What Aurelia said about the grain or directionality of the thread. If I'm doing fine work, antique textiles, etc., I choose the finest gauge needle that the eye will accept the thread. I thread the needle with about a yard of thread, and then pull the thread so the long end has the grain running the right way. I tie a double knot at the end of the long end of the thread, so that I don't tug the end through and out of the first stitch. As I stitch, the needle slips so that the long end gets shorter. As I reach the last eight inches or so of thread, both ends are nearly the same length now, I pick where I'm going to stop stitching, and tie off the thread at that point. If there's more stitching (hems go on forever) to do, I thread the needle again and go.

For buttons or heavy stitching, I use a heavier gauge thread, thread the needle and tie both ends together, and stitch with the doubled thread for hard-wearing seams. Buttons, too.

ETA: Beeswax! For very fine thread, wax your thread. It helps it slip through the fabric, prevents the thread getting tangled, and also makes the thread stronger. For heavy sewing, it does all that, and helps waterproof, too. Sewing departments will have beeswax holders and refill tabs--they really make any hand sewing you do so much more headache free.

Thimbles, on the other hand, I have several, inherited from my mom and gram, and that high school sewing class. I've never been able to use one.

My 4H education at work.

If a bone in the foot is fractured there would be swelling, right? Asking for a friend.

I'd expect some, but less than with a sprain.

But will I be able to get in the pool and do an aqua-Zumba class without the top floating up?

It looks from the picture like the top is looser. Pretty much all my suits will float up, even the tighter ones. If it was doing it too much you could tuck it into the bottom while doing the class. Also, that is a super cute suit. Now I have to get one of those!

I do the doubled-up thread method and use beeswax for fancy threads when quilting - I once quilted with a sparkly thread that was a pain to work with without beeswax. I also periodically have to stop and let the needle spin to straighten out the thread - like you do with the phone cord sometimes.

I found I could use some of the leather thimbles, but I could never get the traditional metal thimble to work.

Thanks, Laura. So I can expect some floating, tuck it in during the class. It is supercute. I love it, other than the not exactly perfect fit. Incidentally, fit-wise at Woman Within, I automatically order everything a size smaller than the size guide says, otherwise things there are ridiculously loose on me. Ordering the size smaller worked to get me a good fit on the bottom half. It's just that I really need a different size on top. At some point in the future I may order a separate swim top in a coordinating color, that will fit better.

Okay, I don't like mean April Fool's Day jokes, but IKEA made me laugh: [link]

As usual, Think Geek has April Fool's Day items that everyone wants to be real (including the Bicycle Horn of Gondor).

I'm envious of you people who work on projects nice enough you need to worry about the directionality of the thread, but I'm also glad not to have the responsibility. I am well versed, though, in having to let threads and yarn dangle so they can spin themselves straight.

Those IKEA arbitrators may be more necessary than they think.

Those IKEA arbitrators may be more necessary than they think.

Seriously. They could prevent a lot of breakups.