when sewing hexigons together while making a Grandmother's Flower Garden? I am using just poly/cotton thread (that i got on clearance) to baste the hexigons together, but to sew them together, should I use just 100% cotton thread or should I use hand quilting thread? This is my first hand sewing/quilting adventure, so I am kinda lost, but I am moving fast when it comes to basting the hexigons!

Thank you,
Danielle

Generally, hand quilting thread is heavier/thicker than ordinary sewing thread, so I would not use that to sew the hexagons together.

I use cotton-poly thread, but a lot of people on this board use cotton sewing thread.

100% cotton thread is usually preferred, but a lot of people use cotton-poly. The idea with 100% cotton is that it will not "saw" through the 100% cotton fabric. Polyester is stronger than cotton so, with lots of wear, polyester thread can eventually cut through cotton fabric. Poly-cotton thread is typically cotton-covered polyester so the cotton coating can wear off.

You would never use hand quilting thread for piecing. It is made heavy and stiff so the thread will not knot while quilting. It is too heavy and stiff for piecing.

Since you mentioned basting, are you using paper pieces? And intending to whip-stitch the pieces together? For that the heaviest thread you would want to use would be a normal weight (50/3). I would be inclined to use a finer weight thread for whipstitching (60/2) so the thread doesn't show quite as much. I'm not an expert on whipstitching, though.

I'm making hexes now too. I use a spool of some ugly color hand quilting thread I had for the basting part. For sewing the hexes together I'm using the Essential thread from CT. I don't whip stitch my hexes together. I sew it so the stitches can't be seen. I guess it's called a blind stitch. I take the needle in and out the same spot.

Thank you for the advise. I asked because I honestly had know clue, and I searched and could not find a website that gave a good expination of what thread to use for what! I am NORMALLY the queen of "if it can be done on a machine it will get done <one of these days>, and if not, well then its not on my to do list" but then my husband started complaining when I would fall asleep five minutes into a movie that I picked out. lol So I had to find something that would keep me busy and my eyes open, even if I'm not "watching" the movie. At least I can hear it right? At least thats what I tell him. Poor guy LOL

again, thank you,
Danielle

I find this quite interesting because I just use what ever I have in the right color! Never even gave it another thought! Will have to be more aware! :lol: