Tutorial ~ Helpful Hints When Working With Silk Thread

Silk thread is wonderful to use when sewing things like needle-turn applique or English paper piecing (EPP) hexagons and pentagons together.   This strong thread is very thin and because of that, the stitches "sink" into the fabric virtually disappearing.  While loving the attributes of silk thread, it does have its down side.  Because it's silk, and slippery, it often slips out of the eye of the needle causing you to re-thread and re-thread the needle.  Frustrating, to say the least!!

Like everything in quilting, it's always the hints and tips that can make such a big difference in the pleasure we get and the ultimate outcome of our work.  Here are my tips for ease and success when working with one of my favorite things.....silk thread!

These are my preferred tools for working with silk thread.  They are part of a very helpful technique I'm about to share with you.  I love the taupe color silk thread paired with the John James Golden-eye applique needles (size 10).  I use Thread Heaven conditioner and a Clover needle threader.

Look for these items at your local quilt shop!  If you can't find them there, they are available on my website.

I use the taupe color silk thread for 99% of all of the sewing I do using silk.  It blends very well with every color fabric.  (You'll see pictures of how it looks in patchwork at the bottom of this blog post.)  The only time I don't use the taupe thread is when I'm working with all/only black fabrics, and then I use black silk thread.

*Cut a length of silk thread no longer than 18".   Any longer and you'll just struggle with it.

*Run the entire length of thread over the Thread Heaven conditioner.  Thread Heaven gives the thread some body, removes static cling and helps to prevent it from knotting and twisting.

For needle-turn applique, and EPP, I prefer using the John James Golden-eye applique needle in size 10.  It's a perfect partner with the silk thread.  The "golden" part of the eye helps you to see the very small eye.  This narrow needle and the needle threader help immensely with this technique making everything easy to hold.

With the 18" of silk thread, fold over a 3" tail.

Push the loop of the thread through the wire threader.  (The end of the tail should still be on the other side of the wire.)  The needle is still resting below the silk thread.

Carefully lift the needle off of the threader.  In doing so, the thread will go through the eye of the needle.  You no longer need the needle threader.  The needle should be positioned half way between the looped end of the thread and the end of the 3" tail. 

Bring the sharp point of the needle inside the center of the loop.  Hold onto the needle and pull the threads down toward the eye.

*This technique results with a slip knot at the eye of the needle!  Can you see how the thread is wrapped around the eye?  The knot will stop the silk thread from constantly slipping out of the eye so you don't have to re-thread the needle over and over again!

Use this technique only when using silk thread!  The thin John James #10 needles and the thin silk thread are narrow and small enough that the knot does not interfere at all with your sewing.  Any other needle and thread will be too thick, and the knot too large, that the needle won't penetrate the fabric.  Hence, this technique only works with silk thread.

Here's a look at a bit of my patchwork stitched with the taupe color silk thread.  The basket block above was needle-turned using it, and these hexagons were sewn together using it.   Barely detectable, the silk thread sinks into the fabric, and the taupe color blends well with all color fabrics!  

Remember, the silk thread, Thread Heaven, needle threader and John James needles are available at your local quilt shop.  Please ask for them on your next visit.  If they don't have them, you can get them from me on my website.

I truly hope you find the tips in this tutorial helpful.  If you've never worked with silk thread, I encourage you to give it a try.  It's really wonderful!  

You can always access this tutorial (and several others) by clicking on the "Tutorials" tab at the top of my blog page.  It will be there whenever you might need it!

I've also received a new shipment of these wonderful clip-on magnifying glasses, and as of this posting, and all other notions are back in stock.