SallyS

You've gotten very good advice. The only color you might like to add is beige. For piecing you need a color that will blend, rather than match. The point is that it doesn't show from the right side. I use Glide thread almost exclusively. My longarm loves it and I started to use it in my Janome, too. It's a strong polyester thread, very little lint (if any) and a beautiful array of colors. For piecing, stay away from rayon because it's not strong, although has a beautiful sheen, used more for embroidery.

Learning at 70 or otherwise is one of the most fun parts. It stretches your brain and makes you happy when you get good results. Be generous with yourself while you learn. If something isn't quite right, realize it's one more step out of the way to getting there. Let us know about your progress!

Jingle

Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting. It takes a while to get the hang of it. Just keep sewing and it will come. No one makes perfect quilts.

I use coats and clark threads regular and machine quilting threads I mainly use off white in various shades. I do use some colors. I have some CT threads too. If my bobbin area gets linty, I just clean it.

liking quilting

The colors you have listed are most of the basics you'll want; although I would add gold/taupe shades for quilting, too! Enjoy your journey in the quilting world!

Stitchnripper

My machines aren’t fussy so I can use any thread I like for the most part. I did try Madeira cotton embroidery thread for free motion quilting but it wasn’t strong enough. Right now I am using aurifil for piecing

regarding free motion quilting most people have your experience on their first try. I did. But I didn’t stop, I kept going. I had a dinky mechanical machine from Costco but I learned to do free motion quilting on it.

if you decide to try again one day check out the free tutorials on Leahday.com.

tropit

I use Connecting Threads's thread almost exclusively. Personally, I don't find it overly fuzzy, or with a lot of slubs. I do have a simple, older machine (Singer 403A,) so maybe that's why I don't have any problems. Maybe it's too unsophisticated to, "know any better,"...LOL.

My number one, go to color is off-white/cream. I go through far more spools of that color than any other.

Have fun quilting!

~ C

CaleyH

Liking Quilting, Thanks for the welcome, and the suggestion on thread colours.

Stitchnripper, Oh I won't give up. I just need to figure out something I can practise on. I don't want to practise on my hard work blocks. Any suggestions on what I can use for a substitute to practise on?

I went to LeahDay.com to see what I could. Good website, with good information. I like that quilting frame, but don't know if you can use it tor piecing also. I guess you need a dedicated machine for piecing and then that frame and another machine for the free motion quilting. Maybe in a couple of years when I pay down some debt, and rid myself of a lot of accumulated stuff to free up some space, that might be something to get.

sewbizgirl

My 'must haves' are white, black and grey. Ecru comes in handy too, when you want to tone down the white look. I do have smaller spools of other colors, but mostly use the 12,000 yard cone of white American and Efird tex40. It works on most of what I quilt.

Stitchnripper

Just about any functional machine can be used for piecing. Even a dinky mechanical Brother. Or a vintage machine if one comes across one. You can’t use the frame for piecing.

you can use scrap pieces of fabric and batting to practice on. They don’t have to be quilt size. Leah day does some on very small squares. Some people use felt squares. You can even practice on paper with an old needle and no thread. There are many options.

Dolphyngyrl

Neutral colors are good to have white cream light gray black for piecing. For quilting it depends on the quilt I usually buy a specific color for quilts. A lot of colors are good to have if you applique a lot

Jordan

I use Aurifil 50 wt. also and have just the basic colors as everyone has already mentioned-light and dark grey, beige and white. Sometimes I have a very dark fabric or red fabric I work with and then I do purchase that color of thread.