Okay,

So I have my new Bernina, and the shop is recommending I only use Aurifil thread. Now I'm sure it's GREAT thread, but at $10 a spool it can get a little pricey....although there is a lot on a spool.

Anyway, I'm no thread expert, but is this what I should go with? Or are there some alternatives?

Good luck. I am sure you will get some good recommendations. Isn't it nice to have so many people to get hands on experience from? Congratulations on the new machine. Enjoy.

I use Aurifil for piecing and a spool of it goes a looooooooooooooooong way. :)

And I'm sure that the shop sells it, too, don't they?

My suggestion is to use what you like. If your machine doesn't like it, it will tell you.

I have a Bernina QE 440, and I've always used the Gutterman 100% cotton (50/3 weight) for piecing. I've used rayon thread for topstitching, and I discovered the Prescencia 100% cotton (60/2) threads (which I love and which is replacing the Gutterman!). All of them work just fine on my Bernina. I know one 440 owner who won't use anything but the Mettler threads and another who loves YLI.

It's my understanding that most Aurifil threads are a 50/2 weight, which is a little light for piecing. I like a 50/3 or a 60/3 for piecing and for quilting, which is why I use what I do.

For more information about the differences in threads, Harriet Hargraves' "Heirloom Machine Quilting, 4th Edition" has a lot of good information.

LOL - my Bernina dealer suggests I use a particular brand of polyester thread...which they sell.

Aurifil is great thread, and yes, those $10 spools last a really long time. I use it for machine piecing. I think so long as you stay away from really cheap thread you'll be fine.

I went to a talk given by the owner of Superior Thread. He said it was ironic that quilters who spent a lot of money on high end machines seemed to balk at paying extra for good thread.

Janet

Yeah, sounds like it's a nice quality thread. Don't laugh, but I wanted to buy several spools to have on hand, so I can have one of those pretty displays of threads in my sewing room. (lol....ridiculous I know)

Looks like I will need to budget for it as I do my quilts. And you make a perfect point, for the money spent on the machine, I should pop for good thread.

Kinda like people who buy luxury vehicles and then complain it only uses premium fuel. :)

Not laughing. I bought all 10 colours of Aurifil my supplier sells. Now I find they are lasting so long that I'll have a nice display for a long time! :lol:

My machine and I love it! It does go a long way. If you want to stock up, just buy the basic colors for now. I love variegated threads and tend to use a lot of yellows and blues in addition to white and off-white. What colors do you tend to use the most? Start there. If I have a small project or think I won't use much of a color, I get Guttermann instead.

I haven't ordered from them yet, but I have been look'n for aurifil at a more reasonable place & I found this site. Unfortunately, the color I want is out of stock!

http://www.tristan.bc.ca/cart/search...=search&page=1

Carmenwarehouse.com sells the Aurfil thread at a discount. They do not always carry a large selection of colors but I usually buy three or four different neutrals so the selection doesn't bother me. If I need a color the longarm I do end up paying the $10.00.
I love the Aurifil thread, no bulk to the seams, and alot goes on the bobbin as it so thin.
No, I do not think it is to thin to piece with as I have been pieceing with it for about 8 years, since I took a class from Kathy Sanback (sp).

The prices are great, but the shipping adds up quickly! If you were placing a large order, it might be worth it.

If you go into Superior Thread look around their site. You can use anything from there with the piece of mind that it will be fine for your machine. I got as a gift 13 large spools of the Alex Anderson line Master Piece. Each spool is $25.00 for 3000 yards. I don't think I will ever run out of thread. I have also used Libby Lehman Bottom Line and I love it for piecing and quilting. Also bobbincentral.com has some excellent threads. The good thing is that you can order a sample and they send you 4 or 5 bobbins to try. they will not fit your machine but you can transfer to one of your bobbins. On the same package they sent me a cone of a wonderful thread and it was enough for a wallhanging.

Aurifill is a great thread but I would not limit myself to it. Mettler and Gutterman are very good too.

I love the Aurifil thread -- but my budget doesn't :lol: :lol:

I also have a 440 QE and she likes just about any thread. I do like to use YLI which is not quite as pricey as Aurifil and a spool of that stuff will last just about forever.... :lol:

Is your Bernina a piecing machine or a midarm quilting machine? If you are using Aurifil, you should compare the yardage of thread on a spool to say Mettler or any other GOOD thread, you will see that Aurifil is cheaper by the yard than others. So that $10 a spool is not a bad price. I was told not to use Coats and Clark in my machine because the wax coating on the thread is not good for my machine. I have a Husqvarna Viking Designer 1, so I spent a lot of money for my machine, I am going to use a good thread, and if they recommend a good thread for your machine then there is a reason why.

I only use aurafil, and for my bobbin, I use "bottom line"

Both are pricey, but they work best in my bernina. The spools last a long time. I do use others, but my "go to" favorites are the aurafil threads and the bottom line.

;-)

Ok, I realize I'm probably making some huge mistake, but I piece with Isacord (its the Embroidery thread made by the people that make Bernina stuff OESD or soemthing like that). anyway, its a poly, but I really like it, my machine obviously really likes it and its considerably cheaper than Aurifil (which I also like, but its just pricey).

I posted all about the Aurifil clearance here http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-44336-1.htm

It's way cheaper than $10 a spool...rather like $5 a spool. I stock up as it's my absolute favorite thread.

I have Bernina and I have used Coats and Clark, Mettler, Gutterman, Sulky and others. Never had a problem with any of them. I typically use Mettler but sometimes can't get the right color. I don't think the more expensive machines demand more expensive thread. The thread is only passing through the machine, not becoming part of it.

The best piece of advice I got about thread and my Bernina was to always cut thread at the spool and pull it out at the needle when changing thread. Keep the fibers always going in the same direction. Pulling thread the other way can cause more lint.

I don't think that is a mistake. I have used Isacord for piecing. It is strong and usually it has the right colors I have used it for quilting too, again when the color is perfect and the project not too bog.

Sulky thread works best in my Husqvarna...and they have such fabulous variegated selections. I also use Mettler. For some reason, Gutterman does not work as well. Haven't tried the Aurifill, but would like to.
And by the way, I drive a Cadillac, and MUST buy premium gas...but wouldn't trade my car for nothin'!

Same here. I use whatever I have on hand. I buy the color I want no matter what the brand is. I have 3 Berninas and they have no problem sewing any thread I use.

Sybil

i pick up whatever is on sale....my machines don't complain...kenmore singer juki....I just have to change a needle at times.....buy what you can afford :thumbup:

I've had a Bernina many years. Always used Mettler silk finish until a little over a year ago and am now hooked on Aurifil. Last month, I saw a thread for Tristian Italian Threads. They were offering boxes of 24 spools for $56 (I think). I ordered two of the assortments - a lot of $ spent on thread, but I'll have it for a good while. Just got an e-mail from them; they are having another "door crasher" sale for Aurifil. Check www.tristan.bc.ca

They are in Canada, but it was still a great savings for me and I had my package in 10 days or so.

Yeah, I'm the one who posted about it.

Thank you! Love my thread, such a great price and great customer service.

BTW - if others place an order - put e-mail in the note area on the order so she can get a coupon!

See original thread about Tristan's here for info & Candace's e-mail address http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-44336-1.htm

Hey, thanks, that's very nice of you.

I have an older Bernina, and bless her little heart, she does EVERYTHING that I ask from her!! LOTS of quilting, huge numbers of muliple layers of vinyl and uphostery fabrics. No matter what the dealer said, she has taken every thread I have thrown at her and done the job requested.

I LOVE my machine!!

If your machine cannot take Coats and Clark, take it back! I know for a fact that these machines are made to take a beating.

I use Superior Threads' Bottom Line for top and bobbin on my Bernina; sews like dreams and the bobbin lasts forever. It's a very thin thread.
http://www.superiorthreads.com
there's a "try me special" on it right now, also a special s/h for retail orders.

I have ordered from this company. I am 100% a happy customer. The prices are the best I've found anywhere. Check out the Aurifil Grab Bags.

Please read this post: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-44336-1.htm and give Candace credit if you order. She brought this site to our attention.

When I had my Bernina, I too used whatever was on hand or on sale at the time. You can find good thread out there without paying through the nose for it. I have been impressed by the thread from Connecting Threads and it is only $1.99 a spool in tons of colors.

My Bernina just prefers the Aurifil, maybe it is what they are raised on at the factory :-D . There is an outlet that has clearance Aurifil, let me see if I can find it . . .

yes, here is my old post from Feb. 2009:
Tristan thread in Western Canada is clearing out of Aurifil. The price converts to less than $4. US for 1300 meter spool including shipping when buying larger quantities. At least it was when I purchased last year, but it looks like they still have some.

http://www.tristan.bc.ca/

Good Luck. Maribeth

Have you tried hand sewing with Connecting Threads? I bought all the sets they had, and it does fine in my machine, but man does it ever twist up when hand sewing. I used it to slip stitch the back of a tie that I made my son and it about drove me crazy untangling it every few stitches. Anyone else have that problem?

If you figure out the cost per yard, you'd find that even at $10, it's a better price than Coats & Clark and some of the others. Red Rock has the 50 wt for $8.95 (1422 yds). They are very quick and resonable priced shipping too. Desperate Quilters has it for $8.50, also quick and reasonable shipping. You might find it on sale thru the Fab Shop Hop sites too. Something to keep in mind anyway. :)

It's cheaper by the yard if you are using a whole spool, but if it's a color you only need a little of, it's more expensive. Use whatever you can afford and works with your machine.

Google Nancy Rink designs too. She sells aurifil and has a great shipping deal, or did last I looked.
I love aurifil but have some other thread I use as well.

thank you so much for the link; 2 quilting buddies up here were looking for silk thread discounted; I referred them to this site. I also told them to credit you if they order.

My machine loves gutterman, and mettler poly, and for embroidering I use Isacord. Never had a problem. Have used some coates and clark too, with little problem but definitely like the other ones best.

I have been sewing on Berninas for several years. They prefer any top quality thread and will tell you if they don't like it. I use mostly German threads.

I have a Bernina 440 and I use a variety of threads with no problems. I've heard very positive things about Superior which I will probably order when I need more thread - it's usually a good price.

I have ordered from them and their service was good and their prices are great! Selection seems a little shy, but they offer groups of neutrals so that's not bad at all.