New Colors in King Tut

Have you noticed as you select fabrics, that the shades of colors change from year to year? For example, last year's Green is different from this year's green.
We pay close attention to fabric trends and work to bring you colors in thread that will match any project.
We are happy to announce we now have 21 new colors in King Tut.

Most of the new colors are are tone-on-tone shades, which is somewhere between a solid and a variegated. Having four shades of green is better than a single solid shade of green. With the one-inch color change and four near shades, you will not have to worry about finding an exact match.

Many of these new colors are pastel in nature. The three new grays are amazing!

One of my latest favorites is #900 called Sinai.

King Tut is a #40/3-ply extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton, available on 500 yard spools, and 2,000 yard cones.
To view all King Tut colors, please click HERE.

Motherland Update

Construction is progressing well on our building addition at Superior Threads. We are getting very excited in anticipation of opening up The School of Threadology in the next few months.

There will be two levels in our new building.

The lower level will offer additional office and warehouse space.

The upper level will house our School of Threadology. The wide open area in the foreground will be the classroom for the longarm and midarm machines. The framed area toward the back will be additional classrooms and offices.

Imagine practicing on a longarm and being able to look out the window to see the spectacular red rocks of St. George. Bob calls this view "Mt. Superior".

This room has been nick named "The Bernina Room" because Bernina has very generously agreed to furnish 20 machines for this classroom. We can now provide machines to those who cannot travel with a machine.
Many other ideas are in the works. One room on the lower level will be called the "kaizen no ma" (the continuous improvement room). It will be an authentic Japanese style room. We are bringing in a Japanese floor, lights, and decor. We lived in Japan for 10 years and I've always wanted an authentic Japanese-style room. This will be a quiet, peaceful meeting room where there are no phones or computers. Our goal is to have a place to think, plan, and move ideas forward. August 2009 is the scheduled completion date.

What Is Trilobal Polyester Thread?

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY FROM SUPERIOR THREADS!
We are out of the office today in honor of the holiday. We hope you are enjoying the day with family and friends.

You've seen "Trilobal Polyester" written on our labels of Rainbows, Highlights, Nature Colors, Super Brights, Living Colors and Art Studio Colors, but do you understand what it means?

Recent advancements in fiber technology have resulted in a new type of polyester. Trilobal means three sided. Triangular shaped fibers reflect more light and give added sparkle to textiles. The trilobal cross section of the fiber creates excellent light reflection resulting in high sheen.

In the past, due to it's dull appearance, polyester was not as popular as other fibers, especially rayon. However, most rayon is not colorfast and it is a fairly weak fiber, and we do not recommend it for any application. Polyester is stronger and colorfast, but did not have the high sheen. Now we have the best of all worlds. A high-sheen polyester that is strong and colorfast.

The quality of our trilobals are, as we say SUPERIOR.

Rainbows is a 40 weight high sheen premium trilobal polyester thread with a one-inch color change interval. It's good for both quilting and embroidery.

Solid colors of trilobal polyester include Highlights, Nature Colors, Super Brights, Living Colors and Art Studio Colors.

Is It OK to Use Polyester Thread In a Quilt?

We are often asked, "Is it OK to quilt using polyester thread?"
Our answer: "Absolutely!"
But what about all those stories we hear about polyester cutting the fabric? Not true. If a thread were to ever tear through the fabric, it is because the thread is very strong or abrasive and the fabric is quite weak.
Some cotton threads are stronger than polyester threads so if a thread really were to tear through the fabric, some cotton threads would do this easier than some polyester threads. Think about your 100% cotton t-shirts. Guess what kind of thread they use to sew the seams together? Polyester thread and it DOES NOT tear through the t-shirt. How do we know what kind of thread they use? Bob called them and asked.

So Fine/50 wt./ polyester for quilting and general sewing.

The stories we have heard are myths handed down from grandma's generation when the only available thread was cotton. Cotton thread is great. Polyester thread is great. We like to piece with cotton (MasterPiece) and quilt with many different types of thread.
Here are a few of the facts we have gathered as we have studied the threads of today:
* The seams are the true stress points of a quilt, not the machine quilted area.
* If the fabric ever tears as a result of heavy use, it most likely will tear at the seams.
* Machine quilting does not add stress to the quilt. It strengthens it.

Poly Quilter/ 19 wt./ The look of cotton, with the strength of polyester.

Brights/ 30 wt./ High sheen polyester

CHARACTERISTICS OF POLY THREAD

• Strong


• Resistant to stretching and shrinking


• Resistant to most chemicals


• Quick drying


• Crisp and resilient when wet or dry


• Wrinkle resistant


• Abrasion resistant


• Retains heat-set pleats and creases


• Easily washed

Irish Linen Quilt

When Ricci Lindley, a member of our office staff, visited Dingle, Ireland in 2001 she did not have a premonition that she would be documenting history. On the morning of September 11th, 2001 Ricci purchased an antique Irish linen. By afternoon in Ireland, the news of New York and the devastation at Twin Towers was on every television and radio.

Once Ricci returned back to the United States, the linen was tucked away in a closet at home.

Fast forward to February 2009. Cindy Needham, one of our Superior Threads educators, came to St. George to teach at our School of Threadology. (see blog post on 2/5/2009)

Cindy, author of the book "Wholecloth Linen Quilts," specializes in turning ordinary linens into something special.

Ricci commissioned Cindy to create her magic on the Irish tablecloth purchased in 2001.

Cindy stitched with several types of Superior Threads to do her work.

Superior Threads Highlights were used for the feathers, heart, and border.

For the main part of the feathers, Cindy used Highlights #797

Look at the beautiful detail work. The beading was hand sewn on last.

In the center, a small white doily was added for the initial.

Superior Threads Bottom Line was used for the ditching, grid work and scribbling.

Several dark, medium and light colors of Bottom Line and So Fine helped bring depth to the piece.

On the back, Cindy included an Irish Blessing written on a doily.

The rod pocket and label were created by cutting off the end of an unfinished pillowcase.
To see more of Cindy Needham's beautiful work you can find her at http://www.cindyneedham.com/

Which Thread Should I Piece With?

Many new quilters have asked us, "Which thread should I piece with?" There can be a lot of confusion understanding all the different options available in thread choices.
Although there may not be one right answer for every person or project, we can offer a few suggestions.

Most quilters use cotton fabric and prefer to use a cotton thread to piece with. The main reason is because cotton is high heat tolerant. Ironing the seams with a high heat iron works well when using cotton threads. Many do piece with polyester threads and that is fine as long as you are careful to set the iron heat to medium or low.
We have teamed up with Alex Anderson in the creation of "MasterPiece" a #50/2 extra long staple Egyptian cotton thread. Notice the name: MasterPiece (Bob thought up this name because it is mainly a piecing thread. But it also fantastic as an applique and bobbin thread). MasterPiece thread is very smooth and virtually lint free.

MasterPiece is available in 59 beautiful colors, and comes on 600 yard spools, or 3,000 yard cones.
Alex has said "When piecing, accuracy become instantly enhanced because MasterPiece creates a very smooth, flat, even seam which does not add any bulk."

If you would like to see the actual colors up close, you can order a Color Card (made with the actual thread here. We sell all colors cards at our production cost of $3.

We also offer a Neutrals Collection, and for the very ambitious a 50 Color Collection.

MasterPiece is available in prewound bobbins to enhance the ease of sewing. Bobbins are available in "L style" and "M style". If you want to understand which style to use for your particular machine we have a compatibility chart available on our web site. You can find it HERE.

Remember, instead of using the common tan, beige or gray to piece with, try matching the thread color to the project. We have provided so many beautiful colors to work with!

MasterPiece can also be used for applique, lacework, bobbin and fine quilting.

Our Commitment to Excellence

Here at Superior Threads we continually focus on improvement. We feel little things pay off in big ways.
We pay attention to even the smallest details and are very specific about certain aspects of our company. Whether it's making sure we have well organized items on our warehouse shelves to the packing of boxes, we are committed to excellence. In fact, Bob gives every new employee a "box making lesson." Bob says it is in his genes because his grandparents' name is Packer and therefore he knows how to pack.

Our detail-oriented staff goes through training to make sure each box is packed with the highest standards.

Each box needs to have well aligned edges.

Taping in both directions keeps the product secure. Our focus is on problem prevention rather than problem resolution.

Some people might even consider us a little obsessive, but we want you to receive your order in prime condition.

When you open your box we want it to look nice and in excellent condition.