This is one thing I just don't get... how am I supposed to pull the bobbin thread up to the top layer when I machine quilt?? I haven't started quilting on my first quilt yet, but I have played around with scraps and I don't know how to do this. I've even tried making the first stitch without the presser foot down to see if that makes a difference but I just can't figure it out. Is the loop that comes up supposed to be really tiny and I'm just missing it??

TIA
Natalie

Hang onto your top thread just like you do to pull the bobbin thread up when you start. When it comes up thru the quilt, you have it. Just hold both threads off to the side when you start quilting and then come back and take care of the ends. I usually knot and thread a needle and pull them into the batting.
Hope this helps. It sounds harder than it is.

Jami

First of all, welcome to the forum! This is a great bunch of ladies, and a few gents. Always helpful and fun-loving. You should pop up to the introduction thread and tell us a bit about yourself. Then look aroung, get nosey, there is lots to choose from- swaps and exchanges, etc.

Okay, as to your question. Am I correct in assuming that you are doing this on a regular sewing machine, as opposed to a long-arm machine? I don't think it makes any difference, just want to be sure.

When you put the quilt sandwich into the machine, you drop down the presser foot before you begin stitching. Hold the tail of the top thread in your hand and manually lower and raise the needle once. Make sure the needle is raised all the way to its top position.

Gently pull on the tail of the top thread. Because it has looped the bobbin thread, it should pull the lower thread up through all the layers of your quilt sandwich. Hold both tails in your hand and begin stitching. Repeat as necessary.

When you are completely done, thread each set of tails in hand stitching needle and work into the batting. Good job for in front of the TV. The only word of caution: be careful not to stitch over the loose threads, you will just be making a headache for yourself.

Hope this helps.

Natalie, I just hang on to the top thread and put the needle down and up and then move the cloth to the side of the foot so I can grab that bobbin thread loop and pull it out. I hold on to both threads to keep them out of the way until I quilt a ways and then cut them off. I always move the cloth back under the needle so I can start exactly where i left off, with 2 stitches in place to knot it.

I finally got my machine fixed and I have my queen sized quilt about 2/3 done. Do you really need to work those threads back into the batting by hand stitching??? I have been cutting them off cuz I stitch in place. If I left them till the end it would drive me nuts, because I would have to drive around an awful lot of hanging chads. Seems I have to stop a lot because I break the thread pretty often. Not too smooth an operator yet.

I knot and bury the threads...I don't like the look of the double stitches. I think it makes my starts and stops show more.
Most of my quilts are meant for kids and I figure if I knot and bury, it is less likely to un-sew itself when they get washed.
I do them after I get a little ways away from them. If I saved them until last, they wouldn't get done!
Jami

I do a few backstitches and cut off my tail ends too. Nothing's come apart yet, and I haven't had the quilt police on my doorstep. :-) I also tend not to pull up my bobbin thread, but after all the conversations about it lately, I may try it just to make it a little easier to snip off the ends later.

Thanks a lot everyone. I will have to give this one more try. And I'm glad I asked, because I didn't know I was supposed to knot and bury or handstitch the tails and all that!!!

But I wonder... I have a Kenmore 19000 and it has this feature ... I don't know what it's really called but I've always used it in place of backstitching... there's a button you push and the needle goes up and down like 6 times in the same place and makes a kind of knot and that little bugger is hard to rip out with a seam ripper!! So maybe if I do that I won't have to worry about knotting and all??

My first top is almost done!! I'm so excited to start quilting it!!

Natalie, Aixia, Sewwhat?-

The really great thing about quilting is that there are no rules engraved in stone; only guidelines. I was taught that "there is no right way, only your way and my way;" meaning that there is more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak.

And the really great thing about the forum is that it provides a place to exchange different viewpoints on various techniques.

If you like the look of stitching in place, go for it, by all means. The directions Jami and I gave were a more traditional method. I have never locked my stitches in place so I cannot speak as to how durable that method will hold up.

The most more important thing to remember is to have fun and pick a technique that you are comfortable with. We would love to see your finished projects. Good luck!

Someone mentioned thread breaking, and I've had that problem. I've read about how to adjust tensions, which has helped, but what do I do when the thread does break? Do I have to rip out all the stitching to that point and start over? Do I stitch over where the last of the stitches were and start from there? Do I somehow knot the last of the stitches? Help!