Which one is not 50wt?
01-15-2014, 03:21 AM
#11
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In order, left to right:
Coats and Clark 30wt
Connecting Threads 50wt
Aurifil 50wt.
The whole point of this little guessing game is because I bought several spools of the Coats and Clark cotton quilting thread on a great sale, not realizing it was 30wt. I figured I'd never use it because it is, at 30wt, generally considered too heavy to use for piecing. I have been using Aurifil so of course the difference was huge! I decided to try some Connecting Threads brand thread because it gets pretty consistent positive reviews so I bought their Salt and Pepper collection. I was truly surprised to see that it is practically the same size at 50wt as the Coats and Clark 30wt thread.
Now, here is where I am getting really confused: Aurifil at 2ply is considered 50wt and Connecting Threads at 3 ply is considered 50wt, so why are both threads not the same size?
DogHouseMom - I probably do need to tweak the tension on the machine. I was using it for another project using heavier fabric than the sample and the picture was taken using the super macro setting on my camera so any flaw will be revealed.
Coats and Clark 30wt
Connecting Threads 50wt
Aurifil 50wt.
The whole point of this little guessing game is because I bought several spools of the Coats and Clark cotton quilting thread on a great sale, not realizing it was 30wt. I figured I'd never use it because it is, at 30wt, generally considered too heavy to use for piecing. I have been using Aurifil so of course the difference was huge! I decided to try some Connecting Threads brand thread because it gets pretty consistent positive reviews so I bought their Salt and Pepper collection. I was truly surprised to see that it is practically the same size at 50wt as the Coats and Clark 30wt thread.
Now, here is where I am getting really confused: Aurifil at 2ply is considered 50wt and Connecting Threads at 3 ply is considered 50wt, so why are both threads not the same size?
DogHouseMom - I probably do need to tweak the tension on the machine. I was using it for another project using heavier fabric than the sample and the picture was taken using the super macro setting on my camera so any flaw will be revealed.
01-15-2014, 09:33 AM
#12
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Knot Merrill, Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,781
Coats and Clark 30wt
Connecting Threads 50wt
Aurifil 50wt.
The whole point of this little guessing game is because I bought several spools of the Coats and Clark cotton quilting thread on a great sale, not realizing it was 30wt. I figured I'd never use it because it is, at 30wt, generally considered too heavy to use for piecing. I have been using Aurifil so of course the difference was huge! I decided to try some Connecting Threads brand thread because it gets pretty consistent positive reviews so I bought their Salt and Pepper collection. I was truly surprised to see that it is practically the same size at 50wt as the Coats and Clark 30wt thread.
Now, here is where I am getting really confused: Aurifil at 2ply is considered 50wt and Connecting Threads at 3 ply is considered 50wt, so why are both threads not the same size?
DogHouseMom - I probably do need to tweak the tension on the machine. I was using it for another project using heavier fabric than the sample and the picture was taken using the super macro setting on my camera so any flaw will be revealed.
Connecting Threads 50wt
Aurifil 50wt.
The whole point of this little guessing game is because I bought several spools of the Coats and Clark cotton quilting thread on a great sale, not realizing it was 30wt. I figured I'd never use it because it is, at 30wt, generally considered too heavy to use for piecing. I have been using Aurifil so of course the difference was huge! I decided to try some Connecting Threads brand thread because it gets pretty consistent positive reviews so I bought their Salt and Pepper collection. I was truly surprised to see that it is practically the same size at 50wt as the Coats and Clark 30wt thread.
Now, here is where I am getting really confused: Aurifil at 2ply is considered 50wt and Connecting Threads at 3 ply is considered 50wt, so why are both threads not the same size?
DogHouseMom - I probably do need to tweak the tension on the machine. I was using it for another project using heavier fabric than the sample and the picture was taken using the super macro setting on my camera so any flaw will be revealed.
The "50wt" indication means that it will take 50 kilometers of thread to weigh 1 kilogram. So a thinner thread that is 50wt is denser (and heavier) than a 50wt thin thread. This is regardless of the number of ply.
http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...-measurements/
As for that 30wt you accidentally picked up ... use it to quilt with!!
01-15-2014, 10:23 AM
#14
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,183
Woo hoo! Exactly as I guessed.
The "50wt" indication means that it will take 50 kilometers of thread to weigh 1 kilogram. So a thinner thread that is 50wt is denser (and heavier) than a 50wt thin thread. This is regardless of the number of ply.
http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...-measurements/
As for that 30wt you accidentally picked up ... use it to quilt with!!
The "50wt" indication means that it will take 50 kilometers of thread to weigh 1 kilogram. So a thinner thread that is 50wt is denser (and heavier) than a 50wt thin thread. This is regardless of the number of ply.
http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...-measurements/
As for that 30wt you accidentally picked up ... use it to quilt with!!
Actually, a 2-ply 50 weight thread is thinner than a 3-ply 50 weight thread. This is because the weight is apparently calculated for the single strand, not for the thread after multiple strands are put together. http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...weight-system/
01-15-2014, 05:40 PM
#19
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 1,443
Cotton Fabric - 2 layers. I'm sorry I don't know the manufacturer.
The Coats & Clark and the Connecting Threads are 3 ply, the Aurifil is 2 ply.
It was a question. I believe I stated my question clearly. If you have 2 threads of the same stated weight, as are the Connecting Threads and the Aurifil, why are they different sizes? The Coats & Clark 3 ply at 30wt is practically identical to the Connecting Threads 3 ply 50wt when looking at them with a naked eye. I don't have a microscope handy to truly compare them.
DogHouseMom and Dunster were gracious enough to take the time to explain the differences.
The Coats & Clark and the Connecting Threads are 3 ply, the Aurifil is 2 ply.
It was a question. I believe I stated my question clearly. If you have 2 threads of the same stated weight, as are the Connecting Threads and the Aurifil, why are they different sizes? The Coats & Clark 3 ply at 30wt is practically identical to the Connecting Threads 3 ply 50wt when looking at them with a naked eye. I don't have a microscope handy to truly compare them.
DogHouseMom and Dunster were gracious enough to take the time to explain the differences.
01-15-2014, 11:04 PM
#20
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
Thanks for posting this question. I like their conclusion:
" Choose thread based on the type of fiber, look, feel, and thickness and not by the printed weight size. Trust your eyes and fingers more than the label. You'll get better results and be much happier with your selection. Choose fine threads to blend and medium and heavier threads to show."
taken from http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...weight-system/
" Choose thread based on the type of fiber, look, feel, and thickness and not by the printed weight size. Trust your eyes and fingers more than the label. You'll get better results and be much happier with your selection. Choose fine threads to blend and medium and heavier threads to show."
taken from http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...weight-system/
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