i need to buy some more thread but hate having to buy it when its almost a dollar a spool... theres not much too it what on earth could make just plain old thread cost so much?? i just do not understand....does any one know were to buy really cheap thread??

If you're buying thread at "almost a dollar a spool," you've already found the place!

Of course, you don't say how large a spool. Try Connecting Threads; if you compare prices based on thread per foot, you might find that deal. Good luck!

update: I should have mentioned Atlantic Thread. They're good too!

$1 a spool is great!!! The only other place I found cheaper is Family Dollar or even better a garage sale.

wow, you buy thread for $1 a spool...i have not seen anything like that in years...guess i should be complaining about my $7.95 thread i considered a good deal.

i have found just like fabrics, not all threads are equal...and the last spool of 'cheap' thread bought at joannes was GARBAGE! it broke every couple inches...to me it is not a deal if i have to throw most of it away...i did not save anything. that 'stuff' was not even good for hand basting...i bought that about 9 years ago and have not even looked at 'cheap' thread since. i buy my thread from 'CONNECTING THREADS' have many of their thread sets and am very very happy with all of the threads and now they are carrying a wonderful new machine quilting thread! i don't skimp on quality thread, figure if i'm going to spend all that money on quality fabrics they should be sewn together with quality thread.

I agree if your getting thread for a dollar a spool. That is cheap. Are you speaking of small spools? I pay almost $3 fora spool of thread

I buy mine at rummage sales when I can. I will find big bags of it for a dollar. Of course a few spools will be junk, but I use it for mending or gve to my little niece to practice with.
Do you have a JOAnns? You could sign up for their sales flyers and use the 50 percent off coupons.

I don't use anything but Gutterman thread, and It's not cheap. I never have any problem with knots or thread breaking. I usually buy it with 50% off coupon or when JoAnn's has it on sale.
Sue

I LOVE Connecting thread's thread. And my machine really liks it too. I think that it is a good deal at 1200 yds for $2.49 and has a wide variety of colors to use for top stitching. Also it is nice quality cotton thread. I would be leary of $1 spool thread since it sounds too cheap quality. After all the work that you put into a quilt you want it to hold up!

I just have to try Connecting Threads thread...love their fabrics so much!

The quality of the fabric, we all know, is important in our quilts. The quality of the thread used to hold it together should be just as,if not more, important! After all it is going to hold that fabric together for many years or not if a lesser quality thread is used.

When my mother in law passed (she was an amazing seamstress, made everyone's wedding gowns) I got all of her sewing supplies including boxes of those massive factory spools of thread. I was in hog heaven!! BUT, when I started using them, I realized because of their age, they were all rotted and breaking with every little tug. It broke my heart to have to throw them away. :(
Never skimp on your thread :thumbup:

I buy my thread by the big cones at my favorite discount fabric store. They are a lot cheaper then going to Joanne's or Handcock fabrics. I save small spools and refill them from the bigger cones.

I am so interested in how you do this!

my machine doesn't like the cheap thread. I buy connecting threads and sometimes other brands if I need a certain color and don't have it. I am hoping connecting threads will have a sale soon, I'm getting low on white.

this made me remember the time at a HAncock store, 50% off notion sale. Lady checking out before me had a shopping basket FULL of thread, she had purchased two of every color they had. I could only wonder where she could store so much thread. And when buying thread at drugstores, food stores, dollar stores, sometime what appears cheap really isn't because there isn't as much thread on the spool. I'Ve been filling bobbins with serger thread lately and using them on top and botttom. I havent noticed any problems. I do need to pick-up a thread stand though! I'd like to know how you refill the small spools also. , but the bobbinsd work fine too.

I sew with the surger thread on the cones from Joanns they are regular price $1.99 I have had NO problems

i don't skimp on quality thread, figure if i'm going to spend all that money on quality fabrics they should be sewn together with quality thread.[/quote]

I agree with this as well. I put a lot of time and effort in to my quilts to have them fall apart because of poor quality thread.

I have purchased large spools of thread for piecing. I like to keep a few neutral colors and black and white.

I do not try and match colored thread for piecing, only for quilting :D:D:D

I bought one of the packages of tiny different color threads for $1 at a dollar store to use the spools for decoration. No way I'd use it to sew anything. It's the cheapest poly with slubs and thin spots. If you ever look at thread under a microscope you can see immediately what the differences are between the different brands of thread. A child's working microscope purchase will pay for itself just to look at thread and fabric count.

Have you tried picking, combing and spinning cotton into thread? There are machines to perform these tasks today. But it does take money and energy to run the machines. For what you get, $1 a spool is cheap.

I've always wondered if using serger thread would work.
Serger thread has always looked quite a bit thinner to me, so I wasn't sure about it.
However, it's usually a lot less expensive than "regular" thread.
I just might have to give that a try! :)

I do use a good amount of Serger thread for piecing and have never had any issues with the strenght , I have noticed a bit more lint . Not sure why as it is 100 percent poly. The cone serger thread at JoAnn's is made by Gutterman.

to clem55
Don't bother with the plastic cone thread stand from JoAnns for $7.95. Too light weight and won't stay put. Get a metal one from a good quilt shop. Serger thread is fine for a lot of sewing tasks. I use it for embroidery machine bobbins all the time. I have even forgotten the change bobbins and sewn slacks with it..they havent fallen apart yet .

I think spun poly thread is the linty poly but continuous filament poly thread is not. Peacebypiece is right, the plastic cone holder is not worth buying unless you glue it to the table. A heavy pottery jar is prettier anyway.

i use lots of serger thread too - i've never had a problem with it. i did have some expensive cotton thread that was old and breaking alot...i donated it to the local boy scout troop...they had all kinds of uses for that thread (and a whole tote of empty spools) so now when i get some that for my use is (garbage) i give it to them...what they do with it works fine...and no, i don't know what they do with it...but the scout master said he would take any and all i wanted to get rid of anytime :)i don;t actually throw hardly anything away...seems like every thing in my sewing room is useful to someone else when i no longer have a use for it... the senior center, the elementary school art department, the pre-school, scouts, 4-H'ers, and many many more are more than happy to receive any of our no-longer-useful items...and they put them to good use! even when i thought it was just garbage not good for anything...i was wrong, they are creative!

It is something I made myself and going to submit it to a manufactor and it shouldn't cost much for it when it hits the market.

I would like to know how as well!!!

I agree with this as well. I put a lot of time and effort in to my quilts to have them fall apart because of poor quality thread.[/quote]


I so agree Deb.....I use King Tut and do cringe at what I pay but love, love, love that thread.

Man $1.00 a spool is a bargain. I was using coats and clark cotton thread but my machine did not get along with it. I have changed to mettler and All is going well with it. I may pay more for a spool but 3 coats and clark cotton spools would cost the same as 1 mettler and the two would equal about the same on yardage. My LQS carries mettler and had decided that I needed to try different thread.

Heidi

$1.00 a spool - JoAnn's cheap thread is $2.79 a spool! Didn't buy any. Edie

Be Careful with cheap thread. In a project, the thread might unravel, dry out and break. Don't ask me how I know........

Don't use junk thread in your machine or you'll end up paying LOTS more in the end. Ask any sewing machine repairman.

It's on sale now. I bought some yesterday! :)

If you use good fabric and are putting your time into something, don't use cheap thread. It frays and the amount of lint it leaves in your machine isn't worth it. I use Gutterman and wait til it goes on sale for 50% off and stock up. I use alot of grays when I'm quilting as it will blend with most colors of fabric!

I second this message! Poor quality thread is the worst "bargain" you'll ever find! Think of all the work you put into a quilt. Even if you are using the least expensive fabric, the thread that holds it all together is very important. You'll want your quilts to last a while. They won't with cheap quality thread.
$1.00 a spool is not good quality thread! That is unless you've found a fantastic sale at some quilt store that's going out of business. 8-)

I would never sew with that really cheap thread. How it finishes a seam makes such a difference. HOWEVER, when using a serger cheap thread is okay as you have so many threads in a single seam. The cheap threads are actually for sergers. I am slowly replacing my thread, some of it not cheap but way too linty. I have started buying from Superior Threads. The price is worth it.
Diane/Wyoming

clem55

Joanns, does carry the metal cone stand, at least mine did. it is on the notions wall..bottom.

i use Guttermnans when it is 50% off,
and i also bought 1 cone of "Connecting Threads" new thread, on cones. to try.

the Pro : 3,300 yards
http://www.connectingthreads.com/thr...-Essential-Pro

and i bought the cotton cone,which i love: 5,000 yards
http://www.connectingthreads.com/thr...__L600905.html


i only buy neutral colors,greys,whites,creams.

Buy good thread not the $1.00 a spool thread. Connecting threads has wonderful thread & also Superior Threads have very good thread for sewing of all kinds.

I don't skimp on thread. I am very careful with my machines and the lint that can build up. Try a better brand of thread and see the difference.

Be careful with "cheap" thread. I ended up with a rather expensive repair on my machine due to the less expensive thread linting up so much and fouling up the tension on my sewing machine. This was right after I had it serviced, so it wasn't build up from lack of cleaning.