coffeebreak

I thought poly thread was the one that caused so much fluff/lint and cotton didn't. So I changed to 100% cotton and get a ton of lint in the bobbing cage and around the needle. Get a little less with the poly...what's up with that? Years ago the Singer repair man told me on my Singer 2010 to use only cotton covered poly....this was his third trip to my home for repairs due to to much lint with cheap (4/$1!) thread. I started using that and never had to call him again...I was making clothes and dolls etc, not quilts. Now with my new Singer Quantum (hate it as all I ever do is thread, rethread and thread again!) and I don't see a diff in the sewing, but the lint...cotton has slightly more than the poly. Any lint comments?

DOTTYMO

I have discovered that each of my machines work better with different makes of thread. My bernina will sew with any cheap, poly and cotton. The janome loves all gutterman and the singers love cotton. Lint build up sorry not sure why man came in. Every new bobbin clean area so very little lint build up. Fill bobbin empty fluff. If need bigger clean, do after each finished job clean all over as this also gets rid of coloured lint before using white it marks it.

rebeljane

I prefer cotton for all my quilting too!

deedum

I know my old Singers, like cotton thread and they don't like gutterman! They are like people, they have their likes and dislikes.
As far as material, yes I like 100% cotton with cotton thread, polyester material has it's place also. They are just about the warmest quilts and are best tied instead of quilted in MHO. I have poly material that no one else wanted and I plan to make a few quilts. Also, lap quilts for the nursing home, they just never wear out. So there is a place for everything if used correctly.

feline fanatic

No, it is the opposite. Cotton thread makes more lint than polyester thread. As with anything, the amount varies with the quality of the product. High quality cotton will make less lint, just as low quality polyester thread will produce some lint.

Greenheron

I like cotton and linen and wools. If fate sends polyester my way (such as a BIG bag of shirt factory cut-aways) I use them separately from the natural fibers. The polys can be slippery little devils and unfriendly to applique. Foundation piecing helps. Cottons and synthetics do not age in the same way so avoid using them together in quilts.

Prism99

coffeebreak, The quality of the thread makes a huge difference in lint production. Cheap cotton thread (4/$1) is made with very short staple cotton and usually produces a lot of lint. Aurifil (I like the orange spool, 50wt 2-ply for piecing), you would immediately see the difference -- long staple cotton plus manufacturing processes that smooth and refine the thread. Aurifil produces almost no lint. It costs more but, if you figure out how much it costs to have a repairman come to your home to fix your machine, it's well worth the extra money!

There are different qualities of polyester thread also. Bottom Line from Superior is an example of a really nice poly thread.

Iraxy

My dear deceased MIL made my DH and me a King sized 100% polyester quilt for our wedding present. We jokingly asked her if she didn't want grand children because the quilt was so heavy that once you got under it you were trapped in that spot. The thing weighed a ton. She laughed and laughed.
PS after lots and lots of washing over 35 years, the thing still weighs a ton but has hardly faded at all!

Weenween

cotton cotton cotton.

Aurora

I gave up Poly after the 70's. I am strictly cotton all the way; however I am not opposed to wool.