Thread -- Yes, It Does Make A Difference


I did a bit of online shopping the other day -- a movie and some thread.  I know, I live walking distance from Joann Fabrics but I was introduced to a thread that I wanted to try for English Paper Piecing.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was giving EPP a try and had been surfing the net looking at blogs about the technique.  I ran across Flossie Teacakes which is a wonderful blog about EPP.  The entry that I happened on was about thread.  Florence (aka Flossie) was recommending a particular thread that, quite honestly, I had never seen before so, since I was shopping online anyway, I thought I would give it a go.

So, day before yesterday this big box came--

It was filled with this --

There was nothing in the paper so I looked in the box and there was this --

Yes, one spool of thread in that great big box with all that packing material.  It made me smile-- I don't know why.  In retrospect, I wish I had ordered the larger spool because the difference in price wasn't all that great and I have a feeling this will be my go-to hand sewing thread from now on.

I purchased the thread in the silver shade as Flossie suggested the light grey would probably work well with most things and I think she is right.  The thing about EPP is that I don't like the idea of having to change color threads so much as I like doing the piecing in the evening in my comfy chair and I don't care to have to schlep all different colors of thread around with me so one would do nicely.

This morning I gave it a go.  I apologize for my not so stellar photos -- I tend to shake a bit and when trying to get up close -- well, it just doesn't work so well.  However, here are some of the photos.

This one is done with a regular sewing thread and a regular sharp needle.

back--duh

front--double duh

It is not too bad but the stitches are more visible than I would like.  The next two photos are done with the new thread and a regular needle.

The stitches are almost invisible.  Yes, it did make it better using lavender fabric-- I didn't really think of that when I decided to do a test run -- I will post more photos on different fabric -- but the point is the thread is so fine that I think it would do with almost any color.  I am thrilled.

The only thing that would make it even better, I think, is to use a finer needle, like a milliner's needle which I am off to procure!  I really enjoy EPP but I think with this thread and finer needles, it will be even better.  I will update.

Thank you Flossie!

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.  It is a weekly exercise where you post two lines from any page in your current read. 

Since my current read is in my room where my husband is snoozing, I will choose two sentences from a newly acquired book - Past Imperfect - by Julian Fellows.  I haven't begun this book as I have a hard time reading more than one book at a time but it won't be far down my tbr queue.

"London is a haunted city for me now and I am the ghost that haunts it.  As I go about my business, every street or square or avenue seems to whisper of an earlier, different era in my history."

These are the first two sentences of chapter 1, page 1.  It is definitely a leading couple of sentences, drawing you in because who wouldn't be curious to know why this is a haunted city for the character. 

I might have to move it up on my tbr list.