I went to the quilt store today to get thread for a few projects. I'm making yard flags from ripstop nylon so I found nylon thread.

What do you prefer to use in your quilting? I use hand quilting thread and 100% mercerized cotton (60 wt I think)--I was a bit overwhelmed at the choices.

Most spools ran anywhere from 6.99 up to $10. Anyone have any good sites/tutorials on what to get?

I also was a bit miffed at what type of needle to get to sew nylon? I picked up a pack of universal needles and I'll go from there.

Happy Quilting to all
Julie

WOW, where did you go shopping!? I use the rip stop nylon to make sails for fishing sail lines and I just use my polyester embroidery thread, it's about 4.00 if I remember right but that's debateable. I bought a spool of heavy duty nylon for outdoor furniture but it's coated with a waxy substance so I couldn't use it. We'd like to see your flags.

Kathy, I just bought some thread from here: www.ConnectingThreads.com
Am very happy w/the thread, good prices too. Nancy

sewmuch - I second connecting threads! For 100% cotton machine quilting thread anyhow. That's where I buy pretty much all of my machine quilting thread. Even with shipping they cost less than at my local JoAnn's after coupon, and they have a lot more color choices and varigated threads. I'm also a huge advocate for their fabric!!! :)

I haven't ordered from Connecting Threads, YET. I've threatened to order from them several times and probably will when I buy more thread! :D

I buy thread from these folks:

http://www.redrockthreads.com

Judy

http://threadart.com/shop/

has some great thread. They send out sales newsletters every couple of months.

I am having such a tough time trying to figure out what my machine likes. It has to be my machine--not me LOL
If I try using cotton thread while I'm quilting (machine quilting with or without my frame) the thread will continuously snap and break. Every 6-8 inches...SNAP. How frustrating! If I use a poly blend thread, it doesn't happen. Adjusting the tension does not work.
I have heard that using poly thread eventually "eats/cuts" away at the cotton fabric ruining the quilt.
Oh well. I don't have the option. I've tried lots of things but until I figure it out, all my quilts are made with poly threads.
Bonnie
Cincinnati

Bonnie, try cotton covered poly thread. It gives you the durability of poly but is kind to cotton fabric. You should be able to get it at any department store in the sewing notions department and I think Joann's carries it as well. And it's not expensive.

I like the mercerized cotton, 50 wt, from Coats and Clark/Red Star. I use it for all my dressmaking (when I can colors to match) and quiltmaking.

I've tried all the different cotton threads and ones that are cotton/poly. They are okay to sew with, as I am sewing the quilt blocks together, but not while using my free motion foot and quilting. It seems the speed (which I have tried increasing and decreasing)or the back and forth motions is what is the issue. Utterly baffling. It really is a mystery.

Bonnie, are you using the same thread in the bobbin as on top? You probably already are. I wasn't, and it gave me trouble. Mine didn't snap, but would ball-up big time. Now, I have bobbins (many bobbins) that I keep with each spool...everytime I change colors or threads on top, I have one of the exact same stuff for the bottom. It's a little aggravating, but better than the fits the machine gives me if I don't do it. That's more than a little aggravating...fixing all that mess.

I wish there would be more on this sunjects of which thread...The one that still gives me problems, is the free motion ..... :cry:

I had alot of problems with my thread snapping during free motion, until the leader of our quilting group suggested using an embroidery needle (red) as it has a groove that the thread runs down and a larger eye, so the thread doesn't suffer from as much friction!! I have never had a problem since :D

I learned to that the needle you use has a lot to do with how the thread performs.

i refer to this page often when trying to figure out which needle i need:

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00185.asp

make sure to read all the additional pages the little links lead to. pretty useful stuff. :P

here's another page from my favorites. i don't buy here, but this is also a great reference for needles:

http://www.shiboridragon.com/Notions.htm

someone sent me a very generous gift last year - a box of really expensive threads. some were $9 per spool. i'll always be greatful, of course. it was such a wonderful thought. i always get a warm and fuzzy when i load it onto the machine. the thing is, the thread i bought from threadart.com for a fraction of the cost performs just as well. and ... believe it or not, one of my machines works best when i use the dirt-cheap store brand polyester from walmart. (which, naturally, i didn't figure out until i'd spent a small fortune on the fancier stuff. go figure. :lol: )

experiment with the different threads available. buy only one or two at a time until you find the one that works best for each purpose, then WRITE IT DOWN or you'll have to start the search all over again. (don't ask how i know that. :lol: )