Both Valentine's Day and my birthday are celebrated in February - so here's a sweet deal on the thread that I love. Solid King Tut colours - #1000 to #1032. On cones and spools , all at 20% off during the month of February. And since it's a Leap Year you have an extra day to stock up on this 40 wt. extra-long staple thread that will see you through machine quilting, hand quilting, and decorative machine stitching. You can even use 2 strands together in stitchery projects where floss is called for. When ordering online please enter the discount code: solid and prices will be adjusted.

The new Superior Thread Holders are here! These versatile holders are designed for spools, cones, and bobbins, and will ensure that any threads wind off correctly. Not all machines are created equal. Some don't have vertical spindles, others don't have built-in cone holders. With the Thread Holder your machine will now be able to accommodate any style or type of spool or cone. You can even use the small bobbin adapter spindle and sew from a bobbin. If you have been following my blog you know that I have been busy with invisible machine applique using MonoPoly thread. Invisible thread can sometimes be a bit problematic - it may need a longer thread path into the machine or it can wind off the spool too quickly. I set up the Thread Holder exactly as demonstrated by Heather Purcell in her video and had perfect results! The MonoPoly wound off evenly and smoothly from the side of the spool, and never wrapped itself around the spindle. While the Thread Holder is light in weight  it doesn't wobble, and it comes with a cone adapter so that any sized cones fit snugly and don't move. Sometimes changing the feed or position of the thread is the easiest fix when looking for the best tension. Now with the Superior Thread Holder this is easily achievable on any machine.

Bottom Line colour 625 Black is now in stock on cones . When true black is what you need in a very fine thread - for stained glass applique for instance - then this is the one. Bottom Line is a 60 wt. polyester that virtually disappears, making it a good choice for machine quilting dense patterns, or for designs which don't need to "pop". Use a Topstitch 70 needle and the same thread in the bobbin for superb results. If you prefer the convenience of prewound bobbins  I now also carry SuperBobs in black . A dozen "L" style bobbins (designed to fit most domestic machines) and each holding 118 yds. of Bottom Line thread. If you wind your own you will get approximately 102 yds. of Bottom Line thread on a bobbin.

Choosing a suitable thread for certain applications makes a big difference in the final result. Machine blanket stitch is very popular when doing fusible raw-edge applique. It makes a good cover finish to the raw edge, looks attractive, and most machines have this stitch. But by choosing a heavier thread over a fine thread we greatly alter the look of this stitch. So Fine #30 is wonderful for this type of applique. The heavier weight gives some oomph to the stitches, and ensures that they fill in well. And although it is a polyester it doesn't have the high sheen of the trilobals, making it my favourite thread for wool applique by machine. Available in 50 colours on 275 yd. spools . And if you have lots of blanket stitching to do I now carry 5 popular colours in 1,650 yd. cones so that you don't run out mid-project! So Fine #50 or Bottom Line are suitable for the bobbin. But do experiment - not all machines are happy with a large difference in weight between top and bottom thread. If this is the case and you can't get good tension with 60 wt. Bottom Line then So Fine #50 would be a better choice for the bobbin thread.

Superior Threads' firstborn was Metallics - which totally dispelled the notion that metallic thread is kinky, stubborn, and hard to work with. This is the creme de la creme of metallic threads, softly billowing off the spool instead of coiling down like those Slinky toys we used to play with. Together with a Topstitch 90 needle and a lower upper thread tension you should have a truly enjoyable stitching experience. In addition to 25 colours on 500 yd. spools nine of the most popular colours are now here in 1,090 yd. cones for your convenience.

Who is cleaning up and tidying their sewing space? You will definitely find a use for Hugo's Amazing Tape , a self-clinging vinyl tape available in 1" and 2" wide rolls . I am using it to wrap around spools of MonoPoly and Glitter. These spools don't have snap ends or notches so the thread unwinds and goes all over the place. Not any more! Next I am eyeing all my irons with the very unruly cords...

Afraid of the "A" word? "Applique Buffet" is a workshop focusing on various machine applique techniques and using different threads to get the best results. With no project to worry about students can try out different methods of invisible and decorative machine applique without a huge commitment in time or materials. And I provide the wonderful Superior Threads to play with in the $5 kit fee so you get a taste of them all! Have your Guild workshop coordinator or shop owner contact me to book a date.

For everyone who is interested in learning to free motion quilt, or for those wishing to brush up on their skills Leah Day has recently started her Free Motion Quilting Project . Or check out SewCalGal and the Free Motion Quilt Challenge . Lots of information and inspiration!

Looking forward to April there is a great opportunity to take a class with artist Lorraine Roy during the Huron Perth/Stonetowne Guilds' show in April. Lorraine's technique employs "collage with nets", and she will be teaching this as a one day class on April 27 and again on April 28. Please contact Sandra Thomas at creativequilting@execulink.com for further information and to register.

ON THE ROAD

Winter in Canada means a long time between quilt shows!

Events resume in March 2012 .

As the Certified Educator for Canada I teach nationally on behalf of Superior Threads. If you would like to learn more about threads and how to use them successfully please contact me to book a program or workshop .

Educational support is available for retailers across Canada and their customers too. If you are a shop carrying (or perhaps considering) Superior Threads and would like your customers and staff to be educated and excited about using thread please contact me. A special thanks to the following shops for hosting Open Thread Bar workshops:

Cock-a-Doodle Quilts (Toronto, Ont.)
Quilters By the Square (Goderich, Ont.)
Quilts and Calicos (Exeter, Ont.)
Suzy Q's Quilt Shop (Fort McMurray, Alta)

Would your guild love a booth full of Superior threads at its next quilt show? CMT is available to participate in Merchant Malls - please send me your show details.

Yes - please forward this newsletter to your friends or guild. Just let them know where it came from:

Anita Zobens
Certified "Superior Threads" Educator

The Cotton Mill Threadworks
2 Crowley Crt.
Dundas, Ont.
L9H 6C6

905-628-5267
toll-free 1-866-356-6708
www.cottonmillthreadworks.com