Size 80 wt Aurifil thread
 

I have a HUGE cone of 80 wt Aurifil cotton thread. 17000m (about 19,000 yards!) I was told it will be excellent bobbin thread. It isn't very strong at all, easily to break with my hand. Anyone have any suggestions for the best use for this thread?

never knew it came in 80wt

According to Aurifil's website, they don't make an 80wt. Aurifil cotton threads come in 12, 28, 40, 50 and cotton floss (which is something smaller than 12wt) I'd return it to wherever you bought it. If it's labled "80wt", it's not really Aurifil.

http://www.aurifil.com/

I believe it's only uses would be as bobbin thread for embroidery and as basting thread. I wouldn't use it as bobbin thread for piecing because it would be very weak and likely to break under the stresses a quilt gets. Might be good as a bobbin thread for thread painting on a wall hanging.

Boy, 80 wt. thread must be thinner than a hair!

Yes, it's Aurifil. There are a lot of Aurifil threads made at the Italy plant that are not usually sold by US retailers.
Wonderfil and Coats make a 100 wt thread so 80 wt isn't all that odd. It use to be known as lingerie thread.


It's sold online at several websites on the smaller spool. Only comes in black or white.

I agree with Prism. Regardless of brand, if it's easily broken I wouldn't use it for piecing or quilting.

Bree's link was directly to Aurifil in Italy (translated for English), not a retailer, and they don't list an 80 weight cotton. So perhaps what you have is old and no longer manufactured by them. If that is the case, it would explain why it isn't listed on their website and why it breaks so easily. I would use it for basting that you would rip out. That is what I do with my garbage thread.

I do know that Wonderfil makes an 80 wt poly called decobob that they market for bobbin use. I bought a sampler box at the AQS show and plan on trying it out for thread painting. I am currently using it for hand sewing binding and it sinks in beautifully. Can't see much difference between it and their 100 wt invisifil.

You can buy Auriful 80wt thread online at wholesale websites. I've only seen it in black or white. I know for a fact it's sold in BC.

Good one JAN!! :) I have never used 80 weight thread in almost 30 years of quilting!

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:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]554732[/ATTACH]

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.

***
*** Aurifil does make an 80 Wt.
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*** Pull up Bree123 's link.
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*** It shows it is Egyptian cotton.
***

Pat Sloan blogged about it in August 2016, she loves it for applique.
http://blog.patsloan.com/2016/08/tim...ncredible.html

I use 80wt thread when making a wall hanging that I know will never be washed. It is especially good for making miniatures as it adds no bulk to the seam and you can get a really nice crisp fold if paper piecing. For a quilt that will be used on the bed...NO.

Also, would be good anywhere that you may want to use invisible thread. Great for raw edge applique.

Well, I use Aurifil 50 wt. almost exclusively for my quilting because it is an amazing thread -runs smooth as glass through my machine and never breaks or tangles. My curiosity up, I put in a search for Aurifil 80 wt. and not only did I find it, it is available in my absolutely favorite online place to shop for quilting material -especially precuts. It is available at Fat Quarter Shop, and this weight is specifically for APPLIQUE quilting, both hand and machine. The Shop seems to have several color-coordinated sets and even has an Aurifil Applique Thread Monthly Club, so it must be popular among those who applique thread.

Given the high esteem in which Aurifil thread is held, I suspect you just got a bad spool.

Good luck!

My thread and post were before the new Aurifil 80 wt and the other 80 wt and 100 wt threads were available for machine quilting. A new manufacturing process was developed to make the thin thread strong enough for machine quilting. Every good brand of thread now has the thin thread available.