There are so many threads on the market - I'm curious what most of you use when free motion quilting? I've heard that silk is the best, however, it is rather expensive. I'm looking for cheaper alternatives that will give me a nice look without leaving a lot of lint in my machine :)

I use a cotton on top (yes it does give quite a bit of lint but I just clean it out every time I change the bobbin) usually Mettler or King Tut and Bottom Line in the bobbin. I love this combination for FMQ.

Mettler, top and bottom.

I recently tried a silk-coated thread by Mettler and my machine hated it. I had that hardest time with that stuff!!!
I prefer to use a cotton and am partial to variegated threads!
King Tut, YLI, Mettler (just not silk coated), Essential Threads from Connecting threads.

Try Superior Threads "So Fine" on top, and "Bottom Line" in the bobbin. Very little lint as both are poly's, but the So fine looks like cotton, quilts beautifully, and the Bottom Line is a 60wt and is very fine.

I use Bottom Line top and bobbin
http://www.superiorthreads.com

Thanks for the link! CJ mentioned these threads also. I'll check it out. Thanks again :lol:

Yikes I have never used silk! I usually use cotton or polyester. Have used a little rayon too.

I love quilting with silk thread but it's too pricey for most of my quilts which are utility quilts. Glide thread is getting rave reviews from LA quilters. I received a free sample spool of it and I like it better then silk! It comes in great colors and is made in the US! http://www.bobbincentral.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=216

To buy at member's price all you have to do is register. It's free.

5000m spool is $5.95 -$6.95

I'm currently free motion quilting a large quilt with thread from Connectingthreads.com. I recently started buying thier thread because it is cheaper than Metler, and I've had good luck piecing with it. After this quilt it will be back to Metler for me! This thread is frequently breaking on me and I don't have that problem with Metler!

I have problems with connecting threads thread breaking too. I can use it for piecing but quilting is too much trouble. Unfortunately I bought about 2 dozen spools of it. I started using Wonderfil Konfetti and love it but the LQS won't be getting any more until they pay their bill (whole 'nother rant about why they told me that) and it's not that easy to find. So I think I'm switching to Aurifil. I can get it from j hittle for a decent price.

For me its Mettler for FMQ- I love the 50 weight and it really looks great when washed up. I get the silk finish 100% cotton. When taking Textiles, I learned that cotton is not as sharp/tough as the man made fibers and then when my Quilting teacher said that if you used cotton fabric and man-made thread it would tear/cut the fibers of the cotton it all clicked. So with cotton fabric, I use a cotton thread.

that's an old wivies tale - you do not need to use cotton thread with cotton fabric. It's like half the established quilting rules - not true.

I disagree about the importance of using cotton thread with cotton fabric. Polyester is stronger than cotton, and my friend has a much loved quilt that has been very used, and the fabric looks good except at every seam the thread is cutting the fabric. She used polyester thread with 100% cotton fabric. Just like a diamond will cut glass, polyester thread will cut through cotton!

I've read it as recently as this year in several quilting magazines like fons & porter, American patchwork and quilting, etc. I prefer cotton anyway.

I use Connecting Threads Essential thread and it works fine for me.

I use connecting threads for my quilting and piecing. It is very cheap and it works very well for me. It does break every once in a while but not so often that I have decided not to use it anymore. For me, I can't beat the price and I think it is a really good thread.

I think the most annoying problem with the CT thread is not just straight breakage, but it would kinda start fraying and get thinner and thinner (without my noticing at first) and then break. So I'd have to take out a bunch of stitching because of the thinness.

I love working with King Tut and Presencia. Both are really trouble free, have a nice color selection, and look wonderful.

That sounds odd. I didn't have that problem. I think my problem is sometimes I might tug a little too hard on my quilts when quilting them.

So far I have used Gutterman top and bottom with no problems. Also used Sew fine in my Juki, top and bottom. Did have more breakage, but think that is due to my inexperience with my Juki on the frame.