Artifil thread
 

Was at local dsm dealer and was told to only use artifil thread in my machine. What thread do you use and what weight?

I use Aurifil 50wt.

I do too. It's a finer thread and sews beautifully. Also when I press, the 50wt. reduces bulk so I get a truer seam allowance of a quarter inch. Not a lot of lint in my machine either.

Hmmm, and does your DSM dealer also sell Aurifil? I agree that it is a wonderful thread, but I'm very skeptical when someone says you can only use one specific brand. Some individual machines are fussy. I would buy a single small spool of various threads from different manufacturers to see what you AND your machine like best.
For piecing, I use 60 wt Presencia

My machines like any thread. I do have some Aurifil but it is costing $12-14 a spool around here. I also like connecting thread, mettler, Isocord.

I use what my Bernina dealership told me to use: Mettler silk wrapped thread. But that was back in the 90s but I still use it and have had no problems during all my years of quilting.

50 weight Aurifil is my favorite thread. Thin, no slubs, not very much lint, and all my machine's love it. For quilting, I love So Fine #50 by Superior and Glide by Fil-Tec.

What she said! I also use Presencia, it's stronger than Aurifil. (but more expensive too)

Aurifil is great thread though, it's my second favorite (after Precensia) for when I need thin thread. When I want thicker thread (like when I want quilting to show) I use Connecting Threads cotton thread. Aurifili sn't cheap, but shop around for deals. Fabric.com has pretty good prices on it.

Definitely try a variety though, and see what you like. My dealer told me to only use "good quality thread like Robison-Anton" (which they sell) when I bought my machine and she gave me a ton of it with my machine...and I hate it. Well, maybe not "hate" but I've come across knots in two different spools and I think it's way too thick and linty for the price. My machine is not at all fussy, I could probably pull random strings out of my clothes and it would sew with them, *I* am the fussy one!

I like Aurifil thread and use a lot of it but I would tell any dealer that said to use only Aurifil not to hold their breath.

I also agree with paper princess. If any dealer told me to ONLY use a specific brand/type of thread in my machine my confidence and trust in that dealer would immediately go by the way side. There are so many wonderful threads out there, not just for piecing but for machine quilting and thread painting and applique. there are glow in the dark threads, metallic threads, holographic threads, invisible threads, water soluble threads, and super fine threads that allow us to do wonderfully intricate detail work. then there are the fun threads intended only for bobbin work, like Superiors Razzle Dazzle and YLI's candlelight. Why would anyone limit themselves to only one brand/type of thread?? That is ridiculous and so self limiting. I say spread your wings and fly and experiment with different threads for both piecing and for quilting. You won't regret it and you will learn so much more about your machine and not be afraid to adjust tension on both top and bobbin. IMHO anyone who limits themselves to only one type of thread, well that is like eating the same exact food for every meal, every day. No thanks. As my mom always said, variety is the spice of life!
Oh for piecing, I currently use Aurifil 2ply 50wt in the top and bottom line 60wt polyester from Superior Threads in the bobbin. But I have heard wonderful things about the presencia so when I have used my current cone of Aurifil up I will spice up my life with some Presencia!

My Bernina isn't fussy at all about thread, so I use what I have, some of which is older than I am. When I need more, or a different color, I buy Gütermann Cotton or Coats Star Cotton. The only thread I've ever had a problem with is Sulky and about a dozen friends with different machine brands all had the same issue with it.

I agree with PaperPrincess. Try a small spool of several different brands to see what you and your machine like, what's easy to get locally, and what still leaves some funds in your wallet for fabric.

My machines are not fussy about thread. I like Aurifil best, but I mostly use Mettler silk wrapped because that's what my LQS sells. I also really like Masterpiece thread. I do use some Coats & Clark because I have a lot of old spools. All of my machines will use any of it. I do find most lint from Coats &Clark though. For my Bernina embroidery machine, I use Isacord. I bought a lot of Madiera Rayon when I first bought my machine, but it breaks a lot. I switched to Isacord. It is strong, but pretty. Comes in lots of colors too.

I use mostly Aurifil and Gutterman, my machine seems to like the Gutterman even though a dealer told me I should only use Mettler, but she wasn't a nice dealer and I didn't buy a machine from her anyway.

hear, hear.

I use aurifil 50 wt. I bought a bunch of neutrals from a website that was closing and then bought some colored ones from massdrop.

hey Gale, never heard of massdrop before. Checked it out. pretty cool.

I use Aurifil 50 weight because I love sewing with it. When I bought my Bernina 14 years ago, the dealer said to use either Gutterman or Mettler, I have forgotten which. I use both for garment sewing; but only Aurifil for piecing and quilting. I buy Aurifil on sale so I don't complain about the cost; but I sure do use lots of it.

What machine do you have?

i love Aurifil so much I only buy the cones. Much better pricing.

I use 50wt Aurifil on my HQ16 quilting machine...Tried less expensive thread by it kept breaking and skipping then tried Aurifil and "Harriet" loved it and just purrs right along... I mostly piece with Aurifil beige, black thread but when I need other colors I am using my stash of Coats & Clark on my machines. I have a 301 Singer in a cabinet, 158 Kenmore also in cabinet, a 20' featherweight and a 2014 Kenmore....oh yes and a sick viking

I have started doing that as well and have the cone stand on my Janome. I do have the large spools for colors, but for piecing, I recently bought cones in black and neutrals.

What type of machine do you have? I use Aurifil, bottomline for the bobbin....but I also use Connecting Threads Thread.....it is reasonably price and found to be a good quality cotton. Just look for Long Staple.....try out several and choose what works best for your project, not what a dealer thinks your machine can handle. Your machine should be able to take all kinds of wonderful threads that are out there. I would suggest going to SuperiorThreads and look for their free DVD on threads, needles and tension etc.

I was strongly urged to use Superior Threads when I purchased my machine.

I'm so glad there was a conversation about Aurifil thread. My husband just bought me a quilt kit that came with Aurifil and I wasn't sure what it was or if it was good! I am now more comfortable about getting it!

I usually use Gutermann thread, and sometimes Connecting Threads thread. Gutermann is a nice quality cotton thread with low lint that my Janome and I enjoy. The only thing I have a problem with Connecting Threads is it doesn't get along with applique and fused webbing -- it would skip stitches (which no other thread did). My all time favorite is Iris Ultra Cotton. It's resilient, but fine, and sews up beautifully. It is sold at Janome dealers though.

If you do the math - per yard - Aurifil is cheaper than most Mettler and Gutermann I can buy. It just looks like you're getting less because the thread is thin and the "core" is thinner than the other 2 brands.

I've done the cost analysis - Mettler and Gutermann come in less expensive than King Tut but otherwise is more expensive than Robison Anton, Aurifil, MasterPiece, Connecting thread and Coats and Clark.

So, if it's more expensive and lintier and problematic (another recent thread) - why buy these brands and encourage the manufacturers to continue to put out a substandard product?

I have a Pfaff Creative Sensation. I haven't found a thread that I can't use. Some of the threads on the little tiny spools aren't as easy to use. I use Aurifil, by choice, for all my piecing and most of my quilting because it performs perfectly and does not create as much lint in/around my machine as the other cotton threads I have used. I swear my machine even sews better with it. If you check around you can find sales. When you check prices with other threads you do have to consider that Aurifil has more thread on the spool than most other threads. Your filled bobbin will also have more thread on it because of less lint. I use dark grey, light grey or dark beige, light beige for 99% of my piecing/sewing/quilting. I also use black and white when necessary.

I love Superior Threads So Fine #50 which is polyester for my quilting. Their Bottom Line works great in the bobbin, too. For piecing I like the Aurifil 50 or Superior's Masterpiece 50.

Wow. The thread police. There is no way I believe Gütermann is producing a 'substandard' product or that they have a poor corporate attitude. You're free to buy what you want, as am I, without criticism. :)

To me, substandard is when people are complaining about slubs and more lint than they used to find with the same thread, thread breakage that also doesn't happen with an older spool.

I'm not the thread police but I am a thread snob. I use what causes me the least grief. My machines don't care but I have preferences.

Agree with this----my local shop pushes Guterman 50 wt cotton and Robison Anton Embroidery thread. I use any thread that comes along--guterman 50 wt doesn't work well for me in free motion quilting--I use it in the bobbin--some colors like black don't work in certain brands as well as in others. I use Aurifil but I'm also using Superior and Connecting Threads. Like the Aurifil most.

I use Aurifil 50wt. Its wonderful thread, low lint. It seems expensive, but when you consider how much thread you get; very good quality too. Gutermann and Mettler are also good threads.
Coats and Clark thread,isn't what it used to be, it can have slubs, thick and thin spots.