Thread Question

itle: Re: thread question
Post by: quiltermarynel on June 09, 2008, 01:28:20 PM

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I
have read contradicting things on this point. Most of what I have
heard says to use only cotton, which is what I use. When I was using a
poly thread from a good company, I had a much higher level of lint than
I do now. Having recently looked at his website, John Flynn, who has
done much more machine quilting than I have, recommends and sells
Signature poly thread. I do know that there are many different
qualities of thread and cheaper ones will give you grief, especially at
higher speeds.

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Title: Re: thread question
Post by: QBee - Mary Ann on June 09, 2008, 01:58:34 PM

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You'll
probably get many different answers here - here's mine. :smiley: I
like 50/3 cotton thread for piecing. I use size 40 cotton thread on top
and bottom for quilting with my mid-arm. I don't know what hand
quilters use! I think it's worth it to buy better / brand name thread
(some that come to mind are Mettler, YLI, Superior, Presencia,
Aurifil). I'm afraid of polyester thread wearing on the fiber in the
cotton fabric. Superior Threads has lots of info about thread if you go
to superiorthreads.com and click on the education link. QBee

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Title: Re: thread question
Post by: Luv2sew on June 09, 2008, 04:32:57 PM

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I
use 100% cotton, although I know of some who use cotton/poly. My
suggestion would be to get the best thread you have available to you
and you can afford. Stay clear of thread that leaves a lot of lint as
you stitch, it's too hard on your machine and I wonder at the
durability. Happy Quilting!

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Title: Re: thread question
Post by: quiltermarynel on June 09, 2008, 08:33:34 PM

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Remember,
there are plenty of good sources of on-line threads, so you are not
bound by the brands sold in your locale (fortunately for me, as almost
nothing is available locally). I use Signature from
http://www.kmquiltingsupply.com/ for most of my sewing. The other
brands mentioned are excellent. Please don't use the thread sold in
Walmart. Those are lower quality.

www.superiorthreads.com has a lot of very good information available on their web sites. A lot of answers to various questions
Click on Education

revisiting this site... thought this was good info

WISE WORDS FROM MOTHER SUPERIOR
We often are asked, "How much thread it takes to quilt a quilt?" It depends on the size of the quilt and the type of quilting to be done. Everyone's technique is different so the following are only averages. Of course it is possible to use much more or much less thread. These numbers are for the top thread only.

. . . . . . . Light Quilting . Medium Quilting . Heavy Quilting
Lap/Crib Size 200 yds. . . . . . .400 yds. . . . . . . 600 yds.
Twin Size 400 yds. . . . . . .800 yds. . . . . . .1,200 yds.
Queen Size 600 yds. . . . . 1,000 yds. . . . . . .1,600 yds.
King Size 800 yds. . . . . .1,400 yds. . . . . . .2,000 yds.

thanks for bringing this back up, its good to refresh your thoughts on things and keep it in mind, I hate cheap thread that frays and sits rattily when you have stitched it

So true. My LQS people did a great deal of formal, scientific testing on threads. It came out pretty much as you would expect. Cheap threads are not worth what you pay for them. On the other hand, I came across some very pricey threads I bought before I married DH. They were still strong. In getting ready to move, I have thrown out all cheap threads that I came across, which is hard on someone as cheap as I am.

Marynel....you brave woman....I have these spools of poly that I just cant part with..they are so old, I try and try to throw them out but but...i might just need a little bit of this color...or that color...I really need to toss it.

Old threads can be used for basting. Sometimes it is easier to toss them after you've used them so this is one way to use them. They are also good for utility type sewing. Repairs on everyday clothes, small seam repairs in sheets. How about practicing free motion quilting.

Sometimes I wish I were not as frugal as I am, would make it easier to get rid of some stuff. And sometimes I think we are fed a lot of iffy "facts" by manufacturers who want us to buy more stuff. So if I get rid of old stuff, I would probably spend money to replace it, so maybe I'll let it sit there, then I don't have any room for new stuff so can't buy any. Cheaper and less work intensive. :mockery-017:

The ones I had kept, I did an informal test on: I rolled off a couple of feet off thread and checked to see how much of a pull it took to break it.