I am starting the Baltimore Halloween quilt from P3 and was wondering what kind of thread I need to have if doing this by hand. I have never done applique except for a few swap blocks, but those were with machine. I want to try to blend the stitches in so that it doesn't look as though is has been stitched. What weight is needed, or do we use a special kind? U really want to get started on this thing as the group started at the beginning of the month and DH is bringing home a dritz mini press iron so that I can get my pieces ready.

I use silk thread a lot, in 100 weight. It blends in and I don't need a lot of different colors. I also like 60 weight cotton, but I have trouble getting it locally.

Janet

i use silk thread for applique- comes in lots of colors= but light or dark gray, taupe or cream blends in well.
it is very smooth- fine- strong thread that disappears nicely- and makes tiny stitches easy.
yli is a good source for silk threads
and available in 50wt and 100 wt. i tend to use 100wt for applique- 50 wt for sewing when i want it to show-like quilting.

Where would I find silk thread? I don't think I've ever noticed it before.

Aurifil cotton thread is great for applique. I do hand applique with it all the time.

I have great results with Aurifil cotton 50wt, and I always have pieces of it leftover from rethreading my machine (since one is supposed to clip it at the spool and pull it through the needle). I also use Masterpiece by Superior. They have two sets of about 36 bobbins of every color they make. I also love 100 wt silk thread by YLI, but I don't have as many colors of that, so I mostly use it for light, neutral backgrounds.

A lot of quilt shops carry it, and some online shops do, too, like Keepsake Quilting.

Janet

Superior also have nice sets of Bottom Line bobbins in variety of colors for hand applique. They also have sampler sets of silk thead

Connecting Threads had a set of 5 neutral, light colors of YLI silk for $20 at one time. They also had the 36 bobbin sets of Masterpiece, called "Frosted Donuts" (because they come in one of those handy, rubbery bobbin donuts), for a lower price than straight from Superior.

Unlike every one else, I use whatever color matches that is on hand and not too thick. I use very small needles, size 11, so I need the threader to thread them. if the thread is thick, it won't fit.

Here is a set of 35 colors on bobbins for $39:
http://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/...rs-4/products/

This is my very favorite thread for applique. It stays in the needle and is much slower to shred or tangle than cotton or silk.

It's very fine and melts right into the applique piece.

I try to match the color, but if I don't have exactly the right one, I will use a neutral - cool or warm and dark or light - and that usually blends right into the applique fabric, too.

I've tried Masterpiece, YLI 100wt Silk, YLI Soft Touch, Mettler, Aurifil 50 & 60 wt and several others, but I use Bottom Line every time I have a choice. :)

As soon as I'm done with Christmas Windows, I will get started on P3's Baltimore Christmas - I've been looking at the Halloween one, too - hubs' favorite holiday. :) Hope you'll share pictures as you go - good luck!

I do hand applique and some of the women in our group love the silk thread, some love the cotton. I was always told that you should use the same kind of fiber to sew your applique with as the fabric. For example - cotton fabric-cotton thread- then the thread is not stronger than the fabric. Some believe that in time the polyester or even silk threads may cut the cotton fabric.