MargaretH

I am getting ready to hand piece small drunkard path squares. What is the best thread and needle to use. I have never hand pieced.
Thanks for any advice you may give to me.

Margaret

Tartan

It depends on what you want to use for hand sewing, one thread or two. If using one thread, I suggest quilting thread for its strength. For 2 threads, a polyester thread would be my choice.

MargaretH

Thank you Tartan. You also answered my question about 1 or 2 threads. I don't want to go to all of the work and have it fall apart.

Prism99

Hand piecing is usually done with a single thread. I have used regular 50/3 ply thread with no problems. I would not use quilting thread because it is too stiff — great for hand quilting, but not so much for hand piecing. I would also not use polyester thread for piecing because it is too slippery — again, great for machine quilting but not so great for hand piecing. A cotton-covered polyester thread is fine for hand piecing because the cotton does away with the slipperiness of an all-poly thread.

edit: I learned hand piecing by watching an old Jinny Breyer video years ago. She is very fast!

joe'smom

Jinny Beyer recommends using a 40 wt. for hand piecing. I use King Tut from Superior Threads. Presencia is a very strong thread, and the 50 wt. seems thicker than other 50 wt. threads (if using Presencia for machine piecing, I use 60 wt.), so I would also consider using Presencia 50 wt. for hand piecing.

sgreen511

Jinny Beyer's website sells 28 wt Aurifil thread that she prefers for hand piecing and lists her preferred colors.

Sync

I have been hand piecing since the early '80s when I started quilting. I use a 60 or 50wt thread for my piecing. Usually Aurifil or Superior threads.

joe'smom and sgreen511, this is the first time I have heard of using a 40wt or even a 28wt for piecing. I have always thought of them as thread for hand quilting .......... to heavy for piecing.

Prism99

Here is a link to Craftsy; scroll down to see what they recommend for piecing thread.
https://www.craftsy.com/quilting/art...lting-threads/

I believe the reason for using a single thread is because using two threads means the threads are rubbing against each other, actually making the seam less strong. Whether this is myth or experience, I don't know. A single thread is enough anyway, provided the quilting is reasonably close together. Quilting reduces stress on the piecing threads (and the fabrics in the quilt). The instances where I have seen close-ups of pieced seams that have come apart all appear to be cases where the piecing stitches were large. Piecing stitches should ideally be about 1/8" apart, and under 1/4". Smaller stitches are stronger.

I love Aurifil thread but I think, for me, 28 wt would be too thick -- harder to thread through the eye of a needle, and harder to pull through fabric. I love Aurifil 50/2 for machine piecing, but I wouldn't use it for hand piecing because it is only 2 ply. I really think a 3 ply thread is preferable for strength.

Edit: I see that Aurifil 50/2 is recommended by others for hand piecing. Scroll down to hand piecing here:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/choo...ilting-2821961

This hand piecer also prefers Aurifil 50/2:
https://redthreadstudio.com/blogs/gu...ecing-tutorial

bearisgray

I have done hand piecing with the cotton covered polyester "general purpose" coats and clark dual duty thread and that worked well for me.

I do/did backstitch about every 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch while sewing the seams. i also used 1/4 inch seam allowance.

I used a single thread in the seam.

In my opinion, "quilting thread" is too thick/heavy for piecing seams of lightweight ("regular") quilting cotton fabrics.

SusieQOH

I agree with bearisgray. Quilting thread is too thick for piecing. And I also take a backstitch every few inches.