When using decorative thread, or doing machine quilting a common complaint is that the thread keeps breaking. Here are a couple of ideas to use which I have found help.

First always change your needle. If the needle has even a little bend or nick it can fray the thread and cause it to break.

Next try using Sewers Aid. Apply the sewers aid to the spool of thread. Draw a line of the Sewer’s Aid from the top of the spool to the bottom of the spool of thread. This will lubricate the thread enough to sometimes keep it from breaking.

And my final suggestion is to add clear nylon thread. Thread both your decorative thread and the nylon thread through the machine at the same time and through the same needle. I have found this especially helpful when using metallic decorative thread.

This month’s tip is the formula for determining how much fabric you will need to create a length of bias strip.

First determine the width that you want the bias strip to be.

HINT: There are so many uses for these strips that I recommend getting extra fabric whenever you buy fabric so that you can make some strips.

HINT: Don’t cut the strips until you are ready to use them as the width will change with the usage.

Here is the formula:

Multiply the Desired Length of the Strip times the Width of the Strip and Take the Square Root of this. The answer will be the width and length of fabric needed.

Here’s an example:

I need 100 inches of 3 inch wide bias strip for my latest project.

√100 * 3 = 17.32 inch square of fabric.

So a 17.32 inch square of fabric will make 100 inches of 3 inch wide bias strips.

This month’s tip involves using netting or tulle to correct an error in applying paper backed fusible adhesive to the right side of a fabric instead of the wrong side.

Have you ever gotten ready to apply your applique and found out that you applied the adhesive to the side of the fabric that you wanted to show?

Here’s a simple tip for fixing this.

Cut out a piece of netting or tulle that compliments your appliqué. Iron this to the front (side with the adhesive on it). Then simply cut out a new piece of paper backed fusible adhesive and iron to the back of the fabric and continue as if you’d not made an error.

This can actually add a fun effect or texture to you overall look.