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Article Archive

▼  2012 (10)
►  2011 (21)
►  2010 (143)
►  2009 (334)

  • Hugo's Amazing Tape & The 1,000 Ways to Use it.

    Posted: 1 February 2012 at 2:39 p.m.

     Hugo's Amazing Tape by Superior Threads

     We have found many great uses for Hugo's Amazing Tape.  Our most common thread-related use is to wrap a piece of Hugo's Tape around a spool or cone to keep the thread in tact.  Because this special tape does not have a sticky adhesive side, you are able to reuse the same piece of tape again and again.  Anita Zobens, The Superior Educator for Canada took this picture of MonoPoly and sent it to us.

    You can catch Mother Superior wrapping a piece of the tape around a spool of Razzle Dazzle in our latest educational video.

     

     

    Here are a few uses for Hugo's Amazing Tape which we've received from our customers.

    • I have been using Hugo's Amazing Tape for years! I put strips of it on the bottom of my acrylic rulers to keep them from slipping. Much better than the sandpaper dots or rubber ones.  You can still see clearly though the acrylic ruler and the tape.  The tape can be removed and reused. 

    • I use Hugo's Amazing Tape to keep my pantographs rolled neatly so they stay nice and flat and do not get crunched.  It keeps the corners from curling ...

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  • Hand Embroidery with Superior's Silks

    Posted: 24 January 2012 at 12:22 a.m.

    Silk Sampler Set by Superior Threads How many of you have tried Silk Embroidery before?  One of our staff member's wife has just completed her first hand embroidery project using several of our Silk Threads .  We were very impressed with her freehand work and decided to blog about it.  She started with some leftover fabric, drew the flowers and names onto a piece of Dissolve 4x , loaded the fabric and dissolve onto an embroidery hoop, then stitched away!  After completing all the stitching, she soaked the project in some warm water and the dissolve water soluble stabilizer vanished, leaving the completed project.  This niftly little project has its place as a wonderful decoration pillow showcasing her talent.

     

    Silk Embroidery Pillow

    Silk Embroidery Flowers Close-up

     

    Silk Embroidery Name Close-up

     

    Threads used in this project:

    Razzle Dazzle

    #25/3 Silk Embroidery Floss

    Quilter's Silk #16

    Silk Ribbon

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  • Solving those Thread Myths Left & Right!

    Posted: 23 January 2012 at 7:13 a.m.

    Superior Threads

    So Many Myths...
    There are so many myths regarding thread.  Some are propagated purposely due to a financial motivation, others by misinformed professionals including store sales staff and repair technicians, and most by innocent people just passing on what they have heard.

    -Here are some of the most common myths-


    Myth 1.  Polyester will tear my quilt fabric.
    Not true.  If you have attended one of Bob’s seminars, you have seen hands-on proof that this is a myth.  (If you haven't, please watch his thread therapy DVD ) Thread tearing into a fabric has nothing to do with the thread fiber type but with the strength of the fibers (both in the thread and in the fabric). Some cotton thread (such as glazed cotton) can be stronger and more abrasive than polyester.

    Myth 2.  My machine repair person said that I must use only ____ thread.  (Fill in the blank with a brand name or cotton or poly, etc.)
    Some have been told to use only cotton thread.  Others have been told to use only polyester thread.  I’m sure the person who says this means well.  He/She probably just finished cleaning a machine full of horrible lint ...

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  • Superior's Titanium-coated Topstitch Needle & the Universal Needle

    Posted: 20 January 2012 at 7:29 a.m.

    Superior Topstitch Needle & Universal Needle #80/12 The titanium-coated Topstitch needle is a powerful tool to have in your quilting & sewing supplies.  Topstitch needles are the standard needle used by professionals in the quilting and sewing industry.  Taking the technology that commercial needles have with a thin coating of titanium-nitride and combining this coating with the topstitch style needle gives us a "best of both worlds" revolutionary needle for the quilting and sewing industry.

    We will take a close look at the differences between a Universal and Topstitch style needle under a microscope and also point out certain needle flaws which can have cause trouble when stitching.

    Compared in this article is - Superior's 80/12 titanium-coated Topstitch needle and another brand's Universal 80/12 needle under 40x magnification.

    Universal Needle- Size 80/12 Universal Needle with Burr in its Eye

    Superior's Topstitch Needle - Size 80/12 Superior Threads Topstitch Needle

     

    We can see that the eye on Superior's Topstitch needle is more than twice as long as the universal's.  Why is this important?  Having an elongated eye allows for the thread to move more freely when being stitched.  Less stress is put onto the thread at the point where the stitch is created which in turn puts less friction on the thread.

    The ...

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  • So Fine #40 Quilt Sample

    Posted: 19 January 2012 at 10:11 a.m.


    So Fine #40 Polyester Quilting Thread by Superior Therads So Fine #40 is variegated polyester thread with precision-dyed 1-inch color change intervals.  More importantly, it is a wonderful thread to use for topstitching.  The fiber is an innovative polyester that grasps onto fabric well and when sewn or quilted with proper tension, makes wonderful stitches.  The nature of So Fine thread is different from any other polyester thread.  The smooth, lint-free processing it goes through is a patented and protected process.  This makes So Fine #40 thread the only thread like it in the world.  The weight of thread being a #40 is ideal for topstitching when you want to see the design of the thread.  With 35 colors and growing, you will find the top trending color variations within this line. 

    So Fine #40 is the most recent addition to our family of So Fine #30 & #50 threads.

    See this quilt "Storm at Sea" hanging in our booth at Road to California right now! So Fine #40 Quilt Sample by Superior Threads

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  • Black Light Threads - Reflective and Glowing Threads

    Posted: 16 January 2012 at 7:11 a.m.

    Many longarm machines offer a Black Light option when quilting which allows the quilter to see certain threads better.  What makes some dyed threads "glow" under a black light?

    Superior Threads Chemistry 101 - A black light (bulb, LED, or tube) gives off ultraviolet light which happens to be highly energetic. The human eye can't see this light of the spectrum.  (This is perhaps why it became known as "black light".) Fluorescent substances absorb the ultraviolet light and then re-emit it almost instantaneously. Threads which are dyed with fluorescent pigments or threads which are bright white will absorb the black light and reflect it back in a wonderful glowing sheen.

    Here is a selection of our threads viewed under standard fluorescent light

    Severl Black Light reactive threads by Superior Threads

    And the same thread selection viewed under a black light

    Black Light Threads reflecting shine by Superior Threads

    Here is a list of our threads that glow under a black light:


    Bottom Line # 621
    Highlights # 741, 731, 726
    Kimono Silk # 373
    King Tut # 993
    MasterPiece # 186
    NightLight ExtraGlow   Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Purple, & White
    OMNI # 3001, 3160
    Rainbows # 841
    So Fine #30 # 1135, 1136, 1138, 1140, 1141
    So Fine #50 # 451
    SuperBrights # 726, 741 through 750
    #30 Silk # 401
    #50 Silk # 401

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  • Superior Thread Holder new Innovative Thread Delivery Notion by Superior Threads

    Posted: 12 January 2012 at 7:41 a.m.

    Superior Thread Holder new Innovative Thread Delivery Notion by Superior Threads We have been working on a new product for a little while and we are excited to announce that it is ready for launch! The Superior Thread Holder combines a Cone Stand/Holder with an effective spool delivery system.  Whether a spool is cross-wound or stack-wound, the Superior Thread Holder will accommodate both.  Made of strong acrylic, this useful tool is also a piece of art!

     

    Watch all of our Superior Thread Holder Videos

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  • Superior Threads' Snap Spool Feature

    Posted: 9 January 2012 at 7:31 a.m.

    Here's a nifty video clip showcasing our Snap Spool feature which is found on many of our products.  Mother Superior provides a wonderful narration on why this feature is beneficial.




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  • Mystery Tie?

    Posted: 4 January 2012 at 3:44 p.m.

    We received a "Mystery Tie" in the mail - no note included in the box, just a vintage, olive-green tie.  Was this a New Year's surprise perhaps? Or was it a secret gift to one of our friendly staff members? We weren't sure.

    So I did what any man faced with a Mystery Neck Tie would do.  I'm wearing it today.

    Happy New Year to whomever sent us this lovely vintage neck tie and to all our Blog readers!

    If you are the person who sent this tie to us, please e-mail us at info@superiorthreads.com and let us know how we can serve you.

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  • Ask Dr. Bob/ Titanium Needles

    Posted: 3 January 2012 at 6:36 a.m.
    ASK DR. BOB
    Question: I was recently at a class by a "national" teacher who definitely had an opinion about titanium needles, and I was curious what you think. She said that we shouldn't use titanium needles because they're too strong and could actually punch a hole in the bobbin case (rather than break).
    Is this true?
    She comes from the commercial industry, so maybe her experience is with full titanium needles? I noticed that your needles are not full titanium, but titanium coated. Would that make a difference?
    Answer: I've also heard this opinion. No needle is made of pure titanium. That would cost hundreds of dollars.
    Any needle referred to as titanium is, in fact, only titanium coated with titanium nitride which is an ultra thin coating applied to the surface of the needle. The coating is very hard and reduces wear on the needle. It does not significantly affect the overall strength of the needle.
    Most industrial sewing factories around the world use titanium-coated needles because they last 5-8 times longer than the standard chrome-coated needles.
    Most longarm machine companies use and sell them also    .

    If it were true that titanium-coated needles were potentially ...
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  • Great Blue Herons by Joanne Baeth - A Winner from the IQA Houston Show -

    Posted: 31 December 2011 at 7:35 a.m.

    Joanne Baeth from Bonanza, OR (that town really exists) won the "Superior Threads Master Award for Thread Artistry" at this years Houston Festival.

    Her quilt, Great Blue Herons, is indeed a work of art.  With an incredible amount of detail stitched into every inch of this quilt, it looks more like a photograph than a blend of fabric and thread.

    We had the chance to ask Joanne about what inspired her to create Great Blue Herons.

    JB- "I live in a very rural area in Southeastern Oregon where there are lots of lakes, wetlands, and forests nearby.  I am constantly inspired by the birds and wildlife that I see on a regular basis.  Eight years ago I made my first art quilt which featured a heron.  The quilt was very small, 12" x 12", but I was hooked.  Since then I have created several Blue Heron quilts,  increasing the numbers of herons and improving my techniques each time.  I strive to make all of my quilts resemble a water color painting and I study the changing landscapes whenever I can.  Two years ago I was lucky enough to observe a group of Great Blues that were choosing their mates for ...

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  • The Gold Metallic Thread Spectrum

    Posted: 27 December 2011 at 7:46 a.m.

    Superior's Metallic thread is a high-quality metallic which can be used for embroidery and quilting.  Many quilters use our Metallic thread in their home sewing machines and longarm machines to create stunning works of art. (See this amazing quilt by Jamie Wallen which was quilted on an A1 Longarm) 

    We carry several shades of Gold in our metallic thread line.  With five options of gold colors to choose from, we tend to ask "which shade of Gold do I want?"

    We put together a graphic to show the differences in our Gold Metallic colors. Ranging from a Light Gold (Gold #2), Standard Gold (Gold #7), Military Gold (which has more of a brassy hue, Gold #9), Antique Gold (Gold #16), to our Variegated Gold (Gold #25, which has blues and reds combined with our Gold #7.)

     

    Gold Metallic Thread Comparison by Superior Threads

    View our Metallic Thread Options

    How Superior's Metallic Thread is Made (Education Article)

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  • Color Compatibility Charts Help Find Similar Colors

    Posted: 20 December 2011 at 11:41 a.m.

    Superior's Color Compatibility ChartsTrying to match colors from different thread lines can be quite the undertaking.  Different fibers react to dyes in their own way. Viewing colors on a computer monitor can make one question how true the color quality is. 
    The best way to match colors is to have one of everything in front of you so you can see with the same lighting, the vibrant colors.  However, the best way isn't always the most economical.  This is why we came up with the Superior Compatibility charts!

    Now you can view compatible colors across several thread lines.  Hand coordinated by Mother Superior, these colors will blend, match, & convene, in a similar manner.

    With 10 Color Compatibility charts currently available and more to come, you will have plenty of color choices to match for your projects.

    View Superior Threads' Color Compatibility Charts

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  • King Tut Thread

    Posted: 13 December 2011 at 1:25 p.m.

    King Tut Quilting Thread by Superior Threads

    Our friend Melissa at Sew Bittersweet Designs has written a fabulous article on her King Tut quilting, applique, & binding experience.

    Please visit her blog here: http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/?p=1195

     

    To look at all 133 colors of Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton thread, click here.

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  • Our New Apps Are Available

    Posted: 21 November 2011 at 9:13 a.m.

    Our new apps are available for Android and Apple. We currently have the "How much thread?" app and the "Thread Selection Guide" app. These apps will help you determine the best thread for your desired use and help you determine just how much thread you need.

    Stay tuned for more apps in the future!

    To download the apps, you can search for them in the Android Market or the iTunes Store. You can also select the links below.

    Android:

    How Much Thread

    Thread Selection Guide

     

    Apple:

    How Much Thread

    Thread Selection Guide

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