Aurifil Thread
 

I have heard wonderful things about this thread and purchased 2 spools. When I tugged on it, it broke. I thought maybe I had a defective spool but the other one did the same thing. I usually use Connecting Threads Essential cotton and it never does this. I have always tossed any thread that broke as it is usually really old stuff.

I am hesitant to use this for piecing. I am mainly a charity quilter and assume these quilts get washed frequently. At this point I think I will use it in the bobbin only.

Does yours snap when you tug on it?

It sounds like you got some defective thread, you should take it back to where you bought it. My Aurifil thread has always been great. One time my sister bought a package of pre-wound bobbins, she thought they were the wrong size for her machine because if kept breaking, she gave it to me and I tested all 10 spools and the thread broke like it was 100 years old, it just broke - I couldn't even use it for basting. Sometimes they get a defective batch.

I've used quite a bit of Aurafil in 3 different machines with no trouble at all.

I use Aurifil thread exclusively for quilts I make for family and friends, and I have NEVER had any problem with it (I buy 50 wt.). I just love the thread, so I think you surely must have purchased a defective spool. Connecting Threads Essential is nice, and I use this thread for my charity quilts, as the cost is more manageable than that of Aurifil thread. I strongly suggest you return the Aurifil thread and ask that it be replaced. It is such a lovely thread, I just know you will love it!

Just wanted to say that I bought the 50wt as well - several cones, because I had heard such great things about it. When I tug on it, it does break sometimes. I don't machine quilt with it anymore because when I bury the knots, sometimes the thread snaps and then I'm stuck (and mad). I only piece with it and so far, haven't had a problem with seams coming loose. There is no way the thread is old.

Did you check that you didn't buy the 80 or 60 wt? That is very thin and breaks with a good tug.

..... or perhaps the tug/pull was just a little too rough and tough?


Aurifil 50 wid my go-to for stitching and I have used it for FMQing, with no problems.
Everything has its limits ... any thread can be broken, if we tug on it too hard.

this thread (no pun...) made me go up and check my cotton threads, both 50/3 like coats and 50/2 like ariful, including guterman and whatever it is that JoAnn's sells online and mettler.

they all break with a bit of a tug. You have cotton thread, perfectly good, use it in good health.

I have problems with Aurafil breaking, too. I choose not to use it, and prefer Metler Silk Finish.

Aurifil is a 50 wt cotton 2-ply thread. Being 2-ply, it breaks a little easier than the more common 50 wt 3-ply cotton threads. I doubt that there's anything wrong with your Aurifil thread; it's just a little different than what you are used to. If you want a lint-free, fine thread like Aurifil that is 3-ply, try Presencia which is a 60 wt cotton 3-ply thread.

I like Aurifil for piecing because it gives me great accuracy -- better than any other cotton thread I have tried, although Prescencia is probably at least as good. I don't like polyester thread for piecing because it is slippery compared to cotton, meaning if you cut thread ends short, they can actually slip out at the end of the fabric.

I think Aurifil 50wt is plenty strong for piecing, especially since I quilt pretty closely (nothing more than 4" apart, and usually much closer than that). Close quilting relieves stress on the pieced seams, so there is little chance that any of my piecing seams will snap. I prefer polyester thread for quilting because it is stronger and also gives a little "sparkle" to my quilts.

I got a lot of breakage with aurifil too. Was not impressed

I use aurifil 50 wt, and it does break. It doesn't break while I am using it, but if I tug on a length of it, it breaks pretty easily. But I love it for the bobbin, and I will probably continue to use it.

I've not experienced any breakage with Aurifil on my domestic machine and use it often. I also have purchased CT thread and while it doesn't give me any problems either, it seems more linty. Sorry you are unhappy with your Aurifil purchase.

This happens to me, too, so if I know I want to bury threads (I sometimes backstitch for charity quilts that are going to be washed a lot), I use Mettler or Connecting Threads.

I love Aurifil 50/2 thread. I use it a lot for piecing & applique. I also use it for quilting on one of my machines I have never had a problem with it breaking except when my needle needed to be changed or the tension wasn't right. In my experience with it, it has been great. It will break with a tug but so do my other 50/3 cotton threads.

Thanks for the feedback. I was taught in a class to test all thread before using with a tug. And I did not have to pull very hard on it. It worked fine on my machine. These charity quilts can get some rough treatment so I will not use it for them and save it for something where I want precision. I bought it from Craftsy so am not trying to return it.

I quilt on an HQ16 and use Connecting Threads Essential Pro on that. It is fabulous. I don't have a bobbin winder and buy prewounds from Superior Threads. Bottom line I believe.

That's where I bought mine too. I went upstairs yesterday to tug on a variety of threads after this discussion and of the ones I tugged on, Aurifil 50wt definitely broke with the lightest pressure. I even tried a couple different spools of it, cones and medium spools with the orange spindle.

Connecting Threads 50wt broke with a little more pressure than the Aurifil.

It was much harder to break the poly serger cone thread that I bought as a newbie (not knowing you're not supposed to piece/quilt with that!) so I feel better about having made several quilts with it! I had to pull a couple of times to figure out how much pressure to use. It finally stretched a ton before it snapped.

I couldn't break the Coats and Clark machine quilting 30wt thread that I used to buy before I knew anything about weights of thread. It actually hurt my hand a little.

For machine quilting I use the 40wt. Aurifil thread, no problems with it at all. I also use 50wt. Aurifil for piecing my quilts, never had any problems with it breaking at all. I use Aurifil in all of my machines new and antique.
Why is it necessary to yank on the thread before you use it?
Sharon in Texas

I really think the tug test is more useful for determining if an old thread has dry rotted.

It's not really necessary, but I was doing it because I know that sometimes I have to tug a little to get a knot to bury when machine quilting. Aurifil 50wt has broken during that process for me, and it's super annoying, so it was educational for me to know how each thread behaves.

I don't overthink thread. If my machine likes it, I like it, then it's good thread.

I forget who---but a very success quilter uses serger thread all the time on her long arm machine. She took alot of flack when she said that but wins ribbons at big shows.

perhaps it was in the store too long. It gets so dry here that may have damaged it. I would return it to the store but if they don't replace it sent it right to Aurifil.

I agree with Onebyone on this. However, I do prefer Aurifil but sometimes need a color they don't have so use other thread too.

Surger thread is also a two-ply thread, as is Aurifil. I think you'd be surprised at how many of us use surger thread in our quilts. We just don't tell anybody (usually). Surging has straight threads that come from the needles. They have to be as strong as any sewing thread. It's the bottom threads that make the loops. If the needle thread breaks, the loops fall off.

Surging thread works just fine in my sewing machines. I just need a thread stand to get it to the machine.

I have never had a problem with Aurifil. It is what I use all the time. I don't tug or yank on my threads so haven't had any breaking issues. It is what a lot of quilters use and was recommended to me.