Machine appliqué thread - what's the best?
 

What is the best thread for machine appliqué? Also what color seems to be the most invisible? I don't want to use the real invisible thread. I have been using a medium gray. It's ok but perhaps there are better colors and thinner thread.

Because you don't want real invisible thread another alternative would be Superior threads bottomline in a gray or tan neutral.

What stitch are you using? A matching thread disappears fairly well. Aurifil comes in lots of colors and is really thin. It comes on small spools so you don't have to spend a fortune to get enough matching colors.

I use Aurifil in matching colors (small spools) for all of my machine appliqué. I was looking at an appliquéd quilt on my design wall. From across the room, you do not see the stitches. Actually, I wish you could see the stitches. I am so proud of how well I did the appliqué on this quilt. I am finally learning how to do machine appliqué!

I am doing a machine applique and planning on using silk thread it almost disappears on the fabric but is really strong

I'm not very experienced, but have used the Aurifil and it sewed beautifully...

for machine applique I generally use either silk thread or aurifil- in the colors that match the applique's- or a good neutral- smoke, dark gray or brown on darker fabrics- light gray, cream or light green on lighter fabrics- depending on the colors- but generally I do match the colors as closely as I can- light browns work well on reds, browns, (warm colors) grays work well on blues, blacks (cool colors)

I use Aurifil, its thin and strong and I use a color close to what I'm appliqueing so that it'll blend in. Tan, natural and taupe are also colors that work great.

I have used many different brands on machine applique and they all worked pretty well....I always match the colors as best I can. It takes longer to switch the thread, but it looks the nicest....IMHO

I'm new to applique. Do you use the same thread in the bobbin or just whatever thread you happen to have nearby since it is not visible?

I always use bobbin thread in the bobbin for applique to reduce bulk, and the best thread on top is that which is closest in colour to the fabric.

I was wondering that too. Use the silk thread in the bobbin also? Do I need to adjust the tension to use silk thread?

I've done appliqué before and changed the thread to match but the project I'm working on now has toooooo many colors and small pieces to keep changing thread. I didn't want use black. I'm using a medium gray with just a small zigzag stitch but was lookin for ideas for more neutral thread for next time. I've been looking at Aurifil and Superior online but it's difficult to tell the exact colors. I need to find a shop nearby. Or I was thinking of coloring the thread with fabric coloring pencils when the appliqué is finished. That might be cute. Thanks for all the good responses posted.