Hello everyone. Well, another newbie question.

I've heard good things about Aurifil Thread so I thought I would try some for piecing. I've been using C&C machine quilting thread with few problems overall except for the lint. But the new Aurifil is 50 wt, 2 ply. It doesn't seem very strong; in fact, I can readily break it when I pull on it. I could not do that with my other thread which is 3 ply.

So, is this normal for a 2 ply, 50 weight? I've just not used it before. It is a much thinner thread but I'm concerned if it is strong enough for piecing. I just don't know these things and I have searched a lot but haven't found where this particular issue is discussed.

Also, I've been using a 90/14 needle for piecing general cotton fabrics. What size needle would be best for this particular thread?

Thanks for educating GrandPa!

I think it is thin and my daughter has problems with it breaking. My machine only likes Aurafil. I have no problems with breaking and neither do my quilts. Have you tried some other threads? It seems some machines are thread snobs and what works for one does not work for another.

I tried it because so many people had recommended it for machine quilting. I found it too thin. I like my machine quilting to show a little but that was too little. I use 50/3 for everything (piecing and machine quilting). Then I don't have to remember what needle size with what thread. If I use heavier thread for machine quilting I think it shows too much. Just my experience.

My machine does best with C&C or ConnectingThreads thread. The Aurafil kept skipping. Yes, C&C makes lint; I just clean the bobbin area when I change my bobbin.
Use what you think works best--I guess we learn this by trial and error and asking here. Good luck.

Aurifil is the best thread on the market IMO and it's plenty strong.

I like Aurifil for applique, but have trouble with it breaking the top thread on my sewing machine.

I recently used it for the first time. It was receommended by the owner of my local quilt shop for piecing. I have a Janome MC 10,000 and it worked well in my machine. It didn't leave a lot of lint and the piece work looked good. Funny I thought the thread was a little heavy!

I agree! :lol:

I think you would want an 80/12 topstitch needle for 50wt 2-ply Aurifil. That is what I plan to use. (Superior recommends a topstitch needle for both quilting and piecing, I think.)

I just bought lots of this because I got tired of lint from Mettler 50/3. Have read a couple of threads (no pun intended! :) ) about the Aurifil 50/2. A lot of people use it for both piecing and quilting. My research indicates it is very similar to Superior Thread's Masterpiece, which is recommended for piecing. Superior's King Tut is preferred for quilting by a lot of people, and that is a 40wt 3-ply thread so would be heavier and stronger. Superior recommends a 90/14 topstitch needle for King Tut. Many people use King Tut on top and Masterpiece in the bobbin.

I have not tried King Tut. Thought I'd start with Aurifil because it is about half the price of King Tut when purchased on sale. All of my machine quilting to date has been done with Mettler 50/3, and what I noticed was that close quilting stiffens up the quilt. I am hoping with the Aurifil that the pattern of my quilting will be more at the forefront and that my actual stitches will be less noticeable.

One thing I am looking forward to with the Aurifil is not having to change the bobbin so often! Since it is finer, the bobbin will hold a lot more yardage.

I think that size needle is a little large for piecing. I use a 80/11 for piecing and a 100/16 for quilting :D