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    Old 03-25-2010, 08:04 AM
      #1  
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    I am finally getting my squares together to sew them together and than sew the strips together and than sew the blocks together. I am making a scrappy quilt.

    I am sewing them on my sewing machine...the question is this:

    Should I use Quilting Thread to sew my squares together and plus the rest of my squares or can I use the Coats n Clark All Purpose Thread for my sewing machine.

    Or

    does it make any difference at all?

    Let me know...Thanks for your help
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    Old 03-25-2010, 08:12 AM
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    There are different "quilting threads" out there, so you have to make sure you are not buying the kind for hand quilting if you plan on using it in your machine. The hand quilting thread can throw your timing/tension off on your machine.

    100% cotton machine thread is best, but I use the cheaper Coats & Clarks double duty for my scrappy quilts too.

    Good luck and have fun.
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    Old 03-25-2010, 09:38 AM
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    If you have a lesser expensive sewing machine you can get away with lesser quality thread. If you have a more sensitive, expensive, computerized machine you want to make sure you buy nicer, more lint free thread. 100% cotton thread to match 100% fabric.
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    Old 03-25-2010, 09:41 AM
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    As sewfunquilts said, don't use a hand quilting thread. The standard for most piecing / quilting threads is a 50/3 weight thread. I have a couple friends who use the all purpose threads, because their machines don't like the 100% cotton. My personal preference is to use 100% cotton for piecing and quilting. Gutterman is a good quality, medium priced thread, and I stock up when JoAnn's runs a 40% discount. It works well in all my machines (I have 4 Berninas, 3 Singer Featherweight 221s and a Singer treadle). My sister likes the threads from the Connecting Threads website. It is very reasonably priced and comes in a multitude of colors. The most expensive thread I've used is made by Precensia (a company in Spain) and is a 60/2 weight thread. I order it from Harriet Hargrave's website.

    Just remember, the better quality the thread, the less lint is created, which means you spend less time cleaning under the feed dogs.

    I use mostly neutral colors - white, beige, taupe, grey and black - for piecing, then match the threads to the top and back when I quilt.
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    Old 03-25-2010, 09:41 AM
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    k3n
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    Yes, what the others said, plus I like to use 50 wt or less for piecing. Quilting thread IMO is too thick.

    Bluphrog said it - sorry, hadn't seen your post before I replied! I now use YLI 60 wt in the shades Bluphrog mentions. :-D
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    Old 03-25-2010, 10:14 AM
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    Originally Posted by Bluphrog
    As sewfunquilts said, don't use a hand quilting thread. The standard for most piecing / quilting threads is a 50/3 weight thread. I have a couple friends who use the all purpose threads, because their machines don't like the 100% cotton. My personal preference is to use 100% cotton for piecing and quilting. Gutterman is a good quality, medium priced thread, and I stock up when JoAnn's runs a 40% discount. It works well in all my machines (I have 4 Berninas, 3 Singer Featherweight 221s and a Singer treadle). My sister likes the threads from the Connecting Threads website. It is very reasonably priced and comes in a multitude of colors. The most expensive thread I've used is made by Precensia (a company in Spain) and is a 60/2 weight thread. I order it from Harriet Hargrave's website.

    Just remember, the better quality the thread, the less lint is created, which means you spend less time cleaning under the feed dogs.

    I use mostly neutral colors - white, beige, taupe, grey and black - for piecing, then match the threads to the top and back when I quilt.
    great info.
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    Old 03-25-2010, 04:17 PM
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    Thanks for all of your help....I don't have a expensive singer sewing machine....mine is nice and it does have some other fancy stitches to it and I can quilt on it too if I wanted to.

    Next month I am going to stock up on Threads for my sewing machine as well as for quilting. I have one spool of Quilting thread and that is it. The rest of them is the All dual purpose Clarks Threads.

    Once again thanks for your help.

    This gives me an idea than what I need to buy and what to use the threads for.
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    Old 03-25-2010, 07:05 PM
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    If you are stocking up on threads check out Connectingthreads.com. They have wonderful thread that is much cheaper than Coats and Clarks and sews so nice. And they offer free shipping if you spend enough.
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    Old 03-25-2010, 07:09 PM
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    All good advice, definitely don't use hand quilting thread on your machine, it can wreak havoc. Always do a few practice lines on some scrap before starting each sewing session...just to make sure things are ticking along nicely.
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    Old 03-25-2010, 07:29 PM
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    My 2 cents: I don't use the Coats and Clark anymore. It gives my machine fits. Machine is approx 25 yrs old, a Singer and not the top of the line. I mostly use Gutterman or Mettler, all 100% cotton but I do have some silk glace 100% cotton that I just love. I think ConnectingThreads.com might carry it but not sure. I know I have seen it on the web somewhere. I got mine when stationed in Germany with the Army.
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