For piecing, Aurifil 100% cotton mako 50 wt (which is NOT made by Connecting Threads) is fabulous. Very low lint, no breakage, makes a nice flat seam. A really smart quilter put me on to it, and it's really all it's cracked up to be. Solved so many problems I thought were either the machine, or me. It's also great for hand appliqué. Even the spot where the eye of the needle chafes the thread while you piece holds up. Aurifil 12, 28, or 40 wt for quilting. Masterpiece by Superior threads is also great for piecing and hand appliqué. King Tut by Superior for quilting. Polyester thread CAN melt when pressed on high heat. Hand quilting thread is glazed and will damage your machine. I haven't tried Connecting Thread house thread. They sell a "donut" of 36 colors of Masterpiece on bobbins. Nice selection for hand appliqué, and you can try it for piecing. Get just one spool of a neutral in Aurifil for piecing your next project and you may become a convert like me. I used to think I shouldn't spend on what isn't seen. Now I have a big drawer of "the good stuff" and I'm loving thread instead of just using it.