I’ve been wanting to try out a new-to-me thread called InvisaFil made by WonderFil Specialty Threads. It is a “cottonized” 100 weight polyester thread. I assume “cottonized” refers to the fact that it has more of a matte finish so it doesn’t look like monofilament thread but it is about the same weight. It is so thin that it is not overly noticeable when used for quilting. That would be perfect for portrait work! I needed to quilt the little pink portrait of Hazel that I did last month on our trip to Tucson, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to give this new thread a try.
It didn’t take very long before I had a thread break. Arg. I rethreaded and started up again. Another breakage. This time the slippery thread had pooled at the base of the spool and got tangled. I put a thread net over the spool and started up again. Another broken thread. I tried a different needle. I lost count of how many times the thread broke. I realize that I was asking it to do a difficult task. This portrait has up to four layers of fused fabric plus the batting and backing, but I have successfully used other threads for portraits of this type.
I pushed on until little Hazel was completely quilted, and I switched to Bottom Line thread by Superior Threads so I could stipple stitch the background. Bottom Line thread is a 60 weight polyester, so it is a little heavier than InvisaFil but still lighter weight that a standard 40 weight polyester thread. It is also slightly shiny which is sometimes good and sometimes not. Bottom Line is typically my go-to thread for portrait work when I don’t have the right color of 100 weight silk thread. Now I admit that the background is only two layers of fused fabric, but I stitched all of it without a single broken thread.
Sadly, I really liked the look of the InvisaFil thread on the portrait. Before I give up on this thread, I will test it out on a drawn or painted portrait. Maybe it will work better when it doesn’t have to deal with a bunch of fused layers.
Comments
12 responses to “Product review: InvisaFil thread”
I swear by Invisifil for hand appliqué, but I never tried it for machine quilting.
Thanks for the tip! I never thought of it for hand applique, but I bet it would be perfect.
You might try only putting it thru two of the three holes just before it gets to the needle. That way it isn’t so tight and taut.
For this little quilt I was using my Janome 6500.
I love using Invisifil on my longarm for dense background fills, but haven’t tried it with any fusible. I will be watching your other tests. It really is a lovely thread and worthy of a few more trials.
Yes, I do think it has great potential and it looks beautiful. I’m sure it is just because of all the fused layers.
What did you use in the bobbin when you tried it?
Masterpiece, I think. Would a different bobbin thread have made a difference? Which do you recommend?
I know this sounds odd, but how about the monofilament. Ann Fahl had me try that with metallics and it works well with those and other light wt. threads. InvisaFil is so fine it just might do the trick.
Thanks! I’ll give that a try.
I’ve been told to use a 50 wt. thread in the bobbin, such as Aurifil.
Thanks, Trish. I don’t have any Aurifil but I think I will try some different bobbin threads to see how it makes a difference. I was also told to try it with Invisafil I the bobbin. Funny how I never even thought of that!