For piecing I use whatever thread is on my machine at the moment.
For applique I only use Bottom Line usually in a pale colour; it disappears so it doesn't really matter what colour I use.
Bob is now selling silk thread which folks love for applique; am going to give it a try.
http://www.superiorthreads.com

That's the right attitude. Too many of us expect to be perfect when we're new to this addiction. I like your attitude. Happy Quilting

I have a drawer full of spools of thread accumulated over 60 years of sewing, I use odd colors for piecing printed fabric and matching thread where it shows, like top stitching. With white I do use white because a red seam would deter from the looks and might even fade when washed. Use up your near-empty spools on scrap sewing but test it first, if it tears too easy, it is rotten and won't hold up under use.

Carol J.

Morning. I read your comment on the thread but this is not what this is about. I looked at the side of your message and saw the star and was wondering if you have instructions as to how to make one of those. I made those years ago and can't remember how to do them. I think those are just beautiful. Do you have any instructions or tutorials for them.

Thank
fatcat

The pattern is from Fons & Porters "Quilters complete guide. It's a great book, I checked it pout from the library and then got a used copy on Amazon for about $8.00. It has become my quilt bible.LOL. There is a pattern on this site but its a little different from mine. I used 4" squares throughout, they use different size squares. bronzewombat.blogspot.com/2008/12/folded-star-or-somerset-patchwork.htm

Don't match, use a white or off white thread when piecing

hahahaaaaa.. me too!!!! Ill use of the last of the thread on the bobbins I have left over.. I do try to keep neutral colors close but sometimes like this weekend Ill be to lazy to get up or on a roll sewing that the closest thread isn't the best choice.. Right now I have lime green for top and bottom!!! - and usually top and Bottom end up being different colors- so this was a nice surprise.. !!

Cute kids Sherri. I have 2 grandkids Ben will be 5 and Isabella will be 7. Such cute ages.

When I am piecing a quilt I use an off white thread. When I quilt I use a white quilting thread. (I want to see my quilting) I don't use black or navy colors usually. I love calico fabric. I love the small designs and the fact it is 100% cotton. If I was rich I would have calico everywhere and would never use any thing with it except 100% cotton. However when I applique I always use the closest color or thread that matches the fabric. You can't see many of my stitches when I applique. The best thing to do if you love quilting DO IT YOUR WAY. I have seen some quilts that were really awful quilting but you didn't see that as much as you did the perfectly matched seams and wonderful points. There is no such thing as a bad quilt. Someone gave me a ragged quilt that had been used in moving and abused (I wanted to cry) I restored it best as I could, quilts have hearts you know.

Guess we are kindred spirits, I use what ever is in the machine for piecing. Well maybe not my King Tut...but most colors. Now quilting is another matter, sometimes I want the contrast of a different color.

When I first thought about quilting, I was told that you had to match thread and material....So the first quilt I worked on I was changing thread every 5 minutes....Then I didn't do any quilting for a few years and was told that just to go netural...black, grey, off white etc....depending on the fabric...So it's a choice just as pre wash or not!!! Not a rule!!

I used natural, neutral when piecing. And on quilting, but I am a newbie also, so that will probably change as I go along or as I get tips from our elders on the Quilting Board. I've only made three quilts and matched to one since it was mostly the same color.

If you are a very good quilter, you may want your quilting to show and then you would probably use a contrasting thread. Personally, I'm not that good.

We were talking about piecing, not quilting, I think. For quilting, anything goes for me.

For the person who asked for people who match threads, if they're piecing pink and red what would I use... If I had lighter pink thread I'd use that. Otherwise, I wouldn't make a run to the store for it:> I'd go with a lighter thread like beige.

I've bought several doorbuster packages from Aurifil and I have almost every color of the rainbow in my stash.

I pretty much use neutrals. However the project I'm working on now I want the quilting thread to show because it is part of the overall pattern.

Remember that old saying about there is no such thing as a dumb question? That is true! It is when we don't ask questions that we mess up, at least that is what happens to me.

I don't match thread for pieceing, only for top stitching.

i use white unless it is a very dark color

I use white or neutral

I'm one of those insane people who always matches thread color, whether it's piecing, applique, quilting, whatever. It's a fun thing for me - buying yet more thread is a cheap retail fix. Oh, does it make a difference that I hand-piece? I'm sure if I machine-pieced, I would stick to just one thread.

I match to the lighter thread. That way, if I don't like it, I can color it with my Pigma pens. :lol:

I hardly ever match thread to fabric - I use neutral on almost everything. I might "match" it on bindings when I do them by machine, or I might not. Depends on my mood.
And The only dumb question is the one not asked.

Ditto :thumbup:

I use a cream or gray as they blend in well.

The thread is only in the seams if you do what is called 'stitch in the ditch'. If you do free motion quilting or hand quilting or sashiko quilting, the stitches appear all over the quilt in a decorative pattern. If you are talking about the piecing, when different colours are used against each other, you need to have a thread that blends in with both colours. It depends on the colours that I am using as to what I select. I use grey, maroon, brown mostly.

In garment consturction it is important to match the thread. If there is stress on the seams the color of the thread will show, and of course in hemming and topstitching it also shows.
From what I see in the responses, folks don't match thread when they piece. But for quilting, having matching thread can hide your stitches a bit better, and also change the character of the finished quilt.

I don't match my threads when piecing. I just pick a thread that is somewhat neutral and go for it. I do try to be careful when quilting as that thread will show. That was a good question and one that needed to be asked. Just use a neutral thread and go for it.

I belong to the neutral bunch. I usually use gray or a neutral cream color to piece with. Occasionally, if I am making just a two color quilt, I will try to match the thread, but that is seldom. Just do your own thing.

I only match when I applique. I use light grey for most piecing and dark grey or black if black.

Golly Ghee, I have been one to match colors when sewing, I suppose it is a carry over from sewing garments! What a welcome relief to know it really doesn't matter that much! Now appliqueing it does matter...

funny question..i usually use light colors and the bobbins i use up all the different (lights) ones that have a little bit on thread on them..i do alterations and always have tons of bobbins with threads i might have only needed a little of...THEN i have all empty bobbins !!

the only time i match thread is when i am doing the quilting

Personally I try to use thread that somewhat matches, but mostly I try to use up what I have.

I always match my thread to my fabric. It comes from having a home economics teacher who was a stickler about that. Old habits are hard to break!

I'm one of those matching from sewing days. But, I now try to use light with light colors and dark with others. Applique I match same with embroidery. On my first FM some of my threads bled through. Dh says its fine. Should I put another backing on it?

For piecing I just use a neutral thread, If it is going to show I try to match it.

Cookie

I use a neutral for piecing and matching thread or a variegated thread when quilting.

Just ran out of the light pink and put on a spool of light blue to finish piecing the current quilt I'm working on. It won't show, and I'm using thread from my stash of threads.

I use white for piecing and for the binding, I will try to use a matching fabric if I top stitch in any way....

Any question here is never dumb. :wink:

A professor once said to me, "Ask a stupid question, be stupid for a minute. Don't ask a stupid question, be stupid forever." I have always remembered that and have never been afraid to ask a question since.

I match when quilting the finished product.