I have been a quilter for over 6 years and up to now have always machine quilted all mine, mainly because I was on heavy meds for Asthma which made my hands shake something terrible. Then in the middle of last year I found that I was so de-stressed, mainly thro' quilting and a new home life that I didn't need the meds.

So now I would like to have a go at hand quilting, I have started on Big stitch quilting which is fine but the main reason I tried that out as using an ordinary cotton 40 weight thread, it looks so thin but it also gathers so easily.

What thread would you Ladies recommend?

Here are some wonderful links for handquiting that I found http://www.thriftyideastoday.com/201...dquilting.html

I use a Hand Quilting thread!!

I use Coats hand quilting thread, but I am sure any hand quilting thread would do.

absolutely LOVE the YLI hand quilting thread. It is a glazed cotton thread that goes thru the eye of the needle first time and doesn't fray!! It also doesn't knot up when quilting :)

I do find it difficult to buy locally, so i ordered some online and it was here in about 3 days.

Coats & Clarks was ok, til i tried the YLI. Hate a polyester quilting thread and C&C can be poly - so be aware

JoAnn's carries a thread by Americana that I use. It comes in all kinds of colors and is only .99 a spool. Its a nice weight.

Americana and Star is what I used, but my favorite is the YLI it is the best for me too. Everyone has there own opinion so try a variety and see which works best for you

I use Sulky 12 wt. I love it! It seems to be the closest to the thread my grandmother used.

What does YLI stand for??? Thanks:-)

Almost every thread company makes a handquilting thread but I prefer YLI as well. Handquilting thread have a different construction than those for machine. Id highly recommend buying or borrowing a copy of the book That Perfect Stitch by Roxanne McElroy. She discusses the manufacture of hand quilting tools/materials and ergonomic handquilting techniques.

Superior Threads has a hand quilting line called Treasures. Haven't tried it, but their other threads are great, so... In the past, I used C &C hand quilting thread and one by DMC, dunno if they still make that, but it's great.

YLI is the brand. Probably stands for something but I don't know what it is.

I don't know what it stands for either...It is the brand name. When I ordered it - i googled "purchase YLI thread" or something like that. I got it from Rushbrooke or something like that. Definitely will order from them agoin - I hope i can find her card :)

The shipping cost from this woman was minimal and appropriate...unlike where i get my checks - $16 for shipping AND handling :thumbdown:

The cost for 2 large spools (1200 yds each) was 7.95 for each spool and less than $3 for the shipping. A smaller spool I think is $4...

I use Coats & Clark 100% cotton hand quilting thread for the most part, but will buy whatever brand will match the color I'm looking for.

I did try YLI one time and it kept knotting on me. I would look on the backside of the quilt and there would be little knots under there, too. :( Hated that thread. Unfortunately, I had too much done to turn back when I finally got so frustrated with it. :(

Thank you for asking what YLI was for, I was wondering the same thing

This Sulky 12 wt. cotton is what I use sometimes for big stitch quilting.......along with crochet 10 wt. and perle cotton 8.

For regular 8-12-stitches-to-the-inch I use YLI, Mettler 40 wt. (I wax it), or other thread marked 'for hand quilting'.

Jan in VA

I really like the Americana Thread sold at Joann's Fabrics.
It's cheap and already glazed so you don't have to run it over beeswax.

I just wish I could buy it from their online store.
I have found it in the store only so far.

Chris

It's obviously me then as I have a Gutermann thread for hand quilting, I just find it so think and doesn't show very much.

Thank you for your replies :-)

It's obviously me then as I have a Gutermann thread for hand quilting, I just find it so think and doesn't show very much.

Thank you for your replies :-)

I did a Thimbleberry quilt and used pearl cotton, lighter weight I think #8. It shows up nicely and I used 1/4 inch stitches 1/4 inch from the seams. I have also found that Coats and Clark hand quilting thread does not knot up as easily as guetermann. Also you can wipe your thread with a dryer sheet and it will not knot as much.

Everyone has their favorite hand quilting thread.
However, I use the Americana from JoAnn's in my hq classes. there was a survey taken on another site 3-4 yrs ago and the Americana came up as #1. It is only .99 per spool.

Don't know which end of your cut thread you knot, but try knotting the opposite end. Haven't hand quilted for several years, but as I recall I knotted the end that came off the spool. It really does make a difference.

Glad you ask this question.

I'm new to hand quilting and my LQS sells the Gutermann so I'm using that on the quilt that I'm currently doing and the one before that I used machine quilting thread and ran it thru beeswax.

Nice to see all the other recommendation

I use Pearl Cotton when doing the big utility stitch. I do like the YLI for regular handquilting.

When you do this BIG STITCH quilting, just how big are your stitches? I wanted to do some baby blankets but am trying to decide whether to do stitch in the ditch with the machine or maybe run some of these stitches. Just curious.... THANKS for you help. Libby

Superior Thread is great. They also carry silkk which is heaven!

I hand-quilt but I don't use hand-quilting thread because I don't want it to be waxed/glazed. So far I've been using Cotty 30 weight, Sulky 30 weight (pretty much identical), Sulky 12 weight (bit thicker, and the end frays more) and am planning to try perle #8 for big stitch quilting (at which point my stitches will probably wobble about in size as I settle down with a new technique). I'm curious about the possibilities with the thicker threads as I'd rather like my stitches to show up more, but I don't want to make the technique harder for me. I use a big eye size 11 needle, though of course that'll be too small for the perle 8.

Is perle 12 the same thickness as 12 wt quilting thread, does anyone know?

I like Gutermann hand quilting thread.

If you have not hand quilted before, make sure you keep your threads separate. Never use hand quilting thread in your sewing machine!

So what stores carry the YLI thread? Also where on the spool is the weight listed?

I love YLI for hand quilting. and their other products for peicinga and longarming. great thread. it is waxed, so doesnt tangle bad and sews easily. comes in many colors.
also their headquarters in in SC. I got a tour of the plant a few years ago.

Oh I am SO jealous! I would love to go on a tour at a thread factory

I use Gutterman, Mettler and Tanne as my hand quilting threads. Just remember to not use hand quilting threads in the sewing machine as they will interfere with the tension discs.

If you find this address please PM me with the information.

I did this http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/43...425x425Q85.jpg using a Perle #8, I suppose the stitches were a bit over 1/4"

I also like the Coats & Clark 100% cotton hand quilting thread. I also use a Guterman thread when I can catch it on sale.

Thanks for the picture. This helps. Pretty block, too.

Usually Coats and Clark 100% cotton hand quilting thread. NEVER use a polyester or nylon thread on a cotton quilt! It will eventually "cut" the fabric. I hand quilt almost everything

Love that book and follow a lot of her advice. I use YLI, Gutermann and Silk thread for handquilting.

I don't think it stands for anything...just the brandname.

Always use cotton, king tut is the best, as seems thicker than norm.
glad to hear you are over asthma meds, ventolin used to affect me badly but have others instead.