Yes, Sewjoyce, I use cotton clothesline. I also use a jeans needle in my machine. I don't use the glue like Eddie does and I don't cut my strips on the bias. I've been using up some spools of older thread that are hanging around and I won't use for quilts. Seems to be working for me. I even set up my "back up" machine just for this project. Then I can do a bowl whenever the spirit moves me to, without changing out everything on my "favorite" machine.
Sue