Kate, I think it is important not to use old, old thread. I know some people do, but I don't want to take a chance. I also like to store my thread covered, partly to keep it from collecting dust. If your machine likes what you feed it, don't change. If you want to learn about thread, look at Superior's website. Thanks for all who responded. The excessive lint and fuzz could also have been from the Warm & Natural batting. Usually I use the White, which is bleached. Definitely different, and more linty. I also had lots of lint and fraying from the fabric. So a very linty fuzzy time! I haven't tried the King Tut yet or the new Omni. I am doing the binding now. I'll post a picture in a separate thread. I am very happy with the quilting! Here is a link that might be useful: Superior Thread

I must be developing calluses on the tips of the fingers on my underneath hand, or else I am pricking my fingertips less. But I feel I need to use a nail file to scrub off all the tiny pieces of skin that stick out and get dry and latch on to everything fuzzy. I have not been able to get to the drugstore to get some of that white tape. We have lots of tape in our medicine cabinet, just not that kind. I think I know what ya mean, empress, about the different thimbles, different tools at different times. I notice that I use my fingers differently when I change equipment. And using the same muscles in different ways means that you are less likely to develop a strain from repeating the same motion over and over. So all of a sudden I realize that I don't want one perfect solution. I want to be able to quilt comfortably and satisfactorily no matter what I use or don't use. Thanks for all the input. And keep it coming, if you have any other ideas. I and others on this forum will benefit from your experience. Now, to go see if I can find Marti's post about the spoon she uses....

Maet, you will want to wait until the quilt is finished to wash it. I may be reading it wrong but it sounds like you're talking about fusing the squares then washing them before sewing. I don't know what type of interfacing you're using, but the knit kind is very soft even after fusing. I don't know about cleaning the cutting mat - I can't recall ever needing to clean mine except for wiping off the fuzzies stuck in the little cuts. Donna

Thanks for the compliments! That is a quilt I made for my "wife-in-law" - my DH's first wife. We are good friends, even though many consider that to be weird. Jasdip, I'm sure your aunt could google many sites with instructions - and some would be good, others would be at best confusing, at worst, mediocre to really bad. I'm totally self-taught, have never taken a class, although others I know do love taking classes. So let me suggest a couple of books. They are likely to be available at the local library, so she doesn't have to spend a lot to find out if she's really interested. These are both widely available. The first is the Singer Sewing Reference Library: Quilting by Machine. The second is Singer Sewing Reference Library: Quilt Projects by Machine. Both books spell out the basics of both machine piecing and machine quilting, basic supplies, and both include enough different blocks to build the basic skills needed to be successful. Wish her luck from me, and do point her to the quilting forum here on THS. We're a friendly lot.