When you put an embroidery design on a bathroom towel it is not unusual for an elaborate design to have 30,000 or 40,000 stitches and most of the thread is rayon or poly. Then the towel can be washed every week or two or more often depending on usage. I have towels that I have washed like this for two years now without seeing any change in the thread. I'm surprised that the synthethic thread is considered not "good" for quilts by some. I can see where the shine of the thread might be a design consideration- matte or gloss thread stitches- but the strength issue surprises me. Poly is the stuff that is put in our tires to make them stronger; it is what provides the strength for duct tape. Why would it be weak in thread? These are honest questions, not defenses of poly or rayon. Just wanting to understand why poly and rayon are strong in other places but not in quilting.
Last edited by TanyaL; 02-14-2012 at 06:38 AM.