Connecting threads--Thread
 

I ordered several spools of the Essential 100% long staple cotton satin finish Size 50. It seams thick to me. Is the lower the # then thinner? Can I piece and quilt with this? I thing I need to study more about thread. HELP PLEASE!

It's pretty much all I use. I piece and machine quilt (sit down HQ) and have had no issues with it. I also hand piece (EPP) with it and have never had any problems. Just make sure your sewing needle matches to the 50wt. I don't know enough to tell you how they calculate the weight, but can definitely say 50wt is just fine!

I do like thinner/silk for hand applique though!

I have some CT too and their 50 wt seems thicker to me than the regular Gutermann cotton 50wt thread that I normally use. However, I have used the CT thread for both piecing and quilting and had no problems or issues with it, so think you will be just fine using it. And I think the higher the thread weight number the thinner the thread, the lower the number the thicker. Hopefully if I have this backwards someone will correct me. Threads can also be 2 ply or 3 ply and that can affect the thickness too and I think CT thread is 3 ply and that may be why it seems thicker.

I am no thread expert, but what Jeanne says is also what I have learned in my very limited thread education. We use CT exclusively for piecing and quilting and have always had excellent results.

Lower numbers mean a thicker, heavier thread. Higher numbers mean a finer thread.

Superior Threads has an excellent selection of very informative & educational articles and videos, if you'd like to learn more about thread.

http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/

I use CT thread for the vast majority of my quilts. If I am doing something special and want the flattest seams possible, I use Aurifil or Masterpiece. I donate most of my quilts and CT is very economical. I quilt exclusively with essential Pro.

I love CT thread, and its all I use. I recently bought some on clearance for $1.12 a spool. Wow what a deal!!

CT thread for piecing and quilting is all I use. Might be a little on the "linty" side, but can't beat the price.

If not mistaken, the higher the number the thinner the thread. You'd think it would be the other way around but I guess they like to keep us on our toes. You should be able to use it for both piecing and quilting. Heck I use whatever I have in the color I have it. I do stop myself when I find the thread is super old. My mother dumped me with a bunch of thread she had that was actually the 1st wife's thread from probably back in the 50's as some were on wood spools. Those I tossed but the rest of it I'm using for piecing just to get rid of it. If it snaps easy it gets tossed too. I have 10 large spools of medium gray thread to use up so I'm hoping for a darker fabric quilt to work on soon to use it up. Must have been for uniforms back whenever.

I use CT's essentials thread all the time for piecing. Never had any problems.