Bad thread?

[ckcowl]

even when you (just bought) a spool of thread- it can be 'OLD' stores don't always rotate their stock- what is new to you may have sat in a back room for years.
i have bought $15 specialty threads from shows only to get it home & find it to be (bad thread) if you can take a length of the thread between your 2 hands-give it a tug and it breaks---it's old, or has been stored improperly- is not any good for stitching...doesn't matter if it's C&C, YLI, Mettler...happens to them all- brand has nothing to do with it.
i've learned over the years- when i open a new spool of thread the first thing i do is a 'tug-test'- if it breaks i don't bother threading my machine with it- i already know it's going to cause problems- i mark it & use it for basting- or some other purpose that isn't going to matter- saves me alot of frustration.

[Jo C]

Thanks everyone! Never even thought of the tug test...i sure will try it with every new spool. Good to know that occasionally a spool will just be a bummer!

[nanna-up-north]

I've heard about the quilt police..... but thread snobs??? Okay, there are some very expensive threads (that can also be bad from time to time) but to bad mouth C&C thread??? It was the go-to thread for so many years.... and I still use lots of it without a problem. I use all kinds of threads and find that if they are cotton, my machines like it....... if they are poly, my machines revolt! They don't read the labels.... they just sew.

[CanoePam]

I've heard about the quilt police..... but thread snobs??? Okay, there are some very expensive threads (that can also be bad from time to time) but to bad mouth C&C thread??? It was the go-to thread for so many years.... and I still use lots of it without a problem. I use all kinds of threads and find that if they are cotton, my machines like it....... if they are poly, my machines revolt! They don't read the labels.... they just sew.

I grew up using C&C but that was when it was made in the US. It was smooth and quality thread. If you have old thread (really old, made in US), pull a few inches out and compare it to the newer thread. The new stuff is fuzzier and just not as nice. I still use it sometimes when the color is a great match, but I do prefer the smoother, higher quality threads. They don't leave as junk in my machines. Note that high cost do not always equal high quality. Look at the thread before you buy.

Pam

[Caroline S]

The quality of thread HAS declined. A lot of the new threads are fuzzier and a tad thinner in my opinion. I have spools of 30 year old Coats and Clark thread that are still good. But I always give thread the pull test before using.

[quilter2090]

I was having problems with embroidery threads breaking contantly, and I was told to put the thread in the freezer for at least 24 hours. Threads lose moisture and that's why mine were breaking. You might want to throw the spool in the freezer and when you let it defrost,give it a try, it might work. And there is nothing wrong with C&C threads. they are a reputable company. Don't let the thread snobs get you down. In my opinion, for the price of new sewing machines, I think the machines should sew with any brand of thread. It's funny, my Mom's old White FR treadle sewing machine never balked at any thread Mom used. I think some of the new machines are way too fussy.

[Sierra]

I think it may be the machine that one is using. When I can't make things work right (have cleaned, rethreaded, redone everything!) and call my wonderful repairman, his first question is "What is your machine?" and his second question is "What thread are you using?" What works on a Baby Lock may not work on a Janome, etc. My machine will NOT let me use C&C, which is all my mother used on her Montgomery Ward machine for 30 years. My thread is expensive, but so is my peace of mind and time.

[Deborahlees]

Yes do look for a burr on the spool, that seems to happen a lot lately....and sometimes the thread gets caught in the little slit that is cut into the spool for the tail end, so I try to find that end and put it down first so the thread does not get caught in it coming off the spool.....and yes sometimes its just bad all around....so it cost you a couple bucks, give it a toss and start over....and NEVER apologize for what you use, be it Coats Clark thread or Walmart fabric....it is the craft that this is all about, not the Quilt Police, that need to keep quiet.....

[auntpiggylpn]

Yes do look for a burr on the spool, that seems to happen a lot lately....and sometimes the thread gets caught in the little slit that is cut into the spool for the tail end, so I try to find that end and put it down first so the thread does not get caught in it coming off the spool.....and yes sometimes its just bad all around....so it cost you a couple bucks, give it a toss and start over....and NEVER apologize for what you use, be it Coats Clark thread or Walmart fabric....it is the craft that this is all about, not the Quilt Police, that need to keep quiet.....

Well said