Opinions on type of thread for long arm
 

I did a search and couldn't come up with an answer so I apologize if this has been discused prior.

I am new to quilting and have finally finished two tops. I'm asking around about sending them to someone that has a long arm. I really would like to take it to the quilt shop I have been going to because she is so helpful and has taken a lot of time helping me and answering all my newbie questions. When I mentioned this to a friend she told me not to take it there because she used polyester thread to quilt with. The tops are made of high quality quilting cotton fabric. I want to use poly for the batting because they will be washed often because we have animals and they will be laying on the quilts. My friend said that polyester thread would tear the fabric.

The shop has been in business for a long time and has been quilting for the public for a long time. The quilts displayed in the store are beautiful!! So my question is, is my friend's statement true about the poly thread tearing the fabric? I have worked hard on the two tops and don't want to have them tear up from being quilted. Please let me know what you think. I want to have them finished by Christmas. So I need to get them to someone soon.

Thanks!

I have a LA, I only quilt for myself, have been using a poly blends for over 6 years. have never had a problem with it. Talk to the LA'er. I'm sure she can explain what threads she uses and why.

http://www.superiorthreads.com/video...ster-part-one/

This may have been true for older poly threads, but thread like batting and other things related to quilting has improved immensely in recent years.

Many modern polys are weaker than cottons, per the video. There's also a part 2 on their site.

I use everything and anything on my LA. Poly is definitely the easier one to quilt with but not the only choice. A confident quilter should be able to use any thread you really want but don't be afraid of poly.

I love using cotton thread on cotton fabric... My friend think it is more about what your machine likes, as her machine does poly thread beautifully and doesn't love cotton like my machine does. Each to their own!

You don't have to be afraid of the modern poly threads tearing your quilt.

First of all, I want to commend you for supporting your local shop!
You can also ask if poly is the only thread they use. Often a quilter will have their favorite go-to thread, but will use others if requested by the customer. Probably will be a small up charge. I use all kinds of different threads in my machine depending on the look I'm after.

A lot of LAs and machine quilters like Glide thread from FilTec. I use it for machine quilting and never have a problem with breakage or fraying. King Tut by Superior is another that I like. Aurifil, YLI, Isacord, Connecting Threads Essential Pro work great for me too. Buy a spool of every brand and find the one that you and your machine like the best.

Your friend is perpetuating an old quilting myth. Today's soft poly threads will NOT tear your cotton fabric over time.

Choice of thread should be entirely based on the look you are going for. If you like poly, use it. If you like the look of cotton use that. I do know some LAQ hate using cotton threads because of all the lint in produces in the bobbin case. Lint can get caught up in the bobbin case spring and cause the tension to go bad. A nice high quality cotton will not cause as much of a problem as some lower ends.

Anyway, by all means go to your LQS for long arming if you like the look of what she does and maybe take this opportunity to help educate your misinformed friend. Here is a text version of Superior's Q&A regarding the subject if you don't or can't access the You Tube. http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...ar-the-fabric/

I'm a longarmer and I use predominately Permacore and Glide threads both of which are poly. On my machine, I have quite a bit more breakage of the thread when I use cotton. I believe this is due to how fast the machine stitches. I believe your friend has heard an "old wive's tale" which is not true today.

Modern polyester threads don't have the problem your friend describes. It was true in the "old days" when polyester threads were manufactured differently; it just isn't true anymore.

Glide only now,works the best for me

I thought I'd also mention that I was attending a LAQ class last year and I heard a lady say that she volunteered at the Museum in her home city. The museum was actually recommending poly for the surface design on quilts. Why? Apparently a lot of the surface design is being lost on all of these beautiful quilts due to cotton thread rotting.

Now, I don't know exactly how true that is, since I would think that if the thread is rotting then the rest of the quilt (being in the same conditions) is rotting too and they wouldn't be differentiating between thread and fabric, but it IS food for thought.

It's also worth mentioning that I haven't run into a single machine yet, domestic or LA, that wouldn't run any thread I told it to. Most people just need to sit down and figure out the tension tweaks required and they can run almost anything.

A few professional quilters have asked for tension lessons from me when I explained how their vintage machines worked. I had to tell them that it was no different. If you jam a fat/coarse/temperamental thread through a skinny hole or a tight tensioner, it will have trouble. If you try to run a thin/slippery thread through a canyon, you'll also have trouble. Thread - like the rest of us - likes boundaries and guidance but also freedom to move whether we admit it or not. ;)

My mid-arm hates the poly threads. It runs beautifully on King Tut. Could be an issue on what her machine works well on. And I don't see a problem either way.

I agree with you. I'd never use polyester thread to quilt a top made of 100 percent cotton. Poly thread is stronger than cotton and over time can cut into the threads of your patchwork. Harriet Hargrave explains this in her books and summarizes the point by saying that it's much easier to repair a broken seam than it is to fix a hole in your fabric.

That said, if you don't expect the quilt to last that long, poly is probably okay.

Are you sure it's Harriet Hargrave? Because she's the one who introduced quilters to nylon monofilament thread for quilting, and nylon monofilament is stronger than present-day polyester threads.

Thank you everyone for your responses to my question. I will definitely be taking both tops to my local quilt shop to be LA. Tomorrow they are having a customer appreciation sale where a lot of fabric is $4.99/yard!!! So I get to stock up for more future projects!! You guys are great. I have learned so much by being on this forum.