Originally Posted by feline fanatic
Originally Posted by echobluff
reasons: 1 2) Using polyester thread when piecing/quilting cotton, the polyester filaments act like a knife and will cut cotton fibers...not something I want after everything that's gone into making a quilt to be loved/used.
This is a myth and totally not true. So please do not continue to perpetuate this old wives tale.
From Superior threads:
Will polyester thread really tear the fabric in my quilt?
Thread will not tear through a fabric solely due to its fiber content. If a thread ever tears through a fabric, it is because it won the strength contest. In a battle of heavy use and high stress placed on a quilt, the strongest component will always win. It is not accurate to say that a polyester thread is stronger than cotton. I have a spool of thread on my desk labeled 100% cotton quilting thread. It is a very well known brand, widely available, and is one of the top selling machine quilting and piecing threads. It is twice as strong as a comparable polyester thread. Although it isn't labeled as such, it is coated with a glaze which strengthens the cotton fibers and makes the thread rather wiry. In a strength test, it beats a comparable size poly, rayon, and metallic every time. In a heavily used quilt, this stiff, wiry cotton thread could do more damage than a soft polyester thread. And it is 100% cotton.
The point is this: The traditions, myths, and rumors that polyester thread will tear the quilt are not true
Source:
http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...dition-or-myth
I have to agree with this as I attended Bob Purcell's presentation and learned a lot about thread. I still will use my good quality cotton threads on my quilts, because I have so much of it, but I also know that several of the most accomplished professional, internationally known quilters, use a LOT of poly in quilting their finished quilts so if I was looking for a particular color, I wouldn't hesitate to use the poly. BUT....
I would never, ever use a bedsheet for a backing.