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atty2003 01-31-2012 05:02 PM

Thread question
 
This probably sounds really stupid.... do you have to use 100% cotton thread with 100% cotton fabric? Or is a polyester/cotton blend ok?

Sally J 01-31-2012 05:08 PM

Many quilters use only 100% cotton. I use a blend and it's fine. If you think about what will last longer, polyester will be around forever. The blend doesn't stretch and my quilts are washed many times.

Iamquilter 01-31-2012 05:08 PM

The professionals recommend using cotton, but I always use Coats and Clarks dual duty polyester covered thread for quilting my cotton quilts. I had trouble awhile ago with a pink thread and I called the Coats and Clark Co. and they send me a new spool.

fred singer 01-31-2012 05:19 PM

I had trouble with some black Coats & Clark thread yesterday , would have thoughtit was my day of sewing
kept breaking and fraying . They might had a bad patch of thread

Dolphyngyrl 01-31-2012 05:29 PM

I have used both with no problems, use what you want, the polyester threads today are made better so you can use them for quilting with no problem. I use guttermans sew all polyester thread all the time and have never had issues

LuckyGemini 01-31-2012 08:00 PM

I was at LQS last week and the owner told me to use any kind of thread. What mattered most was that the thread color matched the material in the quilt. (We were doing hand work)

Bevsie 01-31-2012 08:03 PM

Hi,

I only use Aurifil thread for my piecing, works fantastic, seems to last a long time, and it's not a real "fuzzy" thread so
it is great for my machines. It's 100% cotton and I use a couple shades of beige, black, and white...for the most part. I do have some colors, but those I use mostly for quilting. I love Aurifil!

Bev


Bev

Sally J 01-31-2012 08:31 PM

I also use Auriful for piecing, but quilting I use the polyester because it's stronger. I know Coats and Clark isn't as good as it was so I usually use Guterman polyester for that.

BellaBoo 01-31-2012 08:46 PM

I don't think about what is the rule, I use whatever thread my machine likes. My machine is happy, I'm happy. Thread holds the fabric together and I found all thread does that so I don't fret over it.

romanojg 02-01-2012 05:21 AM

It is recommended to match thread with fabric because polyester thread can cut thru cotten fabric. I use Aurifil thread in my quilts. It's thinner and little to no lint.

bigsister63 02-01-2012 05:52 AM

Poly blend is ok to use. l prefer Connecting thread's 100% cotton thread. My machine really likes it, it seems to sew easy, will hold up after washing and the PRICE is RIGHT! You get 1200 yds for $2.49. That really is a lot of thread when piecing and a spool goes a long way when FMQ. Try it you will like it.

ckcowl 02-01-2012 05:57 AM

many quilters use Aurafil, Poly, silk, rayon, blends...
old=school quilters who were taught some time ago (or by someone who learned a long time ago) may say always use cotton threads-
but now days there are so many wonderful threads on the market that work beautifully and create fabulous items-there really is no reason to limit yourself.
long-arm quilters use poly's or blends- 100 % cotton thread tends to break alot with a long arm- the machine goes too fast for the thread-
there are lots of differences and lots of choices.
visit one (or all) of the thread companies---like Superior Threads -- they have tons of free information on their web sites- and Superior Threads has free charts you can print right off that tell you all the differences in the threads- what they are best used for, what type/size needle to use with them, the differences in weights---it is a great resourse to have these free pages.

jcrow 02-01-2012 06:17 AM

I joined a thread of the month club and chose poly thread. Then I read where it can cut the fabric, so I called the company and said to change it to cotton. The gal said it was fine to use poly, but I kept thinking about it cutting my fabric so I told her to send me the cotton. She said with poly you don't get the lint. So, I'm undecided. I'm going to try the poly on one block and see how I like it. I'm reading where people say you can use either and I'm thinking that quilter's know best.

Lori S 02-01-2012 06:47 AM

That whole thing about poly cutting the fabric is really a myth. If you look at the Superior Threads Web site ( as mentioned earlier) they have some great thread education videos.
I have been using poly or blends for decades, no cutting of the fabric. I was thrilled when Superior Threads had a learning video that supported what I already know to be true in my own experiences. Poly or blends are much less linty! What matters the most the quality of the thread and not all blends or 100 percent cotton are of the same quality. There really is quite a bit that goes into a quality thread , the lenght of the fibers, the twist on the fibers, how many strands are used etc.


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