How to Prepare Your Thread for Quilting

Series Summary

Quilting is a type of sewing that involves a needle and a special quilting thread is used to sew through three layers of the quilt: the top, the batting and the backing. The quilter typically passes the needle from the quilt top all the way through to the bottom layer and then pushes the needle back up. Simple to quite elaborate patterns are formed by these quilting stitches. Tying is another method of holding the three layers of the quilt together. A bed covering or similar large rectangular piece of quilting work is called a quilt. A quilt does not have to be rectangular, however. Many quilts hang on the wall as art quilts and are all kinds of shapes and sizes. Given the popularity of quilts as heirlooms and gifts, it's no surprise that many people who might have been intimidated by sewing and crafts will attempt to learn this skill as they grow older.

In this free instructional clip series, our expert will demonstrate the methods you need to master to begin your journey to become an expert quilter. Learn all the basic techniques and tips for making a variety of quilts, how to stitch, tips for layering the fabric and much more!

Video Transcript

"JEANNETTE WHITE: Hi. I'm Jeannette White on behalf of Expert Village and Piper's Quilts & Comforts in Sugarhouse, Salt Lake City, Utah. Today, we're going to be talking about preparing thread so that we can use a longer length than 18 inches. Normally, when you're doing applique and hand quilting an 18-inch length of thread is about as long as you can have. The reason for that is that the thread starts to wear out and then it begins to knot, but the problem is, is that you have to keep stopping and starting and stopping and starting. An 18-inch length is really pretty frustrating because you don't get to stitch for very long before you have to change threads. So, what we're going to be doing today in the next step is we're going to be showing how you can prepare thread to have a longer length to virtually eliminate your knots and make it so that you can thread your needle very, very easily."