Bobbin thread
 

I have a question, I use the same thread in my bobbin as I'm using on the top. I recently read that some people use a different thread on the bottom, why would you do that? Is it wrong for the top and bottom to be the same?

I have wondered the same. I will be watching this.

Not sure as I do the same myself for piecing. I think this has more to do with FMQ'ing and possibly longarms vs. DSM's.

I agree with NJ Quilter that this has more to do with quilting than with piecing on a sewing machine.

No, it isn't wrong for the top and bobbin threads to be the same. I sometimes use Bottom Line in the bobbin so I get a more accurate seam when piecing. I have also used Bottom Line along with quilting thread when doing the quilting. I use a Bernina.

I almost always use the same thread on the top and bobbin when FMQing. I like the look, and want the quilting to show on the back as well as the front. I often choose my backing fabric based on the color of thread I want to quilt with on the front. :o

How does this help with quilting? I am learning fmq so any advise is great!

Bobbin thread is thinner so you don't have to fill as many bobbins and don't run out as often. That's my understanding, plus it does help with more accurate piecing since there isn't as much thread taking up part of your quarter inch seam allowance.

sometimes a person wants a different color in their bobbin and all they have in the correct color is a different type of thread than the top, sometimes a person is just using up what ever is on their bobbins & not worrying about it, sometimes a machine 'behaves' better with the same in both areas, sometimes the machine seems to like the difference--there is no right or wrong- as long as your machine is ok with the threads you are using and you are happy with the threads you are using ---do what works for you. I often use silk thread on top and cotton thread in my bobbin. just me- my machine accepts this & I like the results I get- but it depends on what I am working on - every project is different and I make decisions based on the project- not based on what the lady down the street would do.

Ok, I understand now. I like the look I am getting so I will carry on, I may try a bobbin thread in the future just to check it out. Thank you all for your input :thumbup:

doest take as much space as regular thread, I get about 2x's the ammt with bobbin thread

A spool of bobbin thread came with my embroidery machine. Accidently used that bobbin in my sewing machine and it did great. Now I buy a spool of white and a spool of black bobbin thread and use it all the time for all sewing. It is thinner and you don't have to wind bobbins all the time. The only time I match colors now is for the free standing lace patterns and for topstitching clothing where it might be seen.

There seems to be two different things being discussed here. For clarity:

When piecing, i.e. sewing fabrics together to make a quilt top, it doesn't matter if your threads match. I agree with a previous poster about finer threads, such as Bottom Line, giving you a more accurate seam, especially with miniatures. I started using BL for this purpose and fell in love with it, so now I use it for all of my piecing. And as Lynnie said, because it's a finer thread, you can get a lot more on the bobbin which means fewer reloads.

When quilting, i.e. sewing top, batting, and backing together into a quilt, most quilters I know prefer to use the same thread so that imperfections in tension don't show.

Hope this helps

I use thin thread for my bobbins when piecing, the thinner the better. I have started using pre filled bobbins and they seem to last twice or triple the ones I fill. When machine quilting I use bobbin thread that matches the backing. I've never given much thought to matching the bobbin thread to the top thread.

one advantage about having the same thread in both when quilting is that if your tension is a little off it's less noticable than if you have a different color thread in the bottom. I personally use whatever neutral is available when I'm piecing and pick color/thread for appearance when I qullt - so I'm frequently using different threads top and bottom.

You can also use invisible thread in the top rather than embroidery or quilting thread. We've used it for hemming dresses using a blind hem when we had no match for the color. You can also baste with washaway thread. The top washes out, and the bobbin thread just lies there ready to remove.

Bingo.... This is what I was looking for. Thank you very much !