How much thread?

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Stitched examples: 

       Custom Quilting    Pantographs    Freeform

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     Thread FAQs    Quilting Machine FAQs

How many spools of thread will I need to quilt my quilt?

Well, I can't tell you how much thread you will use on your quilt because there are so many variables -

  • size of quilt
  • quilting design
  • weight of thread

However I CAN tell you how much thread I used to quilt the following quilts.

I have calculated this by using 2 spools of thread, one of which has been completely wound onto bobbins. 

By counting the  number of bobbins used I can estimate how much thread has been used from one spool.

By doubling the bobbin usage I can estimate the total thread usage on a quilt.

Quilt One: Detailed Custom Quilting

Full view of quilt made by Ruth Francis of Glen Waverley Vic.

More detailed view of quilting taken while quilt was still on the machine.
Overall view of quilt made by Ruth Francis of Glen Waverley Vic. 

Close up view of quilting detail

Quilt Size:

190 cm x 190 cm (75" x 75")

Heirloom quilting design including:

  • ditch stitching the inner border, sash seams and seams of red patch
  • feather border
  • medium small stipple meander on sashes
  • leaf vine on block frames
  • rose motif on red patch

Factors influencing thread usage:

There were numerous stops & starts in this design generating many thread tails and the quilt required a small amount of rework.

Thread used:

approx 1,000 metres of Ne 40 Cotton Makó

 

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Quilt Two: Edge to Edge Quilting

Carpenter's Star log cabin quilt made by Rosemary Ward of Blackburn Sth, Vic. Quilted with Stars & Loops design by LEQ using variegated cotton mako 28wt

View of Detail of Stars & Loops design by LEQ
Overall view of quilt made by Rosemary Ward of Blackburn Sth, Vic.

Close up view of quilting detail

Quilt Size:

271cm x 271cm  (106" x 106")

Edge to Edge quilting design:

    Stars & Loops pattern designed by Linda's Electric Quilter

Factors influencing thread usage:

  • used Ne 28 multi coloured variegated thread in needle
  • used Ne 50 plain colour in bobbin
  • stitched a  sample to test tension
  • experienced some thread breakage

Thread used:

  • Ne 28 Cotton Makó comes on a 750metre spool
  • approximately 500 metres was used in the needle plus 500 metres of Ne 50 thread for the bobbin.
  • By using a 40 or 50wt thread in the bobbin it is possible to complete a quilt with less than one spool of Ne 28 thread

The amount of thread remaining on spool after quilting the Carpenter's Star Log Cabin

  

Also note the extension taped to the standard thread holder after the "cone holder prongs" have been removed on the Gammill Classic.

 
Remainder of spool after quilting the Carpenter's Star Log Cabin. 

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Quilt Three

 

    

Watch this space for more examples in the future

 

Overall view of quilt made by  Close up view of quilting detail

Quilting design including:

 

Factors influencing thread usage:

 

Thread used:

 

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Last modified: 5 September 2008
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