I found the glace hand quilting thread easier to use. The added coating (which makes the thread somewhat more stiff and wiry) makes it much less likely to tangle on you as you work. If using regular thread, most quilters run it through a little box containing either beeswax or an artificial detangler (sorry, forgot the name). All of these make the thread easier to pull through the layers too. The glace thread also makes threading the needle easier. I think Gutterman makes a glace hand quilting thread.