What thread to use?
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Turlock, CA
Posts: 37
What thread to use?
I'm getting ready to practice a on a small sample of my first quilt. My fabric is 100% cotton and will be using warm and white for the batting. I need help in trying to figure out what weight of thread to use for my machine quilting. I used 50wt Aurifil thread in 100% cotton for my piecing but I'm not sure if I should use a 40wt or the 50wt that I already have. Is there a better weight for strength or are all machine quilting threads equally strong? I have already purchased a cone of Coats and Clark in a 30wt from Joanns, but now I'm second guessing my choice. I read that the heavier the thread, the more your stitches will show. This is my first quilt ever, so I really don't want my mistakes to show. I have a Singer Confidence 7469Q sewing machine and don't know if I would need to adjust my tension for switching to a heavier thread. Also what stitch length should I use? I will probably do straight stitch quilting. Any help out there would be great. Thanks!
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
quiltsRfun has excellent advice. If you haven't tried to free motion quilt and have a hopping/darning foot, try that on a practice quilt--you may find that it's easier once you get the hang of it than straight line quilting (fewer puckers).
The 30# thread will definitely be more visible than the 40# thread. If you do decide to use it, make sure you have it set up right on the machine (I use a wide coffee cup to put it in behind & under the first thread tension guide. Also, the thread contrast with your backing will matter on how visible the quilting is on the back.
The 30# thread will definitely be more visible than the 40# thread. If you do decide to use it, make sure you have it set up right on the machine (I use a wide coffee cup to put it in behind & under the first thread tension guide. Also, the thread contrast with your backing will matter on how visible the quilting is on the back.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 838
I like 50 wt Aurifil for quilting, in a colour that blends in with the top. It's strong enough, and lets the piecing be the star. I'm more confident in my piecing than my quilting, so it suits me.
Definitely sew a sample, and see what you like.
Definitely sew a sample, and see what you like.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
It depends on if you want the thread to sink into the quilt so it barely shows, or if you want the thread to be a design element. I frequently use multiple weights of thread in a quilt. For stich-in-the-ditch, I generally use a finer thread, but if I am doing fancy quilting that I want to show I use a heavier weight. I always do a sample piece with the thread(s) I want to use, the batting (because the thickness matters) and play with the stitches/patterns until I am happy with what I am going to do.
#6
I like isacord for poly or superior king tut if cotton is the choice. it is way less shredding than aurifil when fmq. If you want less visible stitches I wound go with invisifil. Wonderfil and superior are my 2 favorite brands of threads and I have had less issues than other brands like aurifil and yli. If you want a thinner cotton I would go with superior masterpiece
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,426
Superior has a new quilting thread that is 100 wt. It almost disappears and is strong! Mistakes hardly show at all. Here is a link:
https://www.superiorthreads.com/shop...d=MicroQuilter
https://www.superiorthreads.com/shop...d=MicroQuilter
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 3,255
I use Aurifil 50 for piecing and quilting. I prefer the quilting blend in rather than stand out. I tried a 40 wt and did not care for the heavier look. As others have suggested you may want to try others on your sample, the only thing about that is the price of the thread! I still haven't found a use for the 40 wt I tried
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12-12-2010 10:03 AM