All Purpose Thread for Free Motion Quilting?

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

Ok, this is going to sound like a stupid question. Seriously, I did not start quilting yesterday, believe or not I've been doing this almost a decade!! Hahaha - I only ventured out of the 100% cotton thread waters in the last two years or so. Since I started quilting I just had it stuck in my head that you shouldn't use All Purpose thread for quilting. Well. I mean, can you??? People use polyester for piecing nowadays, and it's a cotton/poly blend. So could I use Coats and Clark all purpose thread for a bang around quilt?? Is there any reason it wouldn't be good for free motion quilting? I'm spending a fortune sending away for quilting thread...it'd be great to have something I could get at Walmart at 11 o'clock at night when the quilting bug hits me!!!

Thanks!!

[Tartan]

Try it out and see if your machine likes it. I have used machine quilting thread and other threads for FMQ. If my regular piecing thread is the right colour, I use it. I figure if it's strong enough to piece with, it's strong enough to quilt with.

[Stitchnripper]

I use that and coats and Clark Cotton almost exclusively. Either one works fine in all my machines.

[katier825]

If it works for you, go for it! I think it can get expensive in comparison of the larger spools/cones though. I love Aurifil and Wonderfil. They are about 1400 yds of thread for $8-10. I have gotten Aurifil for $6-7 sometimes.

[Dolphyngyrl]

People use poly to quilt as well as piece, and most all purpose thread is poly so I cant see why you cant FMQ with it. Otherwise why is it called all purpose if its not for multiple things

[soccertxi]

Did someone TELL you that you can't use it? I say try it and see how YOU like it. Anyone who says "CAN"T and 'NEVER' have another name....quilt police! I long arm with polyester ALL the time. I doubt if anyone who recieves one of my quilts would ever know the difference.

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

Hahaha - no, nobody told me I couldn't use it lol** I know the quilt police though!!! I just never THOUGHT of it...I kind of feel silly for all the thread I've special ordered! I read one of Harriet Hartgrave's books when I first started quilting and I know she is a bit of a purist when it comes to cotton. So I just never used anything but cotton for...years! But nowadays I use all kinds of poly's for quilting and nobody ever seems to talk about using plain old Coats and Clark Dual Duty hahaha - but why not? I will still probably order some of the good bargains that can be found online, but sometimes I just don't have time to wait for a color to come in...or Dual duty will have a color I just LOVE.

Also - I was practicing feathers with some leftover ugly tomato red all purpose thread and found that it was wonderful because it hides the back tracking. It's not a weak thread, and most of it is cotton wrapped poly so it gives that nice cotton look like Superior's So Fine does...so what the heck!!! I'm gonna use it!! LOL*

Thanks everyone!

[Jingle]

I use coats and clark all purpose thread, essentials thread. I go by what color it is and whichever one I grab. I have machine quilted 87 quilts and none of the three machines I've used care one bit. I know there are thread snobs as there are fabric snobs. Neither one are worth my time.

[sherian]

good to know, I sometimes, go for just using only embroidery thread. Then bobbins and thread match, my machine likes that.

[DOTTYMO]

I have large spools of thread for my serger and free with sewing machines. I am beginning to use his for piecing, hand work and quilting. It started because I was trying to save money . I tested its strength and it was stronger than the cotton I was using. Originally there were no quilt police as quilts were made using any fabric any thread and batting. In these times we must go back to our frugal beginnings. The quilts will look the same and last. But most importantly they will be loved.