I also use the same thread for top, bottom and piecing. Works very well for me

For those that say you use the same thread top and bottom, is it heavy thread - like the 28 wt I'm planning on using? I know it's weird to want such prominent quilting, but I don't see the point otherwise. I use contrasting thread too. Mistakes, whatever.

Always test you FMQ on same fabric as quilt and with thread you want to use. Some machines like certain thread better than others so same on top and bottom should work better. I often use poly thread for FMQ due to the variety of colors. A contrasting thread for quilting should show up even it it not a heavy weight. Tension issues usually can be adjusted. I tried SID with clear on top and black on bottom and could not get tension right so black bobbin was not showing on top. I changed bobbin thread. Also "eyelash stitching" on bottom is not ususally caused by tension but by speed of FMQ. Small "eyelashs" should go away with washing or use but larger ones need to be removed and restitched.

No quilt police here! Amount of quilting is personal prefference. Often quilting is used to accent peicing and give texture. But if you want more prominent quilting then go for it Girlfriend.

I only use cotton thread. Right now I'm quilting a quilt with 28 in the top and 50 on the bottom. Mainly because I don't have enough of the 28 for both top and bottom. You can actually use a whole lot heavier thread in the bobbin than you can on top. You can use threads in the bobbin that won't even go thru the top! It's called bobbin work.

People that say "my machine only likes this or that" are really saying they don't know how to adjust both top and bottom tensions to get a balanced stitch. It's only a machine, it can't tell one thing from another.

The truth is that you can use whatever you want, wherever you want. Your quilt, your way.

Many longarmers in business will use something such as BottomLine, SoFine, or another thinner thread or prewound bobbins to save money/time (time is money). Most longarmers like to use a blending color to the top thread, so that pokies, tensions issues, etc. don't show. One other thing, if using something expensive like KingTut on the top, it costs twice as much as necessary in thread costs than if you use something more economical such as BottomLine on the bottom - so that's another reason longarmers frequently use a different thread on the bottom.

Me, I like my bottom thread to match my backing - I think it looks so much better than multiple colors on the backing. So, I use whatever I want on top and match my bottom thread to the quilt backing. (I don't have tension issues.) It's all a personal preference, so you can do whatever you like. That's what I do!

Just FYI...and my knowledge/opinions :)
Debbie in Austin

I always use the lighter in the bottom, holds more in the bobbin, no other reason

Took me a moment to get it. :lol: :lol:

,,

My top, bottom and piecing is currently being done with a 40wt, I think.

As for using whatever, that won't work for me. I was convinced my machine was a lemon when using Coats poly wrapped cotton. LQS told me to switch to a good cotton thread for all uses, and now my machine is perfect.