Okay, here I am showing my ignorance. I didn't know you should match thread and needle and I use Coats and CLark al purpose thread. What SHOULD I be doing? Why use polyester thread with cotton material? How do you match the thread and needle to know what size needle goes with what wt. thread? I just use an 11 needle usually and use it until it breaks, which is often enough that I don't fear the needle being dull. The thread, however, I don't even pay attn to the weight. Someone school me please! Also, I have never heard of Auriful thread. I only have JoAnns as my option for buying things around here, do they sell it there? I haven't seen it but then again, I didn't know to look. OMG This board is so informative, what would I do without all of you? This is what I get for trying to teach myself quilting, LOL