Must have Thread colours to have on hand for Quilters
 

I probably am asking a silly question, but here goes.

I started my journey in Quilting a few months ago. As I really never did any sewing in nearly 70 years of life, I am in a long learning curve.

One things I wish to know is just what are the must have colours of thread to have on hand. Right now I have black, white, gray, stone, and silver.

I was wondering if I should get colours like red, blue, yellow, green, etc. I've seen some pictures of some quilters work rooms, and they have a myriad of colours. I don't plan on doing any fancy free motion quilting. I tried that today, and it was a disaster. I just don't have the skill with the machine to control both the speed of the machine, and motion needed with the hands. I also doubt I will be doing embroidery, or any other thing that requires me to control both of those actions

I am basically purchasing all my supplies from "Connecting Threads". I like their service. They have quite a few thread colour sets listed, but not sure they are something I should look into.

Hopefully someone can provide a basic list of colours that a person like myself should have on hand.

It's not the thread colors so much as the type of thread. There are so many now. I find CT threads fuzzy and has slubs in it. I haven't used any in a couple of years so maybe it has improved. I like Wonderfill, Aurifil, Masterpiece, and Guttermann for piecing. I have Signature thread but find it is linty but sews fine. Sulky and YLI are good threads. It doesn't matter what color you piece with unless you are sewing white or pale fabric then I wouldn't use bright or dark color thread. I use 60 wt thread for bobbins.

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I think the ones you already have are perfect - both dark and light neutrals. I do 90% of my piecing with Superior So Fine #403 Putty (a light taupe, that blends with almost everything.) You can really use any color for piecing, because it doesn't show. The only time I buy other colors is if I need a specific one for a project.

I also like Connecting Threads - I use polyester thread, and use their Essential PRO Poly, besides Superior So Fine.

I use Aurifil 50 weight in white or light grey for all of my piecing, no matter what color the fabric is. I use a lot of CT poly thread for my quilting and I only do grid quilting on my tops. For that I find that a silver, a green thread(Green Tea), khaki, or a light grey seem to be the best for blending with whatever color my top is.

FYI: Aurifil 50 wt. is 2ply cotton so it will be thinner then other cotton 50wt threads that are usually 3 ply. Masterpiece use to be 2 ply but changed to 3 ply a couple of years ago.

I think that the colors you mentioned are "must haves", but personally I like to match my thread to my background color. I do like the Connecting Threads Essentials thread, and they are a little linty, but no more than C&C. On a whim, I bought a cone of CT's essentials, because it was on sale, and found out that the cones seem to be less linty than the spools, even though they're supposed to be the same thread, just more of it, so I'll use up my spools and will replace them with the cones.

I use Aurifil 50 wt for piecing as well, and I keep everything in neutral colors, it makes my life easier. I hand bind quilts, I use Gutterman hand quilting thread matched to the color of the binding.

I use mostly Aurifil as well but I just bought some new brands like So Fine, Masterpiece, etc. I don't use a lot of colors. I mostly use whites, ecrus, grays, etc that blend with a lot. But I have other colors just in case I need them.

Blue is my favorite color, so I buy lots of blue in different shades. I'll use any color to piece because I don't use sheer fabric. Color only matters to me when quilting.
Now, if you fall in love with metallic threads, use metallic thread needles. The eye is more elongated. Also, I learned to use regular thread in the bottom, not metallic.

And, don't give up on free motion. practice ...

I pretty much always have a light to medium slate blue/grey and an off white to tan, one on top and one in bobbin loaded on my sewing machine and use them for almost all my piecing. I mostly scrap quilt and can rarely match thread more than a piece at a time, but slate and camel disappear most of the time.

This year actually I'm trying So Fine as a bobbin thread so it's all white on the bobbin.

I only buy "fancy" threads as needed for specific projects.

I lalso like sort of a light sage green - there is another greenish gray (like Easter Egg dyes at the end of the dying session) that blends with a lot of colors. Actually, I've learned that I can use almost any drabbed medium tone thread with most fabrics.

I have a large "stash" of thread - so I'm trying

I used to think my thread had to match very closely for sewing seams. As long as the thread does not show from the front, it does not matter.

I do get indecisive when I am hand sewing white - or a very light color - to black or a very dark color.

It's been a while - but I think I used a light color thread on the light side, and a dark color on the dark side.

I really agonize about what color thread to use when I am hand piecing a light and dark fabric together.

When I started my collection of quilting thread, my girlfriend said "get some gold". I really questioned that color, but I got some gold thread. I cannot believe how many times I have used the gold. It's just crazy. My first thought was that it would be great for Christmas quilts but I have really used that color a lot. I also have a fair amount of pinks and purples. Even though you didn't really ask for types of thread - I have the best luck with Glide 40 Wt embroidery thread for my longarm quilting. They really have quite the selection.

The colors you have on hand are perfect for piecing. I use CT’s “Natural” almost exclusively for piecing. I do have a collection of colors, but I use them for quilting, not piecing. Whether you machine or hand quilt, you may want colors besides these for quilting, but some people only quilt with white or off-white, so it’s just personal preference.

You didn’t ask about brands, but I use CT for everything. I have dabbled with other brands, mostly Superior, but I don’t find I get proportional value for the very large difference in price. Other users have different opinions; you will have to decide what works for you.

IceLeopard, Thanks so much for the tip. I looked for wording saying to report the post. I just can't stand these sickos that think they are being cute.

Everyone, Thanks so much for the replies. I've written down the manufacturers, brands and colours you mentioned. Looks like most have gone through a learning curve on what brand, product line, and colours work best for their own tastes. Guess that will be what happens with me also.

So piecing is basically done with 50 weight thread. What weight is suggested for machine quilting? I will be doing grid for seam quilting. Of course, I don't see that well, even with glasses, so my seam quilting, which I tried yesterday will not be perfect. Yesterday I missed here and there by about 1/16 inch.

As far as colors to have on hand I keep one other one not on your list. Mauve. I can use that with pinks, oranges and yellow and many other secondary colors depending on the fabrics. The type and weight of you threads as other have mentioned are more important.. I use Glide, you can get it from CT. It is made by Superior Threads and one of their brand collections. Very smooth and strong. Plus it is reasonably priced.

I think thread weight is a personal preference.
With regards to piecing, I only use Bottom Line, which is a 60 wt thread. I tend to make quilts with small pieces and find the finer thread gives me more accurate seams (less bulk in the seam).
Regarding quilting, if you want your quilting to stand out, use a heavier thread. If you want it to quietly sink into the background and let your piecing sing, use a finer thread (such as Bottom Line). A plus to using finer thread is you can get away with a thread color that doesn't match your quilt. I have a friend who swears by pale blue, she says it blends in on almost all quilts.

You mentioned sight issues. I have found ising a charcoal gray on black helps especially when hand sewing bindings. As many have said, colors don't have to match. I second their suggestions.

You've gotten very good advice. The only color you might like to add is beige. For piecing you need a color that will blend, rather than match. The point is that it doesn't show from the right side. I use Glide thread almost exclusively. My longarm loves it and I started to use it in my Janome, too. It's a strong polyester thread, very little lint (if any) and a beautiful array of colors. For piecing, stay away from rayon because it's not strong, although has a beautiful sheen, used more for embroidery.

Learning at 70 or otherwise is one of the most fun parts. It stretches your brain and makes you happy when you get good results. Be generous with yourself while you learn. If something isn't quite right, realize it's one more step out of the way to getting there. Let us know about your progress!

Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting. It takes a while to get the hang of it. Just keep sewing and it will come. No one makes perfect quilts.

I use coats and clark threads regular and machine quilting threads I mainly use off white in various shades. I do use some colors. I have some CT threads too. If my bobbin area gets linty, I just clean it.

The colors you have listed are most of the basics you'll want; although I would add gold/taupe shades for quilting, too! Enjoy your journey in the quilting world!

My machines aren’t fussy so I can use any thread I like for the most part. I did try Madeira cotton embroidery thread for free motion quilting but it wasn’t strong enough. Right now I am using aurifil for piecing

regarding free motion quilting most people have your experience on their first try. I did. But I didn’t stop, I kept going. I had a dinky mechanical machine from Costco but I learned to do free motion quilting on it.

if you decide to try again one day check out the free tutorials on Leahday.com.

I use Connecting Threads's thread almost exclusively. Personally, I don't find it overly fuzzy, or with a lot of slubs. I do have a simple, older machine (Singer 403A,) so maybe that's why I don't have any problems. Maybe it's too unsophisticated to, "know any better,"...LOL.

My number one, go to color is off-white/cream. I go through far more spools of that color than any other.

Have fun quilting!

~ C

Liking Quilting, Thanks for the welcome, and the suggestion on thread colours.

Stitchnripper, Oh I won't give up. I just need to figure out something I can practise on. I don't want to practise on my hard work blocks. Any suggestions on what I can use for a substitute to practise on?

I went to LeahDay.com to see what I could. Good website, with good information. I like that quilting frame, but don't know if you can use it tor piecing also. I guess you need a dedicated machine for piecing and then that frame and another machine for the free motion quilting. Maybe in a couple of years when I pay down some debt, and rid myself of a lot of accumulated stuff to free up some space, that might be something to get.

My 'must haves' are white, black and grey. Ecru comes in handy too, when you want to tone down the white look. I do have smaller spools of other colors, but mostly use the 12,000 yard cone of white American and Efird tex40. It works on most of what I quilt.

Just about any functional machine can be used for piecing. Even a dinky mechanical Brother. Or a vintage machine if one comes across one. You can’t use the frame for piecing.

you can use scrap pieces of fabric and batting to practice on. They don’t have to be quilt size. Leah day does some on very small squares. Some people use felt squares. You can even practice on paper with an old needle and no thread. There are many options.

Neutral colors are good to have white cream light gray black for piecing. For quilting it depends on the quilt I usually buy a specific color for quilts. A lot of colors are good to have if you applique a lot

I use Aurifil 50 wt. also and have just the basic colors as everyone has already mentioned-light and dark grey, beige and white. Sometimes I have a very dark fabric or red fabric I work with and then I do purchase that color of thread.

For just piecing you’re quilt tops the basics are really all you need- since they shouldn’t show anyway. For piecing I most often use cream, natural or a gray.
I know people who quilt their tops with all white or all black- regardless of what the top design is- it’s all a personal choice. Don’t feel obligated to purchase a bunch of colors you may never use just because others have a vast array. If you make a quilt and want to quilt it wis
th a specific color buy it then. You really do not have to stock pile lots of thread.
i have a lot of thread because I longarm quilt for customers so, need to have whatever the customer might want.

You have a good collection already. I started with white, beige, black and grey which I piece with and started my quilting with; then for quilting I added the primary colors of red, blue, green, yellow . Then I branched out with the blended colors of purple, orange, etc. After 20 years of quilting I still keep on hand the neutrals along with a light, medium and dark of each of the primary colors. I have found that this works for me in matching my thread to my fabrics when quilting.

Thanks All, Looks like I have the correct colours for piecing. And from a few, it looks like when I decide on a colour scheme, I purchase the needed threads for the quilting part. I also noted that some of you use a different colour for the backing. All this seems fairly straight forward. I just need to plan what is needed on my next quilt.

I now see why some of the companies that sell kits suggest a particular backing, and also the thread colours.