I first meet Ellen many moons ago. We were both members of PAQA. When I saw
her quilts I was just blown away. The thread play Ellen was doing was just
wonderful and she has always been an inspiration to me.
Here is my interview with Ellen Ann Eddy.
Ellen you have machine quilted and done such exciting thread play on all of
your wonderful quilts.
What threads have you used that you really like to work
with?
There are three basic considerations with thread. The colors have to be
beautiful. There's no sense in working with bland or tired color. I also really
like thread to have a shine. The quality of the thread needs to be good. That
translates largely as the strength of the thread. Finally price matters, because
you can only buy so much. But thread that isn't beautiful and strong isn't
worthy.
There are several threads I adore for different categories of the kinds of
work I do. I do not work with utility threads at all. These are all made
strictly for embroidery
# 8 weight metallics: These are the thick threads you use in the bobbin.
Madeira,
YLI and
Superior put out Glamor, Candlelight
and Razzle Dazzle respectively. They are all excellent and interchangeable.
Together they give a very satisfactory color range.
#40 Threads:These are thin embroidery threads. There are poly, cotton and
rayon versions. I've never liked cotton. It has no shine. I have used rayon but
it simply isn't as strong. Some rayon color fades as well. Mostly I use
polyester. The shine is lovely. It's machine strong and good for almost all
machines. I'm particularly fond of Madeira's Poly Neon. It's very strong and has
a fabulous color range.
Superior's
Polyester embroidery thread is very good as well. Don't confuse it with Bottom
Line. Bottom line is a great quilting thread, but too thin for good embroidery.
I do love the tinsel threads like
Sulky Sliver. They make a fabulous
eye on a creature. The sheen is great. I also like to stipple with them. I
always use them in the bobbin because they are quite fragile.
Finally I dye my own pearl cottons. I want threads that will shade across a
surface, not in rainbow colors. My pearls are usually mixed with complements to
darken and with full color ranges to fill in space. I don't know of a commercial
line of threads that does that.
And why?
What kind of problems have you encountered with all this
thread play on your quilts? Do you use stabilizers and what
kind?
Thread breaks, just by it's nature. Good thread breaks less. The right needle
and stabilization help. I like using a Halo, a red weighed hoop that keeps the
surface tight. All of that helps. And you need to watch how your thread feeds.
Moonstruck by Ellen Anne Eddy
Everything puckers. It's the nature of too much thread. Lately, I make my
most heavily embroidered pieces separately and stitch them on as an applique. I
make a stabilizer sandwich of stiff non woven interfacing, felt and hand dyed
fabric (Put together either with Steam A Seam II or with 505 spray) and stitch
on that. If it's bobbin work I have a pattern drawn from Totally Stable
underneath. If it's fused fabric or sheers from the top, I have that glued on
with Steam A Seam II. Either way, I do all my stitching, and cut all the ruffled
edges away before I stitch it down to my top. I usually stabilize the top as
well with a layer of felt as my bat and an interfacing underneath. I know what
I'm making will not be someone's blanket. It's made to be wall art and I want it
to have substance and a solid edge.
Daily Lily Dance by Ellen Anne Eddy
What is your favorite type of needle to use with these
threads and why?
A #90 topstitching needle is my needle of choice. It has a great sharp
point, lots of punch power and a a smooth larger eye that breaks thread less.
You create your own quilt and quilting designs where do
you get your inspiration from?
I draw largely from the natural world. I am endlessly fascinated with things
in my garden, both plants and animals.
Dragonfly in Bloom by Ellen Anne
Eddy
I tend to see people as animals and I tend to quilt them as such. But I don't
know who it is while I'm in process. That's not important. I see an image or get
a notion in my head. I just go with it. We sort out who it is and why when I'm
done. It makes for odd family reunions hunched over quilts. But they all
tolerate that by now.
Lately I've been working at an intuitive method for flower applique,
documented in my new book,
Thread Magic Garden. Day Lily
Dance is an example from the book. It's very simple shapes cut and embroidered
to make fabulous flowers.
What else would you like to talk about related to thread?
The invisible factor to thread breakage is how the thread feeds. If any thing
catches on it's way to the needle, your thread, or your needle will break. So
check that. Use a cone holder. Make sure you use the right thread cap with your
machine. Thread feeding makes a huge difference with breakage.
Thanks so much, Frieda. This was fun. If anyone has questions they can visit
me at my
blog or
website.
Thank you Ellen as always you inspire all of us with your
fun, fanciful and whimsical designs and work.
