Lesson learned
 

I had no idea it took so much thread to do fmq. For practice, I bought a John Deere child's panel and matching flannel backing. I straight stitched around each picture and did a meander to fill in each panel, then did a free flowing design in the borders. I just had to go buy my THIRD spool of thread. I'm using the Gutterman polyester 100m-110 yds. That's almost $6 just for thread. I didn't buy a large spool to begin with because it's lime green and I didn't think I would use it for anything else.
Well, I learned my lesson and am getting pretty good at fmq so it's worth it. I was just surprised.

Glad to hear your getting good at FMQ ;-) I hate running out of stuff so I tend to buy the large sizes then I have wayyy more than I need.

Suzy

Time to start looking for thread sales.

I'm still learning and I too have been amazed at how much thread it takes. It is encouraging to know that you really do get better with practice. I'm certainly not good but it is getting better:)

I have tons of threads and usually have more than enough. I almost always do FMQ on all my quilts. I did once get very low on white - white of all colors. You can bet I'm stocked up now.

i always figure i need at least 1000 yards of thread to quilt a quilt- i try to purchase cones with 2500 yards (or somewhere around there) i could probably use up a 100 yard spool of thread on a pot holder.
it is amazing how much thread it takes sometimes. connecting threads has good sales and their 500 yard spools are in a huge selection of colors- for $2. something a spool.

Now I buy large spools, even if I think I won't use the color a lot. Nice thing is, then I have the color when I do need it again.

I'm making a purple quilt for my daughter (her color definitely not mine). I bought a 1000 yard spool of variegated purple thread and started quilting the border--I know, I know you should really start in the middle but it was spray basted really well, anyway I got most of the way around the border and ran out of thread. Had to remember where I got the thread, ordered 2 more spools to make sure I had enough and guess what? The middle of the quilt had a lot of white in it and this particular variegated thread looked awful! So now I'm going to use invisible thread for the middle but I'm stuck with 2 spools of purple variegated thread that I'll probably never use :rolleyes:

ThreadArt.com is a great place to buy varigated thread. I just received 26 spools of asst color varigated (1000 m) for $30. I also bought glue back stones for $5 for 144. The same thing at Hobby Lobby was $5 for 36. I am not affiliated with them, just a happy customer.

One year I got to go to Houston and Sharon Shomburg, (I'm sure I just misspelled that) had a quilt that she had free motioned and if I remember correctly it had 30,000 yard of thread. Can you imagine??

I sure don't doubt that. Her quilting is very work intensive.

Sounds like you'd do better, getting neutral colored cones. I always use way more thread, than I expect . . . and I'm sure it has nothing to do with all the ripping out, I do! :D

Thanks, Gaga. I intend to someday attempt FMQ (I'm really anxious about it!) and didn't realize it would take that much more thread. But I guess if you think about it, it makes sense.

I don't like heavily quilted quilts. They are too much like a mattress pad. I like open quilting with larger motifs so they stay soft and more pliable.

Oh wow! I guess that's one huge difference between machine and hand quilting. I don't think I've ever used more than 600 yds. on a quilt. More often about 400 yds. Do those numbers include bobbin thread? (Of course hand quilting doesn't need bobbin thread.) I'm surprised how much more thread it takes.

I use poly machine embroidery thread a lot in free motion quilting. There is a lot more thread on those spools and they have loads of wild colors. Marathon threads comes to town a couple of times a year and they have fantastic deals on thread. You can also go online.

Try Long Creek Mills--Charlie Rector. www.longcreekmills.com They have any kind of thread you need. They wind the thread there at the mill. In addition, there are crafts galore, zippers, etc. Phone # 704-864-6651. Of course, it is only about 3 1/2 hours from me and I go once a year to get what I think I will need.

Jingle
 

Where in MO are you from?

Bernie,
I just love purple! I haven't found any purple variegated thread yet.
Sharon

I use metro thread
http://metroemb.com/store/index.php?route=common/home
it's 85 cents for a 1000 meter spool...goes through the machine great..and no lint to deal with!

I only buy large spools of thread as I go through so much. I buy when it is on sale 99% of the time. Check around you can get good deals.

Katherine Gurrier suggests using up the left over threads to quilt a scrappy quilt.using this method I would put one colour on the back.