Bobbin fill question:
I have been trying to stitch out a design on my Brother Quattro, using a 100% poly bobbin fill, and have spent many hours tweaking the bobbin tension on the non-Brother bobbin thread case in an effort to get it just right; (the adjustment seems extremely sensitive, with only tiniest movement (eg about a degree) making a significant difference). The best I can do gives me hoizontal satin stitch colums that look ok with vertical satin stitch columns that look like the bobbin tension is still too tight; if I loosen the bobbin tension even a tad more, I get bobbin thread showing on the top side of the stitching; also getting some gapping between rows of satin stitching in the horizontal sections of a rainbow which is part of the design.Everything else seems to have been done properly with iron on cutaway stabilizer pressed, not ironed, onto back & solvy on top of a waffle weave tea-towel, correctly hooped and no size changes etc to original design.
It has been suggested by the design suppliers, who have not hesitated to try to be very helpful, that they often encounter tension difficulties with 100% polyester bobbin fill and that I might be better to try using a poly-cotton blend bobbin fill.
I have spent hours searching on line for such a thing but have not so far been able to find any poly-cotton blend bobbin fill for embroidery machines. All the brands of embroidery bobbin fill I have found so far are 100% polyester.
Does any one know of any poly-cotton blend bobbin fills and where I might buy them on-line?
What brands of bobbin fill do you prefer to use, especially if you have a Brother Quattro?
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Which bobbin case are you using? The one with the dot on the bottom (when you look at the top of the case) or the one with the little screw on the side? I use the one with the screw on the side - even when I use pre-wound bobbins (I use MetroEmb plastic sided bobbins). They say use the one with the dot but min Quattro works fine with the one with the screw. I use all poly - bobbins and top threads. I have never had to adjust the tension of the bobbin. Also be sure you are using the top hat pin if the bobbin you are using is the shorter one.
1 comment
by crazystitcher
04 Apr 2014
Thanks for your reply - have been using the one with no colour on the screw - the one that the hand-book says to use with non-Brother bobbin thread.
11271I clicked on the link about the SUPERIOR BOTTOM LINE thread and this is what it says. I find this very interesting and hope I can find this thread here in Australia.
" Bottom Line
Choosing thread colours is a complicated process. Neutral colors are subtle, blend well, and do not compete. They often have a chameleon-like quality which allows them to change or blend with surrounding colours. Neutral colours put the focus on other colours. Although neutral colours are often described as blacks, whites, grays, and browns, this list is not complete. Neutral colours can exist in every colour group including reds, yellows, greens, blues, and purples.
The Bottom Line thread contains excellent examples of neutral colours. This thread is an extra fine thread and is suitable for quilting, applique, binding, bobbin thread, top thread, and detail embroidery. In many of these applications, a blending or neutral colour is preferred. If the bobbin thread pulls through and is slightly visible on the top, a neutral colour bobbin thread will blend and it will not be seen. If the desired quilting effect is to blend the thread in order to accent the stitching, a neutral colour will do this. The original 25 colours of The Bottom Line were chosen for their neutral properties. For example, the red colour appears rather dark by itself; however, when a single strand is put against other medium to dark red colours, the thread almost disappears. The silver colour looks almost semi- transparent and blends beautifully when it is held up to almost any colour of fabric. All of the original 25 colours of The Bottom Line are neutral shades and blend beautifully within their respective colour groups."
This Bobbin fill thread sounds fabulous. Quite a few colours too. Love Chris
234496234496Hi Crazystitcher, I have a Brother Quattro Innovis Eye 6700D and I use the Brother bobbin thread. When I'm doing something that requires coloured thread in the bottom I use the same thread as what is on top. I prefer Hemingworth, Brother and Robison-Anton.
I found this information on Bobbin threads at Barnyarns Ripon Ltd in England:
'Filament Polyester
As a thread person, I like this thread over and above all the others as a bobbin thread. It ticks all the boxes.
A filament polyester underthread has a shiny appearance and is virtually lint free. It can be thin and lightweight, yet strong.
Embroiderers love this thread because it creates a soft backing, even on dense designs with many machine quilters liking it due to its smooth surface.
A filament bobbin thread works exceptionally well with all threads, balancing them perfectly, it is also the underthread of choice if you are using metallic threads or heavy cotton threads. The smoothness of the filament poly thread does not snag or grab the top thread. If you've had trouble using metallics or heavy cotton threads, a smooth bobbin thread may solve some problems.
Examples of filament polyester bobbin threads are Superior Bottomline and Superior Sofine' - check out the website there is more information on other types of Bobbin fill. Love Chris
www.barnyarns.co.uk
1 comment
by crazystitcher
edited 04 Apr 2014
Thanks for your reply - after reading this and doing more research on-line, plus considering the fact that the Brother bobbin fill is 100% polyester, I'm not fully convinced that my using 100% polyester bobbin fill is the cause of my woes; has anyone had any problems using pre-wound bobbins or bobbin fill from Creek Creations in Australia? - the way they described its "quality" on their web site was what inspired me to buy a box full of their pre-wound bobbins.
234496I have the Brother 4000 and he HATES any other brand bobbin fill but Brother. I have spent / wasted such a lot of money trying just about every cheap bobbin fill & it seems any other person with this same machine can use any brand, but I decided to just stick with the expensive Brother brand bobbin fill and my boy runs like a dream. xx
2 comments
by pennifold
04 Apr 2014
I find my Brother performs much nicer with BROTHER BOBBIN FILL too Lyn. Touchy little things aren't they?
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