Mercedes Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 I am finally promoting myself to actually doing a quilt. All the time I've had my machine, I've only practiced on yardage - never done a quilt. This has been a few years - never felt good enough. I have a quilt top that measures approximately 48 inches by 60 inches. Since this will be my first quilt, I'll be doing feathers in the blocks, piano keys around the borders and some type of a fill everywhere else. I'm wondering how I figure the thread amount. I have a beautiful King Tut thread with 2,000 yards on it - will that be enough for quilting the top and using it in the bobbin thread also? It's the only spool I've got in that color and don't want to have to order more or run out. If this isn't enough I'll have to either buy or use something else I have. Also, I'm assuming I should do all the piano keys first - go back and do the blocks, then the fill? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 A full cone of King Tut will be plenty of thread for your plan. King Tut is pricey so if you want to save some $$$ you can use a different but similar-weight thread in the bobbin. One that matches a main color in the variegated and also looks good on the backer fabric will work well and ease anxiety about tension problems. If you opt for that plan you'll have enough King Tut left for another project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue E. Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 Superior has a free app for iPhones and IPads - How Much Thread - that helps you determine how much thread you need. I have an IPhone and it is at the ITunes app store - do a search for Superior Threads Inc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy v Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 Sue, Thank you for sharing this info about the How Much thread app. It will be a great help with many projects! I'm going to go to my iPad right now and find it. Nancy V San Francisco Bay area Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes Posted November 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 Thanks for the great feedback! I may use a different thread in the bobbin based on the feedback - I'll determine that when I do a little test with the threads to see which works best. I wish I had an iPhone to be able to use the app but don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srichardson Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Mercedes, You can still access the thread chart without an iPad or iPhone. It is on the Superior Threads site. http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/how-much-thread-does-it-take/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janice Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 To follow up on your question as to what order to quilt. I quilt the borders as I go. SOmetim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janice Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 SOMEHOW,I hit the wrong spot on my tablet and got prematurely posted. To continue, I sometimes do the border of the area of the first section first, then continue with quilting that area. I pin around all of the blocks to keep them nice and square. I do this as I advance the quilt to a new area. I don't do the whole border of the quilt first--I do it as I quilt down the quilt. Does this make any sense to you? Maybe others have a better way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 I'm rethinking the order I'm going to quilt based upon the feedback I've received. I want to take advantage of all the experience on this list to help me through my first quilt. I've also added the link on Superior Threads to calculate the thread amount. Thanks everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingpup Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 congratulations on getting your first quilt on the frame....I probably should load more practice muslin....I tend to practice on my quilts....I figure now that I am retired...who knows how much time I have left to quilt....I am not a very disciplined person...always loved to sight read my music lessons better than actually practice....sighhhhh....now off to load another quilt...but I did get one of those dry erase boards and am practicing feathers on it.....I usually just start at the top of the quilt and work my way down making sure everything is lying flat and that I baste/pin the edges down....I do utility quilts, not for show....I don't know if I ever will be patient enough to work on my technique to be able to do show....so at least for the near future....I will just keep making my bed quilts.... My family seems to like those a lot...gotta make one for me before it gets really cold....my last one is looking shabby after 20 years of use.....Lin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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