Topaz 55Q accessories & threading tips to boost your sewing setup

While the HUSQVARNA VIKING Topaz 55Q may look impressive on the outside, what we saw on the inside is truly amazing, and who wouldn’t want to sew on a sewing machine with all the features I went over yesterday?

But wait! The Topaz 55Q is more than just a sewing machine. With all the accessories, you can do so much with it, and I’ll share a few of those things today. Additionally, we’ll discuss thread spool positions and winding, two areas that people often overlook or gloss over, which are essential topics.

I’ve got loads of inspiration to share with you today, so sit back and enjoy. Tomorrow, we get into the nitty-gritty of sewing!

The other day, I mentioned the Accessory Catalogue, which you can find online, and it lists accessories by category. There are numerous accessories, and if you’re not familiar with them, it can be overwhelming. Today, I’ll mention a few of my favorites, primarily those that I’ve used in quilting. Remember, as quiltmakers, we also make bags, table runners, and other small items, so some of those are included in my inspiration today.

The first category is Utility Garment Sewing. OK – so I get it; you’re not a garment sewer, although quilted jackets are a big deal these days. But let’s take a look at one foot that I use a lot – the Invisible Zipper Foot. This foot is ideal for inserting zippers into cushion covers and garments. Now, instead of having only one side to embellish, you can have something on both sides. I was always afraid of invisible zippers, but no more. It’s easier and faster to insert an invisible zipper than it is to insert a regular zipper.

For more information, please refer to this blog post for details. I can also say that I’ve successfully inserted an invisible zipper in a satin garment, and it turned out amazing!

Also included in this accessory category, you’ll find the Left-Edge Topstitch Foot, Edge Stitching Foot, and the Edge/Joining foot – all of which can help you with binding, top stitching, freezer paper foundation piecing, and other quilt-related tasks. Be sure to check them out – make a list, so when someone asks what you want, you are ready.

Let’s move to the Home Dec Sewing category. The ones I use most frequently from this category are the piping feet, including the Mega Piping Foot, and the Clear Piping Foot. I also use the Single-Welt Cording Foot, which, to me, is just another name for a piping foot that uses a different-sized cord. I have more information in this post:
Piping vs welting – What’s the difference? Which presser foot works best?

I’ve used piping on the edge of table runners before adding the binding, and I’ve also used it to embellish the edge of a jacket collar. You can use it on the top edge of pockets in tote bags and so many other places. The piping feet are NOT just for home decor! Check out my post about this in this post: The beauty of perfect piping: Here’s how, PLUS tips for success.

The next category in the Accessory Catalogue is Decorative & Crafting. There are many accessories in this category that I use frequently, including the Circular Attachment, the 7-Hole Cord Foot with Threader, the 3-Hole Yarn Foot, and the Specialty Bobbin Case, among others.

Here’s an example of using the Circular Attachment. This six-pointed flower is just one of the many fun things you can do with it. If you want to see more about the Circular Attachment, check out this post on Perfect applique circles with the Husqvarna Viking Circular Attachment.

How about the 7-Hole Cord Foot? I love using this with six strands of DMC floss in each hole. So many creative things, there’s just not enough time to make everything I envision in my head! Of course, you’ll need the threader to insert those strands, but play with the colors of floss or thicker threads that won’t go through your needle, and you never know what surprise you’ll get. This is a postcard, but you could add that trim to a sashing, a tote bag handle, or many other places.

The Specialty Bobbin Case is another great accessory that I wouldn’t be without. Can you believe that I used 5-weight Perle cotton to finish the edge of this applique? Well, I did! Place the heavier-weight threads in the bobbin, then turn your piece upside down and use decorative stitches or free-motion stitching, as I did for this edge finish.

And let’s not forget my all-time favorite– the 3-Hole Yarn Foot. I love this foot – OK, I love all the accessory feet! I have used this foot to decorate the back of zippered project bags, borders on wall hangings, and plaids to make fabric. It has made me look at my yarn stash in a whole different way!

Notice, you can use one, two, or three strands of yarn. The one on the left is a variegated yarn, while the yarn on the right, which is red, contains a metallic filament.

There’s also the option to use the Multi-Line Decorative Foot, and why not utilize any of the decorative stitches in creative ways? I used one of the fonts in the top sample, incorporated decorative stitches into a binding, and used them to complete a postcard. I also quilted a grid with a decorative stitch on a zippered pouch and applied decorative stitches to the hem of a pair of children’s shorts.

There are so many things you can do with decorative stitches, and you can use your Decorative Stitch Foot B, included with the Topaz 55Q, or you can also use the Multi-Line Decorative Foot shown below.

The next category is Heirloom Sewing. While I plan to use more of these feet, I haven’t utilized many of them; however, my favorite in this category is the Specialty Candelwicking Foot. I used the Candlewicking Foot and the Circular Attachment to create the pink hearts. Use Candlewicking stitches to stitch borders on quilt blocks. I’m sure there are many other uses, but those are a couple of examples. Check out my post on how to Get perfectly stitched hearts with the Circular Attachment for more information.

The next category in the Accessories Catalogue is Quilting, and I’ll explore that more later this week. Since the Topaz 55Q is not an embroidery machine, we’ll skip that section. The final category is Additional Accessories, and I have a couple of items I want to mention.

The Multi-Function Foot Control is fantastic! It attaches to the Topaz 55Q through the USB port on the side of the machine. It’s heavy, with a rubberized bottom surface, so it stays in place.

Once you plug it in, a pop-up message appears allowing you to program the two side wings, and/or the heel with some of the built-in functions, such as Tie-Off, Stitch Restart, Cut, etc. I love using these built-in functions with the foot control. I often change them up depending on the task at hand.

Don’t forget the tap feature, which allows you to advance a half-stitch each time you tap it. Many people overlook this feature, but it’s handy for applique, quilting, or decorative stitches. I use it all the time. I also sew without shoes as I can’t “feel” the foot with shoes on. That’s the same even with the regular foot pedal. I need to connect to the foot pedal, and the only way to do so is without shoes.

I also like the Mega Spool Stand for those larger spools of thread that just don’t quite fit on the existing spool pins. What I’m a big fan of is the wire at the top, which lengthens the thread path. When working with some of those wild threads, it helps to tame them before they go into the tension discs. It also allows you to use spools in a vertical position without the weight of the spool affecting tension.

My preferred position for the spool of thread is in a vertical position, and if you have the Mega Spool Stand, as mentioned above, this works exceptionally well for all spools.

Where people go wrong when loading their spools of thread in a vertical position, whether using the Mega Spool Stand or not, is whether a spool cap is needed.

The photo below shows what NOT to do when loading your thread in the vertical position. You do not need a spool cap on the top of the spool when it’s in the vertical position. The spool must rotate freely, and the spool cap can restrict the movement, which in turn can throw the tension off. I know – who knew!!!! The second potential issue is the felt pad under the spool. The felt pad can also cause friction during spool rotation, which in turn can lead to problems with the tension. I only put the felt pad on the bottom if the spool is rotating too fast, especially when doing a cut at the end of a sequence.

Let’s look at the correct way to place your thread spool in the vertical position. No spool cap and no felt pad unless it’s needed. Another thing to consider is the size of the thread spool. In the vertical position, without the Megal Spool Stand, the spool must rotate; therefore, the larger the spool, the more effort is required to achieve this. As the spool decreases in size, less effort is needed. That difference can affect the tension! Yes!!! The Mega Spool Holder solves all problems, and allows you to keep the thread in a vertical position. Using that device means the spool doesn’t rotate, so the weight and size do not affect the tension. Smart!!!

And guess where I learned all this? Yep – The User’s Guide!

In this situation, I’m using the spool in a horizontal position, which works well for many spools, but for obvious reasons, a large spool will not sit well in this position. Notice that I have the small spool cap pointed into the spool because there’s no flat end on the spool. The intent here is to prevent that spool of thread from moving towards the left. The spool should NOT rotate; there’s no need for it to do so. Use the spool cap in either orientation, with the points inside the spool or with the cap snuggling against the top – it depends on the design of the spool.

The last topic for today is all about bobbins. Do you know how to wind a bobbin properly? Guess what? In the JoyOS Advisor, I mentioned there were tutorials. Several tutorials are available on bobbins. You’ll find them in the “Getting Started” tab.

Most of those tutorials include videos to ensure you understand precisely how to get the most from the Topaz 55Q. Oh yes —- it’s well worth watching, even if you think you know how to do it correctly! You’d be surprised by what you can learn. And guess what? Those tutorials are so patient. You can watch them over and over again, and no one needs to know that. However, you’ll have a firm grasp of how to perform these tasks, as well as others, if you browse through all the videos in the JoyOS Advisor.

Now let’s chat about the bobbin color for a second. If you’re familiar with HUSQVARNA VIKING bobbins, you know that they are mostly green; the ones with the Topaz 55Q are mauve or light purple. What’s the deal with that? I guess they wanted a change! However, you can still use the green bobbins in the Topaz 55Q, as well as the rainbow bobbins, which are another accessory available for purchase.

The original bobbins from many years ago did not have a slot on the face. I should mention that the bobbins have the stylized H embossed on one side, and that side should always be facing up when inserting the bobbin into the bobbin case or winding the bobbin. There’s also a slot on that same side. The older bobbins did not have this slot.

Can you still use the older bobbins? Absolutely, but I find using the slot makes bobbin winding so much easier. I’m actually in the process of culling my bobbins, as many of them have been around for many years and are a tad worn. Plus, I struggle to wind bobbins without using the slot.

So what’s the purpose of the slot? Well, you insert the end of the thread into the slot and then place the bobbin on the bobbin winder. Hold onto the thread tail and start the bobbin winder. After a few rotations, stop the bobbin winder and clip the thread tail. Its job is to secure the end of the thread so that the bobbin is wound nicely and evenly right from the start. If you wrap the thread around the center and then press the bobbin winder, it doesn’t always go smoothly in the center of the wound bobbin. You can do this, but I’m not good at it, so I’m using the slot and my bobbins are perfectly wound every time!

There’s a bobbin sensor on the Topaz 55Q, letting you know that the bobbin is close to empty. If you have looked at your bobbins, you’ll find this groove on the shaft inside the bobbins.

When the bobbin winds, it first fills the small area to the right (closest to the face). The bobbin sensor activates when the larger area is empty, so there could still be a significant amount of thread in that minor groove. That’s OK. If you’re sewing, you can hear when the bobbin runs out of thread. Your machine will sound different, as if it’s sewing air rather than fabric.

You could always force the thread to the larger area first, and then when the bobbin sensor goes off, you’re almost at the end. It’s up to you, and there are many ways to deal with it. I’ve never had a problem because I listen to my machine, so I’ve never ended up with miles of unstitched blocks!

After you have finished winding the bobbin, there’s a handy cutter right beside the bobbin, so you don’t even need scissors! You have to love these little details.

Here’s a good question. Do you know which direction to place the thread around the Pre-tension disk when you are threading the machine to wind the bobbins? It’s clockwise!! I always get it mixed up!! Clockwise!

One last thing — when to change your bobbin? Wind those five bobbins that came with the Topaz 55Q. When they run out, it’s time to wind five more, clean the bobbin case, and change your needle! Simple and easy!!!

And now you know that when you get your HUSQVARNA VIKING Topaz 55Q, it’s not just a straight-stitch sewing machine. With the tools, tutorials, functions, and accessories, it’s a tool that will unleash your creativity!!

Tomorrow, I’ll actually be sewing with it, and I’ve got loads to share, so be sure to stay tuned.

Have a great day!

Ciao!

This is part 3 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 2: Discover the Smart Touchscreen Features of the HUSQVARNA VIKING Topaz 55Q

Go to part 4: Sewing with the HUSQVARNA VIKING Topaz 55Q: precision & possibilities