Hi, I am fairly new also and in SoCal too. I was in the same boat you are a year ago. I have learned A LOT! First, I took a couple of classes. Then I got some quilting epals online. They have helped a lot. These chat boards are great too. To answer your question about thread, I used old thread at first - handed down by my mother and maybe even my grandmother.I was using a 20+ year old machine. I collected alot of spools from my completed works.Then I got a new machine and they told me to use cotton with cotton or poly with all fabrics. I had Guttermann in the machine when I went for the lesson because that is what they sell at M&L Fabrics in Anaheim. I am now using it exclusively. I have thrown out all the old thread. Hope to hear from you again.
judee
:D