Thread Color Question
 

Do you use a different thread color for the back when quilting? I was reading a suggestion to use a neutral color on the back. How does that work? No problems? I've always used the same color on both, but I'm learning.

I try and use the same color top and bottom. If your tension is not perfect you will have pokies on the back. If it is a multicolored back it doesn't show so much.

I use what ever color works for the back in the bobbin and what ever works for the top in the top. Often they are two very different colors.
it is important to have your tension correct if using two different colors, or two different weights. I often quilt with Aurifil or Omni on the top and bottom line in the bobbin with whatever colors for each I like.

I use two colors. The bobbin thread to match the back and then the thread color of choice for the top. I have learned to pull up my bobbin thread for each start and make four or five stitches very slowly at first to stop the color knot on the back. I do a practice swatch using the same batting and fabric as the quilt before I begin. The brand of thread doesn't matter to me as long as it's good quality strong. I go with size, weight, and type and the needle size has to be right.

I quilt on a long arm....and I usually match the bobbin thread with whatever color I am using on the top. I do usually use So Fine by Superior....but sometimes I use OMNI which is a thicker thread on top...then I try and match the bobbin thread as closely as I can with the thread I am using on top because I can wind more So Fine thread on the bobbin. I also have used a neutral color in the bobbin.....sometimes, no matter what you do....a bit of the bobbin thread might show on the top....and I want that to be as inconspicuous as possible....of course if you are using very busy fabrics it probably doesn't matter much....I always take the thread color I am thinking about using and unwind a bunch and throw it on top of the quilt top to see what I like most....I generally end up picking out a color that blends in the most with the lighter colors....but not always....I just don't like doing a lot of thread color changes and 95% of my quilts are utility quilts....

I noticed a lot of you said to avoid pokies. If you have pokies then there is a problem with the stitch. I have taken dozens of machine quilting classes and eliminating pokies was the first hour of the very good classes. I always learn something from a class no matter how many of the same ones I take.

Onebyone…. I need to take one of those quilting classes. I have pokies all the time, no matter how much I fiddle with the tension.
aashley333... My backings are such that they compliment the pieced top, so any thread color I pick out for the top will look decent on the back. Because of my pokies, I try to always use the same thread on the top and bottom. I have a bobbin winder so I can always match my thread, top to bottom.

I quilt on a longarm and I use whatever gives me the look I want. Sometimes I want the back to have the high contrast so in those cases I will match bobbin thread to top thread. Other times I want all the quilting in the back to blend in or I don't want to be bothered with changing the bobbin thread every time I change thread color in the top, then I will use a bobbin color that blends in or compliments the back and whatever color looks best on the top. It can get challenging when the top and bottom are really high contrast, like a white in the bobbin and navy blue in the top and then add a different thread type or weight. It takes a good amount of tension tweaking to avoid the pokies and there are so many things that can cause them to suddenly appear like a blob of lint getting caught in your bobbin tension spring, things will look great on top but when you look at the back there are pokies. That is why so many prefer to match bobbin thread to top thread in color. Also, with LA quilting what can often happen is if you have sporadic pokies, once the quilt is off the rack and washed, the top and bottom "tug 'o war" equalizes and those pokies sink into the batting like they are supposed to.

It looks like you have received a great deal of good information about tension which is very valuable. The choice of color on top and bottom can be very different or the same. I love to use a variegated thread on the bottom if the backing is a colorful print. IF it is more a solid I like to use the same threads on top and bottom. If you are doing a feather pattern when quilting a more challenging design you may want the bottom color matching the backing so that any challenges you face when quilting will not show through to the bottom. Go for it switch up the colors. Practice and see what you like there is really no limits. It all has to do with preferences.

So many factors. Thread type, ply, and weight to needle type and size to tension. All have to jive with each other and the quilt layers. I have less problems if I use the same thread but will use different colors of it in top and bottom.

What type of machine do you use to quilt? What weight threads? What type of batting? All of these can affect the tendency toward pokes.....I used to get them more often when using a megaquilter on a frame, king tut cotton thread and 80/20 batting.....I now use an APQS Lucey, so fine mainly and polydown or hobbs 80/20....I get way fewer pokies now....but still get them occasionally especially when using a thinner batting....I always do a bit of test stitching on a bit of scrap the same weight as the quilt top.....I check the backside and do a number of direction changes while stitching....as I am older....I got a mirror and a good flashlight to check the backing for the stitches before I more onto the quilt. Using a long arm, I have gotten used to adjusting tension both for the top thread and the bobbin....but that is one reason I use mainly so fine as I have separate bobbins who tension is adjusted for so fine, bottom line, etc......it is nice to have specific bobbins for the different threads you use a bobbin threads....that way, you just usually have to adjust the top tension a bit....

Thanks, all! But what is a pokie?

I try to use the same color on top and bottom, but sometimes the back is light and the front is dark. In that case I use two different colors. I have also been known to use a thin dark pigma pen to color any "pokies" that might appear. In addition, gray thread often blends in very well on both sides with many fabrics.

I try to match the bobbin thread to the backing.

if you use a different color thread, you can often see a little bit of the bobbin that is pulled to the top or the top thread that is pulled to the bottom. these bits that "poke" out are what they are referring to.