I'm a hand quilter and I use YLI hand quilting thread and King Tut quilting thread. Most hand quilting thread is a 40wt/3ply and that is thicker than what I use for piecing ...... my piecing thread is a 50wt/2ply or sometimes a 60wt/3ply. The lower the wt. the thicker the thread.

I use Gutermann. I haven't used YLI, but if too thick is a concern...I used Gutermann all natural cotton 50/3 wt. to quilt my last project, it wasn't a bed quilt that may be washed a lot, but I liked the way my hand stitches looked with the thinner thread. JoAnn's has Gutermann and I buy it on sale or use a coupon...the thread has worked well for me and the ridge along the spool ends is great for securing your thread between cuts.

I use primarily Gutermann but also Coats & Clark as well as JoAnn Fabrics brand - Americana. The Americana is very thick/heavy and since I normally use Roxanne #11 needles it's sometimes difficult to get that thread through those eyes. These are the brands that are local to me so it's what I use. Color is frequently important to me and as such, I have a hard time with online ordering as I'm never sure if I'm going to get the color I think I am.

I use YLI glazed cotton - because it is glazed and doesn't knot up when i'm hand quilting. I have used the Gutterman glazed cotton thread and it's ok, but YLI is cheaper.

I'm currently using King Tut on a quilt and can't wait to finish. I don't like it - but it's not a glazed cotton and i feel like i spend my time fighting the thread knotting up. Yes, I take my time to run my thread thru thread conditioner or beeswax to help w/ the knotting, but that takes time...I want to quilt!! LOL!!!

Cutting shorter threads does seem to help. Next time I finish a quilt for someone, I'll just tell them I'll supply the thread.

I have always used C&C. I am from the Dinosaur age and that was all that was available back in those days. I haven't been doing much hand quilting so haven't had the opportunity to try new threads with no LQS nearby.

I use:
YLI Glazed
Mettler 40 wt cotton (I use wax with this)
Sulky cotton 30 wt.
Coats and Clark quilting thread
Sulky 12 wt. cotton
perle cotton #8
Even YLI Jeans Stitch polyester
and a metallic thread once (what a pain!)

I have NOT used silk for handquiting, only for applique.

Jan in VA

I use Coats and Clark for my machine piecing and quilting. I've gotten others because of some reviews but always go back to the C&C. Not terrible for me.

I use Mettler quilting thread on the brown spool.