I LOVE needleturn applique! I use the foxglove straw needles and YLI silk thread for all of it. The thread is a little more expensive than regular cotten but I ony use it for applique so it lasts a long time. Also, I only use 2 colors! The light beige and kind of a khaki brown. I've done more than 2 queen quilts using a spool each of these two colors or less so it's really a minimal investment for thread. All the comments about how well it hides are absolutely correct. I can do needle turn applique in the car and not a single stitch will show. There is another brand the local quilt shop carries and I bought it in a pinch and promptly gave it away! It was much heavier that the YLI. Only brand I'll buy again.