but
obviously
the tension needs to be right for both threads. So I tried adjusting
with
the tension repeatedly and it got no better. I thought it might be the
needle so I put the Kenmore needle back in but it was still no better.
Finally I took the Gutermann thread out and re-threaded with the Coats
and
Clark and it began to get a better adjustment on the tension.

Do Kenmores just hate Gutermann thread or was I doing something wrong?
Is
there anyone out there that has a Kenmore that could advise me on what
thread is best to use with these machines? And how about needles? Is
it
OK
to use the Schmetz needles in a Kenmore or is it better to stick with
Kenmore needles? Geez. Someday I'd like to have one of those fancy
new
Janome quilting machines but the affordability of that day is far
away....

Thanks for any help or suggestoins.

Bonnie

--
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnied9

delete "removespam" to reply

Irene do you have pictures of your machines?

I would love to "see" them.

Julie
Richmond, VA

said...
I just started using Gutermann in some of my machines, mainly because
that's what the LQS sells and when I take classes, I get my supplies for
the class (at a discount). My machines (I have about 40 vintage) are
primarily 40-50-year old Singers. In particular I've used it on the
401, FW, 301 and 201. Have had no problems at all.

-Irene

OK. My LQS only sells the hand quilting kind -- and labels it on a very tiny sign
too, sigh.

georg wrote:

wrote:

IIRC, the Gutermann thread is for only hand quilting. If so, it has a coating
on it that may gum up your machine (any brand of machine). I like YLI and
Mettler for the machine. As for using Coats & Clark, if it ain't broke, don't
fix it ;-)

No, Gutterman has a variety of threads- cotton, cotton/poly,
hand-quilting, button, and silk. All of which I've used.

-georg

--
Anne in CA
"It's not having what you want; it's wanting what you've got." -- Sheryl Crow
http://home.covad.net/~arudolph/annes.htm


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