Quilting with unusual materials and threads

At one time there was only one kind of thread and one kind of needle. Now there are hundreds of threads to choose from and all types of needles. Most quilters are bewildered by what thread to use with what needle and when to use them. My classes are hands-on technique classes for all levels of quilters---from beginners to experts---and by the time the class is over threads and needles are no longer a mystery. In addition to regular threads, I use embroidery thread, skinny ribbons, and thin yarn when I teach bobbin drawing. When you bobbin draw you put the main thread on the bobbin, and you can put so many more fibers on the bobbin because they do not have to go through the needle. You just turn the fabric upside-down when you sew!. Couching threads is so easy and it is amazing what you can couch---yarn, any kind of embellishment, lace, strung beads and sequins, ribbon--just about anything you can think of. I discovered there is a Textile College in England and found books by quilters who have graduated from threre. They have become my mentors even though they don't know me. Maggie Grey, Jan Beaney and Jean Littleton, Valerie Campbell-Harding, Pamela Watts, and a host of others. There are the American threadplay giants also---Libby Lehman (whom I took a class from in 2002 and that's when I became hooked on thread), Ellen Ann Eddy, Terry White, Sherrill Kahn, Harriet Hargrave, Pauline Richards, Deborah Jedziniak, Kristen Dibbs, Ricky Tims and many others. Go to the library and check out some of their books. You will be amazed at what can be done with a simple sewing machine that does only a straight stitch, a zig-zag stitch, and can drop the feed dogs. You do NOT need a fancy machine to do any of the techniques I teach in class. I love what I do because it is so much fun to discover new threads and embellishments to play with.