The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line Thread From Superior Threads

This is a fine thread that blends into your work. The Bottom Line™ is a 60 wt lint-free polyester thread that I have enjoyed using in a number of ways:

• Piecing
• Applique
• Binding
• Quilting

Piecing

For both Feathers in Flight and Australian Wildflowers, I have sewn them with Bottom Line thread from start to finish.

I like to shorten the stitch length and then the thread is as strong as any normal sewing thread and I can avoid the problem of the work getting smaller when working with a lot of seams.

For those who love machine quilting, have a look at the detail of Feathers in Flight (below) and notice how beautifully fine the quilting looks.

Which Needles and Bobbins are best with Bottom Line?

I like to use a Schmetz-Microtex #60 needle with Bottom Line thread. If you have any trouble at all with shredding or when you are stitching through a lot of seams, try changing to a larger needle or loosen your top tension.

I also like to tighten my bobbin tension so I don’t have any backlash with the bobbin. This can happen with a lightweight thread.

To avoid this problem, purchase an extra bobbin case. Then you can ‘play around’ with the tension and leave the general sewing bobbin case alone. Ask your supplier if you are unsure about what to do to adjust the tension. As you learn to alter both the top and bottom tension on your machine, your stitching will improve.

Applique with Bottom Line

The Australian Wildflowers quilt shows the fine stitching you can achieve using Bottom Line.

A Microtex #60 needle was used and an open satin stitch. I used fusible web to place the flowers, then appliqued them down. Alternatively, I could have used a closer satin stitch, or even free-motioned three rows of straight stitching around the outer edge of the applique.

Bottom Line has also been used to free machine the embroidery for the flower centres.

The thread is also very suitable for hand applique. The Wildflowers quilt has a lot of the inner scallops and the outer edges of the quilt hand appliqued onto cording.

Quilting with fine threads

When quilting with a fine thread, the stitching blends into the fabric allowing you to use a smaller stitch and have the quilting lines closer together.

Double stitching is less noticeable with this thread than a heavier thread.

Take note of how the matching thread blends into Feathers in Flight giving a gentle illusion of the quilting.

Should I just use one colour of thread to quilt?

Try using several Bottom Line shades. By using a thread that is a couple of shades darker than the background, the feathers stand out more.

Look at this detail of Australian Wildflowers.

Can I use Bottom Line for the binding?

I find that this thread works beautifully to bind my wall quilts.

Use a double thread and a fine needle and the stitches just seem to disappear into the fabric.

My recommendation?

For quilting, piecing and applique, I use Bottom Line™ thread on the top and/or in the bobbin of my machine, depending on the effect I want.

With 50 different colours to choose from, I find this a very versatile thread.