Two Sessions Scheduled for The School Of Threadology

Our building addition will be completed in August. We have added 7,000 square feet of classroom space that will house the School Of Threadology.
Our first two sessions have now been scheduled for the School.

SEPTEMBER 28-30,2009
Certified Superior Threadologist session.

NOVEMBER 11-13, 2009
2 days with Superior Educators
1 day with John Flynn









Each 3 Day Session Includes:

• Hands on Classes
• Seminars and Lectures
• Tour of our Office and Warehouse

Cost: Most sessions are $295 per person. You will receive: 3 days of classes, class supplies, printed materials, a lot of thread, and staff help.

Participants pay their own way to St. George, Utah, and also pay for their own hotel accommodations. Some meals are included, and details will be provided for each individual session.

For more information, and to register for the September or November session e-mail ricci@superiorthreads.com

*Space is limited.

35th Ave Sew & Vac

Like you, we love to visit quilt stores. We especially enjoy quilt stores that carry Superior Threads products.

We recently stopped by to say hello at 35th Ave Sew & Vac in Phoenix, Arizona.

This store carries over 15,000 bolts of fabric.

They also offer a large selection of books, kits, and notions.
We enjoyed sitting down with owners Bill and Rita Fose, and meeting their store managers Barbara and Jackie. We talk on the phone often with Barbara and Jackie as they place orders with and now have faces to place with the names and pleasant voices.

35th Ave Sew & Vac is located at 3500 W. Northern Ave, Phoenix, AZ.
They also have two other stores located in Chandler and El Mirage.

If you are in the area, and are looking for Superior Threads products, you will find a good selection of King Tut, Bottom Line, So Fine, and Poly Quilter.
They have recently have added Texture Magic, so make sure to check out the creative ways they will be using our new product.

Instant Help Feature Now Available

At Superior Threads, we are constantly looking for ways to offer better service to our customers. You are very important to us, and we want you to have a great experience when working with our products and staff.
We have now added a special feature to our web site called "Live Help."
This feature provides fast, immediate service to our readers.


By clicking on the icon "Live Help" button at the top right hand corner of our web page, you can communicate with an office representative during business hours. If you are at your computer and prefer not to call, you can chat live.
You can receive immediate answers to your technical questions, product information, and orders.

HOW IT WORKS:
Click on the Live Help button in the right hand corner.
Type in your customer name.
Type your question in the comment box and send!
Our office staff will respond quickly with answers to your questions.

Yes, it's that easy!

How Fast Does Vanish Thread Really Vanish?

On Wednesday afternoons our office staff gets together to learn more about our products.

Led by our wonderful office manager Pat, these meetings help us learn and ask any questions we might have about some of the 2,000 products we carry in our warehouse.

Recently we discussed Vanish-Extra and Vanish-Lite, our water soluble threads.

We wanted to see for ourselves if Vanish really does dissolve in water within 20 seconds.

After hearing Todd's swimsuit story, our staff member Ricci made several "mini-swimsuits" to put our product to the test.

Here you will see our own little version of Myth Busters, filmed right here in St.George, Utah.

Amber holding a yellow swim suit sewn with Vanish Lite before it gets wet.

Vanish-Lite works well on home machines, either as a top thread, bobbin thread, or both together.

Vanish-Lite can be spritzed with water.

Within seconds the suit came apart.

The blue suits were sewn with Vanish-Extra.

Vanish-Extra is for longarm machines because they put more stress on thread and Extra is a slightly heavier thread. Of course in the bobbin, either Extra or Lite is fine.

Vanish-Extra requires soaking to be effective. We created our own "swimming pool" to put this product to the test.

The Vanish-Extra suit also came apart at the seams. (Embarrassing for Barbie. Happy day for Ken!)

Our test was now complete. We can happily report that Vanish-Extra and Vanish-Lite work exactly as intended.

But then Pat and Ricci had a bright idea and wondered what would happen if we threw an entire spool of Vanish-Extra and Vanish-Lite in a bowl of water.

Oooohh....

Bob's Favorite Thread Story

Several years ago when our youngest son, Todd, was 14 years old, he was helping us pack some thread to be shipped.
He noticed the label on Vanish said "water soluble thread," and asked us why anyone would want thread that dissolves because most thread is used to hold things together.

We explained to him that many quilters use techniques such as trapunto, where they need a water soluble thread that will dissolve in water.
This got Todd to thinking . . . . water soluble thread and he asked us, "May I have a spool of that thread?"
We had great hopes. We could see our son taking interest in our business and perhaps he would become a famous quilter such as Ricky Tims or John Flynn.
We gave him a spool of thread and said, "Go and Create."

Todd went to his room and pulled out an old swimsuit and immediately began cutting it apart at the seams.
He then hand sewed the seams back together using Vanish thread.
Todd waited very patiently for about two weeks when a group of his friends came to our house and suggested they go swimming in our pool.
Of course, one friend needed to borrow a suit. "No problem!" Todd offered, "I have a spare!"
Within 20 seconds after the boys had jumped into the pool, imagine what happened to the borrowed suit? Poor Joe!!!
You can guess the ending to this story.
We need to mention that Mother Superior happened to be gardening in the backyard at the time.

• We carry both Vanish-Extra and Vanish-Lite, available on spools and cones.
• They need to be stored in a dry place and in resealable bags. Damp surfaces need to be avoided. Don't lick the thread before threading the needle.
• Both products can be used in the bottom and top of the machine.
• The strengths of Extra and Lite are different. Lite is about 1/3rd finer.
• On Longarm Machines: We recommend Vanish-Extra if used as the top thread. Either Vanish-Extra or Vanish-Lite can be used in the bobbin. Use a #19 (MR4.0) needle. The thread requires soaking to dissolve.
• On Home Machines: We recommend Vanish-Lite for home machines. Use an #80/12 Topstitch needle. You can spritz with water to dissolve.
• Vanish can also be used to temporarily hold pieces in place, as in basting. In the old days we had to pick our basting threads out. Now they dissolve!

More Magic with Texture Magic

Texture Magic has recently been featured on Moda Bake Shop.

Kimberly Walus, one of the MBS designers was excited to see how she could incorporate Texture Magic into her projects.

She used Texture Magic on the outside borders of her Patriotic Pillow.

To download this free pattern with more detailed instructions, you can visit Kim's tutorial on Moda Bake Shop HERE.

Kim gives clear pictures and instructions on how to use Texture Magic.

First she drew grids on the Texture Magic, and then stitched along the grid line.

Kim shows how easy Texture Magic shrinks with the use of steam.

Within 10-20 seconds the fabric shrinks 30% in every direction.

Your piece is now ready to be cut to size.
Thank you Kim for highlighting Superior Threads and Texture Magic!

**If you have any projects you have made with Texture Magic, we would love to see them! Please e-mail pictures and information to nedra@superiorthreads.com

Superior Threads Metallic

Superior Threads Metallic is constructed in a unique way that makes sewing a dream. We are the only thread company that absolutely guarantees our thread will work, metallic included.

Metallic Thread Frustrations? We can help!
Trying to turn real metal into a smooth-sewing thread is not an easy task.
To successfully run Metallics, make sure the thread you are using has three essential components. Poor quality metallic thread has nearly ruined this metallic thread's reputation, but there is quality metallic thread available, and at prices less expensive than some of those very poor imitators. Choose wisely.

3 Essential Components

• 1. Does it have a nylon core? A nylon core is an indication of strength and quality. Polyester and rayon are weaker. A nylon core, combined with "paper-pasting," prevents tangling.
• 2. Is it "paper-pasted"? The best Metallics will have a coat of rice paper pasted over the nylon core. This adheres the nylon core to the metal, resulting in a stronger thread. Metallic threads without the rice paper pasting do not hold up as well during high-speed sewing.
• 3. Does it have a protective coating? If the thread has a protective coating over the outer metallic layer, the thread will run better and with less friction. An outer coating also protects against fraying and shredding.

Superior's metallic thread was originally made for Japan's kimono industry. It is the thread selected to use on $20,000 kimonos. It is Japan's finest quality. It will save you money and frustration by running smoothly with minimal downtime. Guaranteed to be the best metallic you've ever run.
Choose the best quality thread available. The quality of metallic threads ranges as wide as that of cars. There is the Yugo and there is the Rolls Royce. Quite surprisingly, when compared yard for yard, the price of metallic thread does not vary much regardless of the quality you choose. In the metallic thread world, you will pay the same price, yard for yard, for a Yugo as you will for a Rolls Royce. However, you will not find a Rolls Royce in a subcompact model. Likewise, you will not find the best metallic on a tiny spool. Quality metallic threads are not put on small 100 or 200-yard spools. The smallest size is usually a 500-yard spool. Numerous notions and techniques have been developed to try to make a poor quality thread work. We've heard them all, including silicon lubricant, put the thread in the freezer, position the spool of thread all the way across the room, spray with water, keep in a ziplock bag, and turn the spool upside down.

If you start with a good quality thread, you will not need the gimmicks.
The following tips will be sufficient to allow you to fall in love with and successfully use Metallics:

• 1. Choose the best quality thread -- Superior's Metallic thread.
• 2. Use either a Topstitch needle size #90/14 or a metallic needle, size #90/14. A size #80/12 needle is too small. Most stores, unfortunately, sell the wrong size metallic needles.
• 3. On home machines, loosen the upper tension setting to "one."
• 4. Use a smooth, lint-free bobbin thread. The Bottom Line is recommended.

Trust me. It will work. You'll be amazed.