The "old" Coats & Clark Dual Duty Thread
 

I have used it on several quilts that are over twenty years old that have been washed multiple times.

The thread does not cut into the fabric - as some people have "supposed" it would.

I have no idea where that myth came from - but my experience with that thread is that is works fine.

At the time, I had no knowledge of the other "good/better" brands of thread available. I did know that there were some "cheaper" - lesser quality - brands around that were easily available.

I still use it. No issues. It’s been said that it turns out more expensive than other brands but sometimes I like a color and it is easy to come by. I also use several other brands.

I use coats and clark, along with a couple other brands. As long as it's the mercerized cotton, I have noticed no difference on my new machine. On my old one, the coats and clark was a little more linty, but not enough to complain about. If anything, taking a few seconds every time I change a bobbin to brush the dust and lint out of my machine while I have the plate off is a good habit to have.

I use it most of the time it works for me.

I think the old concern about it was the old saw about like threads with like materials, supposedly because it was cotton wrapped poly core it would be too stiff/brittle/hard for the cotton material but was best used with blends.

But I used basically nothing but Dual Duty for 30-40 years for sewing, quilting, top thread, bottom thread, etc. and it always worked just fine with no appreciable damage.

Now we have poly threads specifically for quilting with cotton. Just bought a cone of Sew Fine to use as a bobbin thread and no one says "oh no, not on cotton quilts!".

No store or shop carries Coats and Clark thread, not even Walmart here. So I don't use it. It use to be the only thread available anywhere. The newer machines that have internal threading need little or no lint thread. Open threading it really makes no difference as the air carries away much of the lint.

Any time I find the older coats dual duty thread, I grab it. It was good stuff.

I use Coats and Clark pretty much exclusively. Never have any problems.

I like the old C & C, but intensely dislike the new C & C. It's just too stiff.

When I started sewing a million years ago it's the only brand I remember. Then I started buying those skinny spools (forgot the name ) and now have several different brands but no longer use C & C. I don't even know where you can buy it.

I no longer use if for quilting since I mostly use Glide threads. However C&C Dual Duty is still a staple in my thread supplies.

C & C Dual Duty is what I prefer when hand sewing down binding--does shred like the all cotton and doesn't twist, etc like some poly thread.

I have quite a lot of Dual Duty, stored in the flat Valentine and Christmas chocolate cans (someone here is Very Helpful about scouting out the holiday cans, which arrive amazingly empty. :D ) I guess the polyester myth has kept me from using it for piecing - glad to hear that it works just fine.

hugs,
charlotte

This seems to be a good reason to buy the candy in these containers. Now what to do with the candy......

https://www.walmart.com/browse/arts-...iiBDbGFyawieie
I know this because I recently sought some out for sewing up jeans.
JoAnns carries it too. Just saying.

The Walmart here has a big selection of Guttermann thread and has Brother pre wound bobbins. Some $1 spools of poly in the craft dept. No Coats and Clark in the store.

I still use Coats and Clark and I love it.

Where can I find the cotton wrapped poly C&C thread? i have looked all over the internet. I assume this is the "old" C&C thread.

How interesting that you brought this up. I just took my sewing machine in for a service, and the lady at the shop checked the spool of thread I had on it (just all-purpose thread). Then she very seriously warned me never to use dual duty thread because it has a wax on it that builds up in the workings of the machine and affects how it works. I have never heard that before, and have never had a problem with dual duty thread. Has anyone else heard about this wax coating? Or is it another "myth"?

All of my machines are "older" - probably from the 1960s to about 1985. None of them are persnickety.

Don't know if it i a myth, but I have used Coats and Clarks in my Singers for at least 40 years and my Brother since buying it about 13 years ago and have never had a "build up". I do my own machine maintence.

that is a new one on me.

Coats had a hand quilting thread at 1 time that had a 'waxy' coating. It was stiffer but the idea is similar to using bees wax on your thread. I may still have 1 or 2 spools tucked in somewhere. :)

Dual Duty was made for one reason, to save the manufacturer money. Short staple cotton pieces are cheap but very weak so it was wrapped in poly. It sews fine in many machines. But it is very overpriced for what it is.

My friend had a pillow case which was falling apart so she asked me if I could fix it. After I examined it, I came to the conclusion that the pillow case was made with blend fabric which must have been sewn with cotton thread. The thread just wore out, but the fabric was fine. I re-sewed the pillow case and it was fine.

I believe you have that backwards; it's cotton-covered polyester on the older spools and 37/63 cotton/poly on the "newer" (as in 20 yrs ago) spools. It doesn't say on the newer ones which is outside, but it does feel like it's the cotton.

charlotte

That is about all I use and have never had a problem with the clothing or quilts I have made. My 401A was bought in 1958 and that is all I have used on it and she still sews like a dream. I use it on my Brother and no problem.

The hand quilting thread has a waxy coating. It should never be used on your machine. But I have never heard that about the regular dual duty thread.

We have the Coats & Clark at our Joanne Fabrics Store. Sometimes they have a half off sale.:)

Does Coats & Clark make the Star quilting thread? I used the Star to piece and quilt my first project because that's what Beverly's carried, but it was really linty. I had no idea how much thread I would need, so I bought way too many spools of a soft yellow. The quilt is still going strong. Curious as to what Star is like now.

hugs,
charlotte