Thread for FMQ
 

What size thread do you all use when FMQ? I would like for the stitches to pop a little more that they do. I have been using 50 weight, because that makes my machine happy.

I have used as fine as 100 wt .............. and only as coarse as 35 wt.

If you want your stitches to pop a little, coarser thread will help do the trick.
Keep in mind, that any quilting "flaws" will show up better too.

If you want your stitches to disappear more, the finer the better.
Similarly, the finer thread will help any quilting mistakes be a little less noticeable.

Likewise, colour can make a difference.
A contrasting thread will help your stitches show more. Also, an stitching issues!
Meanwhile a matched thread colour, will not be as noticeable, helping to hide any imperfections.

I want to use some gold rayon on an oriental quilt. thinking of FMQing though. not sure if that is ok or not. anyone?

Rayon thread is not very strong. I would use a polyester gold.

I love Superior Magnifico 30 & my Janome likes it too. Judi Madsen uses this thread a lot. It really pops.

When I want the quilting to pop I use 40wt poly machine embroidery thread.

Cari

Rayon thread is (ok) for embroidery where there is thread buildup but not a good choice for quilting. It frays easily and breaks. Not a strong thread, does not hold up to use or laundering. Polyester can be found in many ( shiny) colors and it is strong enough to be a good choice for quilting

well, maybe i will just use the rayon gold thread to do curving lines across the quilt. my first thought anyway.Thanks. I looked more and have one spool of poly and two of cotton. I may use them but really wanted the shiny look. can't have everything. now what to do with my rayon....

get some FilTec Glide--comes in spools and cones--very strong, easy to work with (use with a net covering or the toe of a hose-keeps it from coming off the spool/cone too fast) and shiney, plus big assortment of colors.

I am not very confident about my FMQ, so I look for a thread that blends in as much as possible.

It depends on the quilt and it's use. For example, I use a poly for FMQ on children's quilts, I like Isacord and Glide. When I rent a LA for large bed quilts, I use cotton 50 wt in a complimentary color.

Very interesting thread and one that I am learning new ideas from. I have used mostly cotton for FNQ. My favorite is King Tut from Superior. However, I have started to branch out with polyester. I think I like it and will use it several more times before making any hard conclusions. We need to be open to new ideas. However, we need to understand the characteristics of the fiber content. Rayon, a cellulosic fiber has no strength but wonderful color absorption which makes it vibrant. That is a tempting combination but should be left to embroidery because no strength is needed. I have used a gold thread from Superior (King Tut) in a quilt and it was very pretty.

If you want the stitches to pop (and by that I assume you mean they should be more visible), I'd suggest using a contrasting thread and go for a 40 wt to start. I just used a 28 (or 30) weight and it does show quite nicely.

I love, love, love Valdani 35 wt. thread when I want my stitches to pop a little on top of the fabric. If you go to their website they have a wonderful selection of varigated thread at the 35wt. Remember the smaller the number, the thicker the thread.

Some rayon lines have a polyester line as well. It used to be that poly wasn't as shiny as rayon, but nowadays, they are as pretty as the rayons. Florini, Madiera, and Robinson Anton have gorgeous shiny poly threads in their lines. I would avoid the metallic threads unless you are doing an art type quilt that would not get a lot of use or washings. Metallic threads break very easily.

Check this out--it doesn't make sense but it is true: Light color threads show the individual stitching more than dark color threads, independent of the fabric color. Isn't that interesting?

Today I learned that my machine does very well with FMQ with Isacord 40 wt polyester also in bobbin. The color I am using blends great with the quilt in most places but the stitches are really nice on the contrasting part. I learned about the Isacord on Leah Day's site.

I use polyester Isacord too. I learned about it from Leah Day's site. I buy it locally from the company in town that sells sewing machines, long arms, embroidery machines etc... They have a large (entire wall) of Isacord colors on big cones. You can even get double size cones that are huge!! And a good price!! I started with just a few colors, but as I've quilted more I've added more colors to my collection. The colors I use the most are a Light and Dark Gray, warmish Taupe, White. But I've also used: Teal, Rust, Navy, Gold, and Pink.

There are a number of options to make your quilting "pop":
1) As mentioned, a trilobal polyester thread would reflect more light.
2) You could use a contrasting color instead of a matching color of thread.
3) Switch to a thicker thread (40wt). If needed, you could use Thread Magic to reduce friction/fraying.
4) Add trapunto/faux trapunto. Trapunto is stuffed work. Faux trapunto adds an extra layer of batting under featured designs & then is densely quilted surrounding those designs, typically with a thinner thread like a 60/2 cotton or a 100wt silk.