Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Duh!  (and another newbie question about thread) >

Duh! (and another newbie question about thread)

Duh! (and another newbie question about thread)

Old 06-12-2009, 06:52 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
rayone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 37
Default

So i start my quilting class on Monday. I am super excited about this quilt b/c i am soooo in love with my fabric, its scary how much i would be willing to marry it... i love it so much. I take it out every few days to look at it and admire it. Aw... bliss. Anywho, i've been excited to start my class and it just dawned on me.... i have no thread! Duh!

Which has led me to start questioning what kind of thread to get? What color? And of course I have no idea what I'm doing, i'm looking for opinions and advice and wonder how everyone else chooses.

I am making this quilt.... (Queen of Diamonds by Atkinson Designs). http://www.oldegreencupboard.com/que...20diamonds.jpg

And I am using darker teals/blues/browns as my color scheme. Very, very beautiful browns and teals I might add (if you hadn't caught that in the first gushing paragraph). Oh, and my "white" fabric (from the example) is a cream color with little blue paisley.

What kind of thread should i be buying? And what color? And why would you suggest that (just so i know the through process so eventually I can do this on my own)

I will be machine piecing this together, i can't even think that far ahead to the quilting part

Thanks!
rayone is offline  
Old 06-12-2009, 06:57 AM
  #2  
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sleepy Hollow, NY
Posts: 4,727
Default

i use neutral shades for all my piecing (cream, taupe, grey, etc).

the only time i worry that my thread must match the fabric in color is when i'm pressing the seams open.

if you press the seams to one side you really won't see the thread used for piecing.

fashion sewing requires matching thread much more than quilters do.

kluedesigns is offline  
Old 06-12-2009, 07:00 AM
  #3  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,382
Default

I use 100% cotton machine quilting thread for my machine piecing. For your project, I'd find a color to match the cream fabric. The cream fabric borders all the other fabrics in the pattern. If you set your machine to 2.5mm stitch length or less, you won't see the thread anyway. At least, I can't on the pieces I do.
mytwopals is offline  
Old 06-12-2009, 07:18 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
ai731's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Maxville, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 364
Default

I'm a new quilter, so I'm no expert, but here's what I do:

I always use 100% cotton thread. This is because polyester or mixed thread is stronger than 100% cotton fabric (or thread), and in time the stronger thread could rip the 100% cotton fabric.

I very roughly match the thread colour to one of the lighter colours in my fabrics - roughly because I buy large spools of thread for machine piecing and the larger spools tend to come in fewer colours. If my fabric has a fair amount of white, or I'm using very pale or white blender fabrics, I use white thread.

For instance: I'm currently making a quilt using the reds/browns/blacks in <a href="http://mordac.unitednotions.com/stor...&ctg_id=121897">Moda's Bistro</a> fabric range, and I'm piecing it with a brownish-burgundy thread.

In your case I would use cream or white thread.

Jan
ai731 is offline  
Old 06-12-2009, 07:54 AM
  #5  
Super Member
 
sewjoyce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,496
Default

I now use 100% cotton quilting thread when piecing. My LQS recommends that you use a neutral color (off white, gray, taupe, etc.)
sewjoyce is offline  
Old 06-12-2009, 02:30 PM
  #6  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
Default

I generally use cotton thread in neutral tones - beige or grey, but for the piecing, I have on occasion just used up what was on the bobbin. Now I do try to match the weight of the bobbin and top thread.

I like Star brand thread and the big spools from Connecting Threads.

Once I read a horror story from a beginning quilter who had used a serger cone thread to do all her piecing and when she pressed her blocks, the thread melted and she undid all her work. Not sure what the fiber content was - but it had a low melt point.
MadQuilter is offline  
Old 06-12-2009, 06:28 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
QuiltinLee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 535
Default

I usually use a light gray 100% cotton for piecing because it will blend in the best with different colors.

Now the quilting part is a different matter. I have used rayon, variegated, metallic, silk and cotton - it all depends on what the project tells me to do (yes, the fabric talks to me and I always listen to the voices inside my head :D )
QuiltinLee is offline  
Old 06-12-2009, 06:37 PM
  #8  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW Iowa
Posts: 32,855
Default

I use a neutral cotton thread to piece. If my fabric is dark I use gray and if it is light I use cream. I really like Connecting Threads thread, but have used Coats and Clarks thread too.
littlehud is offline  
Old 06-12-2009, 08:44 PM
  #9  
db
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
Default

I was wondering if any one uses the long staple cotton thread, such as the egyptian thread. They say that it creates much less lint in your sewing machine. Was told to look at a strand of coats and clark thread and you can see all the fuzz sticking out of the thread because they use short stable thread, and true you do see it. Now looking into a brand of cotton long staple thread, would any one have any suggestion?
db
db is offline  
Old 06-13-2009, 07:18 AM
  #10  
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North East Lower peninsula of Michigan
Posts: 6,230
Default

I piece my quilts with either off white or grey. Works for me.
Up North is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tealfalcon
Main
17
02-27-2013 02:44 AM
ptquilts
Main
18
08-27-2012 05:54 PM
Steve
Main
6
11-05-2007 03:37 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter