Rethinking my thread choice
 

I use cotton Aurifil thread. I notice I get a lot of lint. I am thinking of trying a polyester thread next.

What is your thread of choice and why do you like it?

I like Presencia 100 percent cotton thread, 60-weight for piecing and 50-weight for machine quilting. I get very little lint build up from it. I also prefer to pair cotton fabrics with cotton thread. Poly is stronger than cotton, and over time can cut through your seams (source: The Art of Classic Quiltmaking by Sharyn Craig and Harriet Hargrave).

A lot of my quilting buddies use Mettler and have no issues with it, although it is no longer 3-ply.

Hope you find something that works for you.

When I use Aurifil I hardly get any lint at all! Do you think needle size has anything to do with it?

Me, too. :thumbup:

Terri, could you explain that a bit more? Do the spools now say 50/2 on them? Are they claiming it's 3-ply but it isn't?

thanks,
Charlotte

For a good explanation of the different thread types, go to the Superior Threads website.

I love masterpiece by superior 100% cotton for piecing no lint.
Thy switched it to 3 ply very strong.
Gale

Presencia! Thank you for posting that - a couple ladies in my guild recommended this thread to me as an Aurifil replacement and I could NOT remember the name!

I like Aurifil but I was having thread breakage problems (in a class taught by Harriet Hargrave!) and they recommended Presencia as a similar-but-stronger thread.

I use Aurifil as well as other brands. I have never gotten much lint at all using a good quality Egyptian cotton thread and certainly not from Aurifil. Odd.

keeping in mind, fabric is made from thread and also contributes to the lint problem. That is why dryers have lint catchers :)