Do you sew with Cotton or Polyester Thread?? Which one is better?

I want to know too. I generally use what I have on hand, but I'm afraid to use the huge amount an older friend gave me..it's all wound on old wooden spools. Looks nice but I wonder about how strong it is.

I sew with cotton, poly wrapped cotton and poly, depending on the color thread I need. I quilt with cotton and poly - usually cotton (King Tut) on top and poly (Bottom Line) in the bobbin. Sometimes I use poly (So Fine or Bottom Line) on top as well. Superior Threads has a great deal of information on their website about thread. Just go to http://www.superiorthreads.com/ and click on the "Education" tab...SO much great information from someone who lives and breathes thread!

Those old wooden spools are beautiful but I wouldn't want to use the thread. I'd be more inclined to display them :)

To see if your old thread has weakened, take about an 18" piece of it, wrap it around your hands and pull...see just how much tension it takes to break it. Then try the same test with some of your new thread and see if there is a difference!

If it's an antique guilt I use only cotton. Otherwise I'm not that picky. Some of the older threads are just fine as long as they don't break easily---some were as high if not higher quality than what's been made in the near past. Cheap thread is cheap thread no matter when it was made and won't hold up. If you can break it easily don't use it.

both have their place and use. both are good.
(most) long-arm quilters use polyester thread for quilting...it is strong, there are lots of colors, it is inexpensive.
cotton thread is used by many...hand quilters use cotton thread alot (cotton thread does not work for long-arm quilting- it breaks every few inches.) for piecing i use what ever works at the moment...cotton/poly blends, rayon, poly, silk, nylon and monofilament.
use what works for you.
for hand piecing and applique i use silk thread. for machine work usually a blend. i seldom use cotton thread i am too impatient to put up with the constant breakage/rethreading.

I use whatever thread that looks best with the fabrics or to match the quilting look I am going for :D:D:D

for sewing, i use Coats & Clarks or Gutterman....and i have a ton of it, so i just use what i have. For my hand quilting I use YLI - glazed 100% cotton....No breaking or knots..unless i get my piece of thread too long - then that is operator error, not product error :lol: