could it be used for paper piecing? the stitch length is much smaller than standard piecing and it wouldn't add bulk to the seams...

Actually 80 wt and 100 wt thread are great if you are doing very dense quilting or background quilting where you really only want the texture to show. Also good for paper piecing as your seams are crisper. They are also great for hand applique.

My hesitation in using the Aurifil 80wt for dense quilting would be the amount of lint that cotton thread would be likely to generate (compared to 100wt silk or a polyester thread such as Invisafil). My Aurifil 50wt generates much less lint than other cotton threads I have used, but it is still more than silk or poly threads. My bet is that the Aurifil 80wt is also less strong than similar weight silk or poly threads.

Tatting thread used to come in 100 wt. But I wouldn't want to use it for that. If I go through all the time and work of tatting, I would like to be able to see what I have done. LOL

I was just reading on a blog about a NEW 80 weight Aurafil thread - she said it will be introduced at Fall Quilters Market, but now only available at Fat Quarter Shop with 36 colors available. This gal was asked to test the thread, and she used it for applique and loved it. FYI -Dee

Here's a link to the blog which mentions the introduction of 80wt in the Autumn (fall).

Here is a picture of my huge cone:

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Lots of places are starting to have the Aurifil thread now to use for hand Appliqué. I have used the Invisifil 100wt (poly) for hand and machine Appliqué, it disappears into the fabric if you match or go a little darker. Similar to silk thread. The Aurifil 80wt has cotton.

I would use it for applique. It should handle like silk. Must adjust tension (hand and/or machine) to deal with such a lightweight.

I can break brand new 50 weight Aurifil. That was a shock the first time I tried.