Longarm University
Question of the Week
March 15, 2009
I am so confused about the silicone on the thread thing. Do people actually dip a whole cone of thread in a bucket of silicone? I have heard about the little "Sewer's Aid" bottle though have not tried it.
Loretta, Helena, MT
Sometimes you will be happily quilting along, then all of a sudden, you begin to have problems with thread breakage. If you suspect that the thread is the problem you may want to put some silicone lubricant on the the cone of thread. I would recommend doing this before tearing apart the machine.
I have heard of people submerging cones of thread in containers of silicone for several hours, then letting the cones dry before using them on their quilting machines. Personally, I have not done this. I prefer to use Sewer's Aide . It is a silicone lubricant designed specifically for thread which is used in quilting or sewing. Sewer's Aide comes in a small squeeze bottle. I will squeeze several (anywhere from 3 - 8) vertical "stripes" of the silicone on a cone of thread. Let the silicone sit for a few minutes and then begin sewing. Silicone thread lubricant has been used in the sewing industry for many, many years. I have personally used Sewer's Aide for many years, both in quilts and garments, with no problems.
Video Length: 2 minutes 54 seconds
If you live in a very dry area, or the furnace has been on for a while, or the indoor humidity is very low, there is the chance that the low humidity will affect the condition of your thread, which can lead to thread breakage. Applying some Sewer's Aide silicone to your cone of thread is an easy way to prevent thread breakage. If you apply Sewer's Aide and you are still breaking threads, then there may be a bigger issue with your machine.
I usually will wait until I have a problem with thread breakage before putting the Sewer's Aid on my thread.
(NOTE: I don't know if the silicone lubricant which may be in your garage is safe to use with thread. I wouldn't want to risk finding out on a customer quilt or one of my own special quilts!)
Sewer's Aide can be found at most fabric and quilt shops. It is also available on the Longarm U bookstore.
NOTE: It has come to my attention that Sewer's Aid is not recommended in some computerized machines. If you have any questions about your specific machine, please contact your local dealer.