Has anyone ever used serger thread for free motion quilting?
I was thinking that since it is made specifically for high speed sewing that maybe it would work for machine quilting.
The thread I have now is 100% cotton which from what I have been reading is the thread that most FMQ use.

Good question, I have been wondering that myself.

I read somewhere that a quilter used one of those big spools to sew her quilt. When she pressed the top, it melted the thread and it all came apart. Not sure what the thread was - but the big cone reminded me of serger thread. If your thread is 100% cotton and you like the weight, why not use it?

Can't wait to see some answers, as I too would like to know!

A lot of longarm quilters use cotton/poly thread. In fact a lot of the pretty ones are cotton/poly. That is what serger thread is, check the label. I don't like to use cotton/poly thread, but that is just my own preference. I don't usually use the clear nylon type threads in quilting either, but many use it and are happy with it.

So, bottom line is 1) if you like it go for it 2) No quilt police here. :lol:

I have used the MaxiLock serger thread numerous times on my FMQ and I like it. It is 100% cotton and fairly reasonably priced. I haven't had any problems with it even after wash and ironing the quilt. But would be open to other users comments. Someone told me that it is a little lighter weight than other threads because it is meant to be used in combination with other strands of serger thread on the serger, but so far no problems, and it doesn't list a weight on the cones.

I have used MaxiLock too, and it does fine. I've even used it double stranded.
It is a lighter weight than "quilting thread," so take that into consideration when you think how the quilt is going to be used.
But as far as what kind of threads can be used in quilting a quilt, art quilters and thread painters go really wild sometimes in their threads and filaments, and it comes out gah-juss!!

I have used the varigated cone of thread that is polyester and it has stood up well for 2 grandsons quilts that are in constant use for past 3 years it looked nice in FMQ

I used serger threads on cones on my Pfaff 1200 and have not had any problems so far.

I use serger thread all the time.
All of them (bed quilts, crib quilts, sofa quilts, etc) are washed alot and I have never had an issue because of thread.

Sssshhhh. Don't tell anyone but ..... I have indeed done it. I have since found threads I like better , but would have no reservations about using it again.

Wow. I have a drawer full of serger thread and never thought that I could use it in quilts. I am making yo yos. I wonder if I could use the serger thread for those. It would be so easy to fill bobbins and carry with me.
Phyllis

I use serger thread for everything. I have one of those large spool stands sitting behind my machine. A cone of Maxilock will last forever!

been using it for years, my mother purchased a going out of business supply about 15 years ago (about 1000 cones of maxilock) so i have been helping her use it up for the past 10 years, it works just fine, i've not had any trouble with it.

I also use it for everything...piecing and longarm quilting. So much less expensive and never had had a problem. I know quilting police would be apalled, but so far none have shown up at my door!

I was told that serger thread is spun with shorter fibers than quilting thread, so it won't be as strong.

I've been using poly/cotton thread for years in garment making, and never has the thread melted. An iron hot enough to melt thread would surely scorch the fabric.

I plan on trying it as bobbin thread for embroidery, but I won't use it for quilting. Serger thread is made to have 3 to 5 overlapping threads to lock in a seam.

Okay fellow quilters....thanks so much for all the responses. I am going to Go for it... :thumbup:
I put stitched a baby quilt for no particular reason except to use up some scraps that I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of. (having a garage sale) I figured since it is all scraps it is pretty much free...right? :lol:
I have wanted to learn FMQ for quite some time. I can do stippling but haven't attempted anything further. I didn't want to spend any money on this quilt and I have tons of serger thread so thought ...Hmmmmm... wonder if this would work.
I am going to give it a go this evening. Have the grandkids most of the day and then a visit with my parents.
I will keep you posted on my venture.
:lol:

Go for it! :thumbup: I have been very pleased using. I'm not makeing heirloom quilts and don't care if they last 100 years or more. I have so much serger thread and rarely serge anything since I got into quilting. It sure is alot cheaper. :lol: :lol:

I had picked up a couple of cones of the serger thread to use for FMQ and was told by the clerk at the fabric store that serger thread was not a good idea for quilting. It is too thin....it has to be to because you use 3 or 4 strands to serge.....and there's a bit of stretch to it....neither is good when you are quilting to hold 3 layers of fabric together.

I don't use serger thread for quilting, but I do use it for piecing. I no longer have a serger, but the thread I bought way back when is going to last forever.

I use serger thread ALL the time in all my machines! It is the same weight, and works great. I have never had any trouble and it is very cost effective. Those large spool hold a lot of thread and are worth it when on sale. I just use an adapter for my regular machine. They come in all the same colors too.

I use serger thread in my bobbins for my embroidery machine..but I have never used it for my quilting...

can't wrap my mind around it....when you are serging you are use 4 or 5 threads....quilting 1

I use it and no problems here.

I always use it, for both longarm and all my quilt piecing. That is the only thread I use. I will use special thread for certain projects but for the reg sewing I use the serger thread.

I sew everything with serger thread , ( in Australia we call it overlocker thread ) I always buy a good quailty thread and never have a problem , use tons of pale grey for piecing matches to just about everything.

Now, this is a Wonderful time for this thread....am buying my daughter a serger and this question came up. Thanks all !!

I have a 1600 P-QC and use it alot. Never had anytrouble with it at all.

This is good to know. I always thought it left more lint than sewing thread so I didn't use it in my machine. But its much cheaper and I am thinking if it is thinner it would be great to fill bobbins with. I wonder how many white bobbins I could fill with a cone of serger thread.

I use it all the time and have never had any trouble with it. A large cone will last for many quilts. lol

Just make sure you are using a good quality serger thread. There are cheap ones out there and they don't hold up. Serger thread doesn't fuzz (or lint) like regular thread, but most of my serger thread has a polyester core to make it strong. Try it and see if it works for you.

I've used it for years! Love it.

I agree........this is a Wonderful time for this thread as I just purchased my LA and am having trouble locally finding 100% Cotton on a cone and thought I'd have to order online; but, do have about 75 cones of Serger thread. Some of it is Maxi Lock and it says 100% Polyester and the other is just generic Overlock that says 100% Spun Polyester. I am going to give it a try when I start playing, as soon as I get off this board and finish puting the frame together. Thanks everyone for your wonderful contributions and just at the right time. :thumbup:

I've used it for piecing but not for quilting. I think I would heat test any thread before using a lot of it. If it melts when ironed toss it out.

Yes, I too, have used serger thread both in my sewing machine for piecing and with my Voyager 17. No problem at all. Its a good way to use up all that serger thread I have.

MaxiLock serger thread is the only thread my picky HQ16 will sew with. The timeing got out of wach last year due to a grave error that the first tech made in repairing it. If I use anything else it shreads. However, when I get it serviced again the problem may be fixed or made worse.

Just got some hand quilting thread that is Mettler and is made in Spain. Checked all my Gutermann and it is made in Germany. I will have to look more closely when I buy new thread for the Mexico stuff; don't want that. I do hope everyone with electronic machines keep their machines serviced, as the lint can be a real problem. I do my machines yearly, more often if I have sewed a lot of flannel or fleece.

Yes, I have used serer thread for quilting I have a Millennium Quilting Machine and it worked fine ,you may have to adjust you tension a little. I also use embroidery thread it put's a shine on the stitching and is quite lovely.

I was having problems with my thread breaking in my Pfaff GrandQuilter, so out of curiosity I threaded it up with a cone of Maxi-Lock serger thread. SOOO much better! I did have to clean out a bit of lint, but that comes with the territory as a quilter.

MaxiLock thread is not 100% cotton, it is 100% polyester. If you read inside the cone you will see this. I do not find serger thread to be strong enough to hold a quilt together for years to come. If you pull on the thread, it breaks easily and a quilt is too much work to have it come apart.