Bobbin thread?
 

I recently heard that using poly bobbin thread is not the best idea when making quilts with cotton fabric. Can someone tell me if I can use regular cotton thread in my bobbin or do I need to find actual cotton bobbin thread. Is there a weight difference? I ran out of bobbin thread (was using poly) but now I'm not sure what to use. I can't find cotton bobbin thread on the spool at my local shops. Just prewound. Thank you.

When I piece, I use Aurifil 50 weight cotton thread in both the bobbin and the top thread. Never had any problems. I've also used 60 weight cotton in both. To my knowledge, you can use the same thread in both. I've never heard of thread made specifically and solely for the bobbin.

I found this stuff and it's labeled as bobbin thread. That's why I was curious. https://www.marathonthread.com/index.php?cPath=4_25

You do not need to use cotton thread. That is an old myth. Superior Threads as great information on threads. http://www.superiorthreads.com/

Thanks. The person told me that poly will eventually eat through the cotton because the cotton fabric will wear faster than the poly thread.

I know, it makes no sense to me either, but I wanted to check with the "pros" and see what you guys use for bobbin threads.

I have found that I really like Bottom Line thread for the bobbin and for hand appliqué. And I also really like the bobbin thread sold at Jo-Ann's (can't remember the brand name right now but it is a very well-known brand). Sometimes it's hard to find, because they only carry it in white and black, and the displays of thread are vast. But it is polyester and nice and thin, which helps with the seam allowance. Why? Because you have less thread thickness to press the seam allowance over.
After experiencing greater accuracy in block sizes with special bobbin thread, it's just something I buy now.

I second using Aurifil 50wt 2-ply in both top and bobbin. I have tried using Aurifil on top and polyester bobbin thread in the bobbin; however, for me this produced a slight puckering in the seams and my seams did not look as nice and flat. So, I went back to Aurifil top and bottom.

The "polyester thread eating through cotton" may have been true decades ago, when polyester was made differently. Modern polyester threads break as easily as cotton threads, so that is not true of threads purchased today. I don't think it was entirely a myth, just that it no longer applies.

If a quilt shop or fabric store tells you can't use poly thread with cotton fabric just say that is not true and walk out. If another quilter or sewer tells you this tell them they need to update their old wives tales.

I buy pre filled bobbins for piecing from Superior Threads. I'm using Aurifil for the top now because I have a lot of it. I like Connecting Threads Essential Pro on the cone for piecing too. For machine quilting I use Glide Magna Delights no matter what top thread I choose but usually I use Glide for the top too.

People seem to be as hung up on thread as they are are on LQS fabric. "Every woman to her own taste," said the old woman as she kissed the cow is what my mother would have said. I use Coats and Clark, which is readily available, comes in a myriad of colors, and is reasonably priced. It is cotton, wrapped with polyester or 100 percent cotton, or whatever it says on the end of the spool. Incidentally, I found a spool of thread--happened to be a color I needed--that I know was nearly 40 years old recently. I pulled on it to see if it had rotted and after assuring myself that it was still all right, I jused it on my project. The end label was marked K-Mart, so I know I bought it in Odessa, Texas when K-Mart had a huge store there and still carried fabric and sewing notions.

Unless we are talking about embroidery thread, I don't quite understand why people get so worried about thread! froggyintexas

I use poly thread all the time...if I use cotton it becomes so linty that I have to clean the machine with each bobbin. I do use cotton on top for quilting, but the good quality poly thread are not going to eat the fabrics.

Thanks everyone. I think I'll stick with the bobbin thread I've been using. I have a ton of it but this one person had me all worried that my quilts were going to rip or tear from the poly thread. Ugh! I have never made myself a quilt, I always give them as gifts, so I never know how they're really holding up to washing.

I've been using Bottom Line or Sew Fine. I prefer a finer thread. I use a lot of Aurifill too - lots of nice colors.

I use Gutermann 50wt cotton thread on top and in the bobbin and love it.

I checked the yardage on a spool of C&C compared to the yardage on Aurifil or other thin thread and I would be paying much more for less. The spool may be cheaper but not much thread on the spool.

Agreed. Additional advantages are that the thinness of the Aurifil means more thread fits on the bobbin, which means fewer bobbin changes. Also, Aurifil is so much smoother it creates less lint, which means fewer cleanings of the bobbin area.

Also agreed! I was surprised when I did the math, and now I don't think of Aurifil as being particularly expensive.

And it also made me realize just how cheap Connecting Threads thread is! (Price wise, not quality wise - they are my go-to for quilting thread.)

I will always use Mettler silk finished because that is what the dealer told me back in the 90s. You have to realize the truth, polyester did cut thru quilts in the 60s. I saw it happened. But the quality of mono-filament has improved over the decades so it doesn't feel like fishing line in a quilt anymore. So I can only assume that polyester thread has been improved too. I want my quilts to last for generations and be on the Antique Roadshow in 2252. :)

That's what my dealer told me too, and I did it for something like 15 years. Until I tried Aurifil 50wt 2-ply. Will ***never*** go back to Mettler for piecing!!!

I used bobbin thread years ago when I had an applique business. It was cheaper than the top thread we were using to match the applique and since we were doing lots and lots of applique it made sense to save where we could. I probably still have a couple of spools tucked away somewhere. Now I use Aurifil both top and bottom when piecing and if I'm going to need a particular color because it will show I look in my stash first and use that up. For the most part it's Guetermann but I also have some C&C Dual Duty because the store that is closest to me sells that and not the other. I do love Aurifil but beyond that I don't care as I don't think it makes much of a difference.

'Bobbin' thread is a finer cotton thread used mainly for machine embroidery, to help keep the bulk of thread on the back of the embroidery to a minimum. One can also use the same rayon or polyester thread as on the top in the bobbin.

I think they count on people being math challenged and not being able to figure out how much that "cheap" thread really costs.

Most major brands produce bobbin thread and mark the spool as such. I never buy it. I always use a 30 weight cotton to piece, and anything I like that matches what quilt design I want. I don't pay attention to weight, but I do wind the bobbin with the same thread I'm going to quilt with. I mostly use rayon or polyester, but there are many brands who produce cotton for machine piecing (it's not waxed like most hand quilting thread). Even then I use the same cotton thread in my bobbin as I quilt the top with. I do make sure the bobbin thread will match my backing color. I'm not sure where the "quilt with cotton" thread on cotton fabric got started--I heard it years ago when I first started quilting. Boy would my Holiday pieces look dull if I'd stuck to that rule! Worst of all, I've resorted to using any bobbin at hand that had the color I needed, I've even put the bobbin on the upper spool when necessary. Hope the quilt police don't knock on my door.

"The person" doesn't know what they are talking about. Just repeating misinformation that has been around for years. Use whatever thread you have. It is best if both thread is of similar weight.

The first 3 are listed as 50weight, so what ever 50wt you are using on the top will be fine for the bobbin.

I have always used the same thread in the bobbin that I have on the spool. I keep each bobbin (or bobbins) with its spool in a divided box made of see through plastic. The threads that I buy the most are either Coats and Clark, or Connecting Threads.

I have been using machine embroidery (poly) for my FMQ and love it, I get it from: http://www.metroemb.com/store/, they have fabulous prices and customer service.

I use what ever I am using on the top for my bobbin if I am piecing. I use bobbin thread on the bobbin if I am doing machine embroidery. I also use a thinner thread on my bobbin like bobbin thread if I am doing stippling on some of my crafts, like pot holders, table toppers and small quilts. Hope this answers your question.

I have used the same thread top and bottom in most of my quilts without issue.

The bobbin thread is most likely for use in machine embroidery. It does take a different weight when you are doing embroidery.

Some bobbin threads are made for machine embroidery.