Extras

The most currant Show n’ Tell pictures are now on the website! —  Enjoy!

~Angie

September 2007

WISE WORDS FROM MOTHER SUPERIOR: What’s the best way to store thread?
Two things.  Keep it out of direct sunlight and keep dust off it.  Thread does not need to be kept in a sealed bag, the refrigerator, or freezer. Keep it in a drawer or other container. If it is on the wall, keep a sheet over it to keep the dust away. And, most importantly, keep it out of view of husbands.

ANNOUNCEMENT
We have four NEW wonderfully blending neutral colors of The Bottom Line, four NEW colors of King Tut, and 36 NEW Art Studio colors by Ricky Tims which go with his new embroidery DVD.  See the What’s New section for details.

EDUCATION: Bob’s Basic Thread Guide
Nylon thread.  Nylon thread should only be used for fusing.  Fusible thread, such as Charlotte’s Fusible Web, is nylon because it will melt and fuse at a low temperature.  Unfortunately, most invisible monofilament thread on the market is nylon. Nylon thread goes brittle, yellows over time, and melts at low temperature.  Look for polyester monofilament such as MonoPoly.  Polyester does not go brittle, or yellow over time or melt at low temperature.

Rayon: Not recommended.  Rayon is often not colorfast.  Colors can rub off or bleed into the fabric.  It is also weaker than other fibers.

Cotton: Two things to look for:
a.  The length of the fiber or staple.  If the label does not indicate the length of the fiber or staple, assume it is regular short staple cotton.  Long staple cotton is medium grade.  Extra long staple is the highest grade.
b.  The processing.  It is difficult to tell the quality of processing without actually using the thread.  The highest quality threads will be very smooth, without bumps or slubs.  They will have a tight, consistent twist and there will be very little lint.

Hand dyed threads: Often not colorfast. Colors can run or bleed into fabric.  Test before using hand-dyed threads.

Mercerized: A fancy word to put on a label when there is nothing else to brag about.  99% of cotton thread is mercerized, which is a process of causing the fibers to swell so they hold the dye better.  It is a good process but it’s an automatic in today’s world.  Even if the label does not say mercerized, most likely it is.

Double mercerized:  Double fancy words appearing in recent ads.  Why mercerize twice?  Start with the best quality cotton and do it right the first time.

Slick cotton:  Any cotton thread that is totally lint free, slick, stiff, or wiry is glazed or coated and not good for machines.  The glaze rubs off and gums up the machine. It is OK and intended only for hand quilting. 

Metallic:  There is a huge range in quality of metallic threads.  Avoid budget brands.  The easiest way to tell is to use the best brand with the right needle and tension setting.  Superior Metallic uses real silver foil (most brands use aluminum which is not as bright) and has a protective overcoat to prevent tangling, tarnishing, and shredding.

Polyester:  There are three types of polyester.
a. Spun poly:  Looks like cotton.  Strong and durable.  Look for a tight, even twist.  Avoid budget serger threads for quilting. 
b. Filament polyester:  Multiple strands of single filaments twisted to make a multi-filament thread.  Low lint and strong. Low quality polyester has a loose or uneven twist and smells oily.   Good quality has a tight, even twist.
c.  Trilobal filament polyester:  High sheen polyester.  Not quite as strong as regular filament, but has the sheen of silk or rayon.  Look for even, smooth twist and even dyeing.

Silk:  Great thread but very expensive.  A good polyester like The Bottom Line is stronger, one-twentieth the price, and will last longer.

Monofilament: Most is nylon which should not be used (see above).  Watch out for one brand that labels its monofilament thread as ‘polyamide’ which is the chemical word for nylon. That is misleading.  Use only polyester monofilament.

Magnetic bobbins:  Supposedly prevents backlashing.  They are expensive.  Be careful with magnets around anything electronic.  Paper-sided prewound bobbins provide same benefit of even feed and prevention of backlash.

Shelf life of thread:  Today’s top quality thread should be perfectly fine to use 20 or 30 or more years from now.  However, thread from 15 or 20 years ago did not have the raw material quality or processing technology we have today so I don’t recommend using it.

Thread wt. Guide
20 wt. heavy for very visible, decorative stitching
30 wt. medium to heavy, intended to show
40 wt. standard size medium thread
50 wt. for piecing, applique, detail stitching. Good for bobbin thread.
60 wt. very fine for blending on top, applique, and detail stitching. Good for bobbin thread.
70 wt. too fine for most applications
100 wt. mis-labeled. Does not exist as sewing thread. If it says 100 wt., it is most likely a #100 thread which is equivalent to a 60 wt. thread.

Where is the best thread made?  Japan has the most advanced technology and quality control system in the world. It is more expensive, but you know you are getting the absolute best.  I avoid thread that comes from China, India, Taiwan, and other third world countries.

Copyright 2007 by Superior Threads.  If you wish to reprint the Education portion of this newsletter, authorization is hereby granted as long as the source is clearly cited as follows: <Reprinted with permission from Bob Purcell, Superior Threads.  www.superiorthreads.com>

PS. I primarily use Superior Thread and stock up with cones of it at Pacific International Quilt Festival every year. They usually have a large corner booth at the show…filled to the max with all the latest new  threads and packed with quilters intent on finding all their favorites.  Thread-a-holics be alert!

~Angie

I hope our guild members had the opportunity to read Rosemary McCreary’s "Homegrown" column in the Saturday, Sept. 1st issue of the Press Democrat.  "Definition: the Secret of Great Gardens".  

 The featured  master gardeners in this column are Janice Juul and her husband Tom.  For those of you that may not know—Janice is also one of our guild members, and she greets you each meeting at the membership table. (Hi Janice!) :o)

Rosemary McCreary’s column describes in detail the lovely landscaping and garden that Janice and Tom have created on their rural property in Sebastopol.   You never know what wonderful talents and hobbies—besides quilting, lurk within our membership.  Janice’s master gardening skills far surpass the ordinary! 

Hot of the Press! The September issue of Stitch n’ Times is now on the website.  As always, our wonderful newsletter editor and publisher, Jan Andrews, has come up with a lot of interesting articles and information to share with us.  :o)  Thank you Jan!

I’m sorry to say that due to the lack of a "free" workspace, the August 30th  Free Quilt Retreat is cancelled. 
 
The Boutique is in need of workers to supply goodies for Betty Upchurch to take to the quilt show in Lake County in October. We always make lots of $$$ at their show.  So, if you’re not taking the Technique Sharing Workshop, please bring machines to the meeting on Sept 6th to help build up our inventory. It’s always fun to work together after the meetings.

Pam McVey, SRQG President

The newest Show n’ Tell photographs by Joanie Bellinghausen, our wonderful guild photographer, are now on the website! :o)

—and if  you haven’t visited the website recently—There is a totally new page devoted to the guild Friendship Blocks!   All the currant quilt blocks with images and details are now available for viewing online.  Enjoy! 

 A  special "Thank You" to Linda Hooper for all her knowledgeable help with this new section of the website. Linda is also the currant chairperson for the Friendship Block program.  If you are interested in participating in the Friendship Block exchange, please contact Linda at guild meetings or by email at: lindahpr@sonic.net

Happy Weekend Everyone!

~Angie ~ who is in the middle of scrapping off the old wallpaper from the kitchen walls 

I e-mailed Theresa about double sized quilts for the Wounded Warrior Base wanting to know specific dimensions. 

I am collecting twenty fat quarters and grouping them into themes for quilts for the soldiers.  If anybody wants to help donate fabric, get together and cut and piece, willing to machine quilt,etc.  So far I have started on fabrics in the following themes – sports, nature, polka dots, cowboy, Orientals, floral, stars, brights, batiks, fun prints, food and "others".  I have a pattern which calls for 20 fat quarters.  It cuts and pieces quickly.

Hopefully I will be headed to Camp Pendleton in Nov. for Thanksgiving.  My brother Dan is due back from Iraq in time for pumpkin pie!  I will take finished quilts with me!

Also, let’s start shipping boxes of goodies now instead of waiting for the first of Dec.  I still have some Ziplocs.  I will bring them to the next meeting.  Let’s fill them and send them.  I will get addresses for soldiers who do not have families sending them care packages.  Money for postage gratefully accepted.  Any other ideas for goodies/supplies/toiletries to send, please let me know.  I will start a master list and update it as needed.

Thanks for all the good you do for all !!!

For more information contact Melissa    trunick1@juno.com     838-3316

The Santa Rosa Quilt Guild Community Projects service co-ordinator and guild members are presently looking for a Mangle (similar to above image)– to iron large amounts of fabric that are used in the making of quilts and quilt backings. It must be in very good working condition, and located in  Santa Rosa, CA. or surrounding area.

Thank you!  Please email: lavella_cassinelli@yahoo.com

Just in case you wonder why the neck coolers are so popular………

I just got an e-mail from my brother Dan who is serving his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Weather report for the last few weeks included one day of 135+ temp with 80% humidity.  They still fly, drive vehicles with no air conditioning, wear full body armour, are on active duty day and night…………..  add in the dust that coats everything and requires that all equipment be continually cleaned and checked……………. Winter weather includes negative temperatures including wind chill factors down to minus 120 degrees on night flights which are flown with the doors off the helicoptors so that the gunners have as full of  range of motion as possible on each side of the copter.  The flight navigator also serves as the ground mechanic and completely services the copter after each flight before he sleeps so that the vehicle is air worthy at a moment’s notice. 

And in their "off time" a lot of these soldiers serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan have adopted local schools, hospitals, orphanages, and are helping to rebuild communities. 

The men and woman who are our soldiers consider it an honor and their patriotic duty to keep the world safe for us and others.

And we complain when our meeting room gets too warm………….

It is time to sew some more neck coolers, Wounded Warrior quilts and comfort quilts for the children who have lost one (sometimes their only) or both parents to the service of their country.  Time to start thinking about care packages – why wait for the holidays.  Prayers are needed around the clock.  Please do what you can and encourage others to do what they can.

Hugs to all, Melissa

P.S. Directions for making Neck Coolers are at:  http://www.west-point.org/parent/wppc-illinois/OSOT/NECK%20COOLERS.htm
The above link is is one of many.  If you type in "directions for making neck coolers" in the Google search engine you will come up with a many variations of the neck cooler pattern.  ~Angie

O-My-Gosh!—-did you know that in the month of July— The Santa Rosa Quilt Guild Website & Blog had 81,268  visitors! :o)

That the most popular part of the web site is the Blog!  That the second place visitors browse is "Show n’ Tell"—and turn the page, so to speak,
and the newest  addition —the "Friendship Block" page is on it’s way to being a  big hit with website visitors! :o)