weezie

Thanks very much for your responses. I just did a strength test on rayon ME thread. It snaps very easily so I won't be using it for anything but ME. However, I'm VERY happy to learn that I cannot break the polyester ME thread and, as I have 260 different colors of that, I'm all set to go!

Lacelady

I like to sew with silk, but I wouldn't applique with it, because silk degrades far quicker than cotton - over time, I think the applique would start to come off.

I once left a little silk lace d'oyley under a vase on a windowsill at work, and after a few months, it just crumbled to dust as I tried to move it.

lots2do

I prefer YLI silk and Aurifil.

virtualbernie

I was taught to applique with silk thread eons ago. My teacher said that silk buries itself in the fabric and you don't see the stitches as easily.

Maia B

I use whatever matches, would spend too much on it unless it was a competition or extraordinary piece, which I haven't done so far. Rayon thread and other ME thread does melt nicely into the edge, but my stitches aren't that visible either way. I'm somewhat suspicious that a good portion of the thread hoopla is hype to make us buy more thread. I mean, like the thing about old thread. If the thread in my clothes gets exposed to light, temperature changes, wear, and laundering but it holds up, then why won't quality thread, stored away from light and humidity, be okay?