I have been quilting about 30yrs, and am self-taught. Buy a book-follow the instructions-learn a new technique. I, over the years have collected books by many differnet quilters. Why, I ask, do these authers set you up for failure? I am attempting to applique and have 3 books. All these books recommend using 30/2 wt. cotton thread here is no such animal. I have searched the web no-way. I have a Bernina machine have been told that cheap thread will ruin my machine so I am trying to do the right thing, by buying good thread if I could find it. My $120.00 iron just quit after 18mnths of basically no work. What Am I doing wrong?

I don't see how thread (other than coated ones) would ruin your machine? It may cause you to have to clean it more often if it is linty though :D:D:D

I have bought Coats and Clark all cotton, 30 wt thread. I wonder if this would work for you? I think it may have been labeled as machine quilting thread? Or upholstery maybe?

Doing nothing wrong. You have listened to the quilt police who tries to tell you the "right" way to do stuff. There are many ways to skin a cat. Do what pleases you. Buy an iron you can afford to replace in 18 mos. I sew on old Singers, I have an old Bernina and I feed them the thread I have available....they are so far not picky. I try to enjoy the craft not stress and spend to make someone else happy. Make yourself happy, with recycled fabric, Walmart fabric, online fabric or the most expensive stuff you can get your hands on at the LQS. If you are making quilts worthy of the quilt show the "right" stuff might be mandatory, otherwise, nah....Coats and Clark worked for our grandmothers.

A 30wt thread is a very heavy thread. That seems odd to me to use such a heavy thread for applique unless you are doing a blanket stitch around fusible and really want it to stand out. I am by no means an applique expert but it just strikes me as odd to be using such a heavy weight thread.

I feel the same way ,do what u can afford to work with and what makes u happpy, forget the quilt ploice. Our grandmothers and great grandmothers used what they had and look at the beautifull stuff they have made and its still around. Dont stress out. Have fun. I use a $6. iron for walmart. Works great and is light weight. I'm happy cuase if it dies than I dont have much money in it.

It does seem like a very heavy weight thread. Any chance that it should be 50/2 instead of 30/2? I did successfully use 40/2 with my Bernina for applique a few weeks ago.

Cheers, K

i have learned more from the people here than any book. and i have lots of books, from when i was just new to quilting...

i don't believe in the quilt police..since i don't make quilts for show or ribbons. only because it doesn't interest me..(i do love going to quilt shows to look though!)

i think the pricey irons aren't worth the money..i get the cheap one from black and decker or some other unknown name..they usually last me 3 or 4 years..at $20 or less. depend on how i take care of them. :roll:

regarding thread..i am not a good t aapplique..but i just use gutterman from joanns.

When I had a shop (11 years ago) I used to sell a 30/2 100% cotton thread made by DMC, it was called Retors D'Alsace and came in a big range of colours. Of course, by now it might be long gone

I don't think you're doing anything wrong either. I also believe some of the manufactures use "the wrong thread" as a cop-out. My impression is the cheaper threads create a lot of lint and if you don't get that out of a machine -- clean the bobbin area regularly, then you WILL ruin the machine! I have a Janome that has sewn countless miles in the last 5 yrs -- NO problem with it. I have had a Pfaff Grandquilter (longarm) and a HandiQuilter avante now ---and both of them will sew with just about anything. The Avante doesn't like the most EXPENSIVE thread I've purchased -- the Superior Lava. But it works great on the cheap Coats and Clark thread. I DO clean the bobbin every time I change it. Also -- doing the regular oiling your machine requires is important.

As for the thread for appliquing --- I just use regular sewing thread -- Coats and Clark!!!

As for irons -- I've had pricey one that died in a years time -- took my cloth with it!!! I bought a $35.00 one from a mercantile and it's still ironing good but it's heavy. I bought a $9.99 (got it on sale for $7.99) small lightweight iron from Walmart and WOW it's the BEST iron I've had yet!!! I am trying to remember to pick up 2 or 3 just in cast for the future!!!

They recommend a 50/2wt for the bobbin and the 30/2 ofr the outline.

is the outline supposed to be done in satin stitch? or in some other decorative manner?

if that's the case, 30 wt thread might make a stunning impact (if you can find it.) you would need to use at least a size 16 needle.

i agree with those who advise you to not worry. if you can't find 30wt thread, just use what you can find. 40wt should be a bit easier to track down. 50wt is very easy to find. just remember to use the correct needle size and it should be just fine. :-)

Use what you like and what you can afford. That's the only rule I go buy when it comes to quilting products. If it's on sale I have it. I read many experts saying do not use nylon thread, it's too stretchy, too thin, too this or that. I found a big cone at 75% off. Guess what? I'm still using it after several years and it makes great bobbin thread. It doesn't melt when pressing, I steamed and used a linen setting on my iron on a wad of the thread and nothing happened. Don't use glazed or waxed thread in your machine, the residue will mess up the tension discs.

I would make a practice block with a simple applique, and 'audition' all the threads I have stitching an inch or so with each type. Then just pick the one YOU like best. It's your quilt!

The cotton coats & clark I use for piecing - and pretty much whatever else it matches is 30wt. I do have a few threads that are marked 50wt -- and even more that aren't even marked with the wt -- if you really look you can see the difference between the 30 and 50 when they are spread out right next to eachother -- but overall in a project I doubt you would see the difference.

How old are the books that you are referring to? Things and techniques are changed somewhat over the last 30 years, but like so many have said, use what works for you. There are so many great threads out there that were not available even five years ago. Try them all.

I try to remember just what our previous generations sewed with and thank my stars that I have some improvements. But just look at what they turned out with basic equipment.

My iron was researched and I love it. An approx. $30 Black and Decker. My sewing machine right now is a 50 year old Featherweight. (Getting a Bernina 440 in a week or so).

There are so many techniques out there. Elly S. has a book with 12 ways to applique. She says learn all you can and pick what works for you. This one lesson helped me the most. Not everything will work for you but it is a lesson and you remember it for the next project. I have taken probably a hundred classes and have a bookshelf of books and still do it "my way". But every so often, a gem of an idea or technique will appear.

I am very suspicious (normally this way) of anyone who says their way is the very best or the ONLY way to do something. If they are selling something, I run the other direction. If they are teaching something, I carefully inspect their finished product and if I think worthy of the process they created, may try it. But now it takes a lot of work to get me to buy something NEW.

I haven't seen 30 wt but Aurafil makes a 28 wt. I considered buying a few spools as I thought it would be nice for thread work quilting where I really wanted to see the stitching. Bought something else instead (a larger pack of their 50 wt which I KNEW I would use).

I like sulkys 30wt cotton, goes through my machine very nice

I agree with many of the respondents, cheap irons do the job for years. Most important to me, in an iron, is the automatic shut off feature. It comes in handy when I or my mind wander.

I bought my Bernina last year and was told nothing or read nothing about any special wt of thread. I spent $2,900 on the machine so I am sure, some where, even in small print, it would have said something. I think maybe they were trying to build the ticket and get you to purchase the thread they sell.

The big thing for me is the lint that less expensive thread creates. I dont mind it in my Featherweight since I can access and clean it so easily. Finally figured out that lint was the problem when it started skipping stitches. Clean out and all ok. I still use this thread since it is around $2.75 for 1200m. But with an expensive computer machine, I will be upgrading my thread. Not sure to what yet but it will be one that creates less lint.

I need to have a balance between cost and quality. I will not pay any amount for perceived perfection. Value needs to be there.

Think about the quilts now in museums that were made with leftovers and worn out clothing and then put your mind at rest. If it suits you and the way you like to do things as well as your style, if your machine and you have a good working relationship and look out for each other; all is well. And, don't look back!!

When I look at the quilts that my grandmother made 70 years ago...I'm sure she didn't have "special thread" or fabric...she used what she had available (feed sacks!) Those quilts have stood up...yes a few bare sots here and there...The best "rule" of quilting...there is no rule!

I heard a lecture at my quilt guild and she explained the difference between long staple and short staple cotton and everything she said made total sense. Coats and Clark is a short staple cotton, therefore makes a lot of fuzzies in your machine.

I have a Bernina Virtuosa and it will not work on cheap thread. I can't use any Coats and Clark thread. I use Connecting Threads thread and it works but I find I have to clean the lint out more than the more expensive thread. I am going to buy some YSI thread today and see how that works. These Berninas are expensive machines and require better thread and require cleaning every 5 bobbins. Mine hums when it sews so it's worth it.

Experiment with what you have by doing some test blocks and then decide your next step. There will always be a new gizmo and the latest, greatest technique to try - keeps the 'quilt/fabric economy' going. It's your project so you decide. If you need help in deciphering instructions or maybe doing a technique ask at a LQS or local Guild members - I'm sure they will help.

I agree about the expensive irons not giving the service that we would like - I saved to buy the 'latest & greatest' and it only lasted 9 months. Oh well, using a much cheaper model now that works fine! :)

Good Luck with your projects :)

I wholeheartedly agree with this. It seems to me that quilters today (and, yes, I've been doing this for a very long time) have let themselves be bullied into believing that there's one "right" way to do everything. That's how the whole "never quilt with polyester thread" thing got started. Books are helpful, but if you disagree with something, that's okay. Do it your way. It's YOUR quilt after all.

I have always used Gutterman thread and liked it very much. I recently switched to CT cotton thread because of the price. Yes, it's more linty but the price on sale can't be beat. I just have to clean my machine more often--not a big deal to me. You should use what you have not what some book says. If it works and you like it, go for it.

Another note on this topic. I agree that our ancestors in quilting used what they had and were happy with it. But let's remember that they usually didn't use machines, but their hands. Cut everything with scissors. As technology grows and our machines get more electronically intricate, they require special pampering. Which means that thread that grandma used may not work in the machines that cost more than 1k.

I don't think you are doing anything wrong. I agree with many of the comments below - I have used Coats & Clarks for years and haven't had any problems. I once bought the thread 4 or 5/$1.00, but wound up throwing them out as they created far too much lint in my machine. I try to clean out the lint in my machine under the bobbin, the feed dogs, etc. and that helps, as when I'm having a problem sewing, it's usually because of lint buildup, either that or when I changed thread, I didn't thread it correctly, so I re-thread it and I'm usually fine. As far as fabric, buy what you can afford. I try to find sales or clearance, and when I do I buy a little extra, such as white or beige fabric that is good for background. I've never had a problem.

How long ago were those books printed? Threads nowadays don't have weight on them. I just checked a brand new spool of Coats and I guess that 457m would be comparable to 50 weight. These new snap up spools usually have a bit of loose thread, you can feel this to see if this is a good weight to use. If you're machine appliqueing use a color that matches your work. Hand applique, YLI 100# silk is great. YLI can be ordered on line.

O.K. I use plain ole Coats and Clark 30 weight thread, it is sold for machine quilting and crafts, it is all cotton and is ELS which means Egyptian Long Staple. It is a mercerized cotton and comes is 1200 yd spools for about $6.00, I buy it at JoAnns when they put the stuff on sale for 50 percent off so 3.00 for a spool, and I use my discount card for another 10 percent. I have never had a problem, no shredding, not a lot of lint, and I use it with a #11 or 12 needle, which I know is smaller than recommended for that needle size. The quilting shows up nicely and it is strong. I am wondering what the 2 represents after the 30. I always use the same weight in the bobbin as on the top. I have been sewing for over 60 years, and sometimes you just have to find what works for you and your machine. Mine is a Brother 1500. I do not use this thread in my embroidery machine, but use a much finer weight silk or rayon. I check the bobbin area for lint each time I change bobbins and it takes a long time to build up any lint. I listen to my machine and when it gets a little noisy, I change the needle, clean the bobbin area and the feed dogs, and oil the machine. At the end of that exercise she purrs like a ktten.:)

I know a lot of people who use silk thread as it's almost invisible when you applique with it.

I have a Bernina 160 Virtuoso and a Bernina 180 Artista. I can and do use any thread I want with them. If your machine will only play nicely with one type of thread, there is something wrong with your machine. Ever notice when a sales person tells you only one thing will work, it just happens to be what they are selling.

I use 30 wt. Mettler in my satin stitch and love the smooth coverage.

OMG I thought your avatar was a photograph! Wow Iam so impressed! Beautiful!!! :thumbup:

I just use my everyday thread and it comes out just fine.

To Dianne1 I just googled "30/2 weight cotton thread for applique" and they gave a link to "The Cotton Patch" and found exactly what you are looking for. Good Luck