I've used all brands of threads from cheap to expensive. If it works well, I use it. I had one expensive varigated thread that gave me fits. It made lint balls right in front of the needle and I worked with it to finish the FMQ job and marked the spool with a warning sticker. It might have just been a lemon spool but I won't start another big FMQ job with that brand again. I have used the cheap polyester cone thread from Walmart for general sewing with no problems. Believe me, your machine will tell you which thread it likes and doesn't like! I must say my new favorite is the Aurifil.