Thread? Piecing/Quilting etc.
 

I'm sure this has been covered numerous times, but here I go asking again. What brand/weight thread do you use for piecing and longarm quilting? I have a cone of unnamed thread in black that got trashed last night. This cone pulls, shreads and blobs. I have other colors of the same thread that act just fine. I want to find a good, strong and as lint free piecing thread as possible. I want to replace the other thread colors I have that do sew fine to get thread I can be more confident will last as long as the quilt fabrics. I bought the Walmart and Joann's serger thread on a recommendation but now think it's not strong enough.

Now for longarm thread - what is a good basic thread? I have several cones of Permacore, again based on a recommendation from a quilter. It is a strong thread but can be linty. I have tried Glide but for some reason it doesn't want to stay wound on the bobbin, gets loose and then the tension gets off.

What I want is a good basic everyday, every project thread. I don't plan to use anything like metallic, glow-in-the-dark or embroidery thread, etc. for quilting.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Linda

I don't know anything about longarm quilting, but I love using Aurifil thread for piecing. It is a little finer, so it doesn't take up as much fabric as others, so it fills bobbins more, and it is the one thread that I have used that is nearly lint-free. I've also heard that Prescenia thread is really good.

I use gutterman or mettler 50wt for piecing, also have connecting threads which I like as well

All use Aurifil 50wt 2 ply, Invisfil, or Superior So Fine for piecing. If it's thin I use it for piecing. I like Isacord, Glide, and Connecting Threads Pro for quilting. Coats and Clark makes the best metallic thread. It does not shred or break. If you look at thread under a microscope you can tell instantly what you are paying for. Some of the name brands may surprise you at the slubs and lint attached.

King Tut is highly recommended for machine quilting. I also like Sulky Blendables but it is expensive. For piecing--I use Coats & Clark Dual Purpose--cheap, not as linty and strong enough. I use prewound bobbins which are a thinner thread and that helps out a with the seams. I do NOT have good luck with Coats & Clark Machine Quilting thread--especially the variegated cones. I have been able to use the solid colors but I often have to liberally apply Sewer's Aid to the cones. King Tut & Robison Anton Cotton Machine Quilting thread flowed through my quilting machine like butter.

Some of my fav's are: Aurifil, Mettler, Gutterman and Superior. If I'm using batiks or other thin fabrics and for paper piecing I love Mettler 60wt!!

I know some others like Connecting thread but I dislike it, no ... hate it. WAY too much lint. But that's my machine (Janome 6600) and different machines like different threads.

You WILL find a lot of different opinions here! Thread is particular to the person, the machine, the needle, the tension, the fabric .... I suggest that you buy a spool of a commonly usable color (taupe, med grey) of each brand you are considering before doing what I did and buying 10 spools of something that I ended up hating and traded away here on QB.

I can't help you with Long Arm thread. I quilt on my Janome.

I used to use Mettler, but once I tried Aurifil 50wt 2-ply I was hooked! Love that thread for piecing and domestic machine quilting. I don't know about longarming thread.

I use Aurifil 50wt for LAing, also the thread from Connecting Threads and just ordered a bunch of thread from Superior Thread Co. I use Sew Fine 50 wt. and Bottom Line 60wt for my bobbins. That said, I LOVE King Tut and will use it if I have the color(s) I need.

Glad to hear there is another Coats & Clark Dual Duty user! I use this thread for piecing also. C & C was the choice for my mother and great-aunt and it was what I learned with! I don't long arm but I do do mostly SID or echo quilting and I use whatever brand I find in the color I am looking for!