What threads would you recommend to machine sew with? What are the differences in blends and what threads shouldn't be used? What is the difference between machine quilting thread and hand quilting thread? How does the thread choice affect the needle choices?

Whatever comes to mind I'm open to being educated. If there's some good, detailed links you can recommend, that's great too. But I'd also like your personal responses.

(After this I can begin to build my thread "stash"-- :wink: :lol: )

Thanks for all your input and happy quilting!!!!!

I always use cotton.. Some say the 100% Egyptian cotton is the best...

I just like the fact the cotton thread is strong and easy to work with..

most of my machines work fine with just about any kind of thread. one of them, however, has developed a bad case of "uppity" and won't produce a decent result anymore unless i use 100% cotton. thank goodness i discovered threadart.com. 40 wt 3-ply 100% cotton for about half what i pay for polycotton blends at wally world. less than half if i don't count shipping. :-)

I also buy mine from threadart.com.. I just got some more.. The prices are excellent.. I am doing quite a few quilts right now that has blue as the dominating color.. I was able to order a wide variety of the blues to make the quilts "pop" when they are done.. :lol:

I know this is a long time after the discussion, but if anyone is interested, I was in Wal Mart today and noticed they carry an Organic Cotton Thread. Don't know how long they have had it, I hadn't looked for a while, since they sold out the fabric dept.

Actually, Peggy, your post is timely for me.

Lately I've been wondering about the age of the thread. I've read in here that "old" thread is not good to use. My question is, how old is old? A year? Ten? Also, I THINK I've looked, but I don't recall seeing any other information on the thread other than "cotton" or blend. Where can I see what kind of cotton they use? Or is this a sign that I'm definately using inferior thread? :?

I'd be much obliged for any help!

I rarely machine quilt, unless I am learning a new technique. I usually use Coat's and Clark Dual Duty then. Don't know it is best, I just have it and it is usually on a wall hanging, or something that does not get hard wear. So, I am not an expert on what is best. I am afraid I can't help you there. I did not look at the organic, closely enough to see if it was Egytian cotton or not. I just noticed it, never had seen it before. It was over $6 a spool. Sorry I can't help. For what it is worth, I know some quilters who say they cannot use Coats and Clark in their machines, that may be as important as anything.

I too use Coats & Clark duel duty for piecing and the machine quilting version for my quilting of course. :lol: I notice though when I checked the %'s on both there wasn't much difference between the duel duty and the machine quilting as for how much is cotton & how much is polyester. :wink: I'm not sure if the difference is in how it wears/works in the machine when quilting. Perhaps the duel duty would break more with stress on quilting, I haven't tried it to see if that is the case. :?

I am afraid I am no help there. I know several ladies who quilt a lot, and they seem to use mostly Mettlers, don't know if it is better, or just works better in their machines, several of them have the more expensive Janome's. When I hand quilt, I decide whether to use one thread or another a lot by the effect I want. Maybe there is no right or wrong, if it works for you, maybe that is fine. I honestly don't know, but it sounds good.

Thank you all! Sharing your experiences sure helps the rest of us!