Of thread and rotary blades....
 

Alright, I have a conundrum for those more experienced quilters out there.

I am in dire need of both thread and replacement rotary blades (once you go rotary, you never... um... insert something clever involving not going back to scissors??).

MY QUESTIONS: (Keep in mind, Jo-Ann's is having 50% off all thread and 40% off rotary blades starting sunday)

What is the best 'value' thread? I have been using hand-me-down thread that apparently isn't even made any more (surprised me, it's still stronger than the cheap stuff! Sews fine, no breakage!) It's called "Spun Dee - the Anything Thread". It's on a wooden spool, and has a price of 39 cents on the label!! Geeze... I guess they really DON'T make things like they used to... I wish I could find more of this stuff!

Is there an equivilant? I can't spend a ton on 'fancy' thread, I just want something that will sew and not break or jam my machine. I do like Guntermann, but it's the only other kind I've ventured to try... Recommendations are appreciated!

On to the blades!!

I have a Fiskars 45mm cutter, and it needs a blade. It was dull, and I tried to sharpen it. I FAILED, now it won't cut at all. :(

Should I buy a bunch of blades while they're on sale? Or should I buy a few and invest in a blade sharpener? I'm just not sure if they are worth the money? Reviews??


OK, That's it for now. I'm trying desperately to hold onto my newfound hobby in light of my job loss... but now I'm on a tighter budget than ever...

Gutermann thread is fine. Stay away from Sulky cotton as it has a short shelf life and breaks easily. Poly threads will last longer, but remember that thread needs to be kept out of the sun light. Egyptian cottons are good. Stay away from Coats and CLark. I really like my blade sharpener. I think I have a True Sharp. It does 3 different sizes of blades. It is an investment. The first one on this link is a good deal and no shipping cost: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new

I like the thread from Connecting thread and it is fairly reasonable, I buy most of my blades from Ebay, they usually have cheaper costs and are the same as you find in the store. Haven't tried the sharpener but not very good with my hands and afraid to trust myself on something new.

If you want reasonable good thread, I think connecting threads is still having their sale. Their thread is nice. You can use gutterman, even coats and clarks from walmart is fine. I have never had a problem with coats. I had some about 10 years old I just used last year, and it was still good.

A lot of us have purchased rotary blades from Harbor Freight. They're meant for carpet cutting but fit the major rotary cutters. I've been happy with mine, but some people have had problems. (Harbor Freight reportedly will replace or refund if you're not happy.) If money is tight, you might try their blades - much, MUCH cheaper than anywhere else. I have heard more bad reports than good ones on rotary cutter sharpeners. Usually when my blades go bad it's because I ran over something I shouldn't have and caused a nick in the blade. Sharpeners don't help with that.

I use primarily Coats & Clark Dual Duty XP. Worked for my mother and my great aunt works from me! It is a poly covered poly thread. I have found the other Coats & Clark threads to be very linty but don't have that problem with the Dual Duty XP

Why do you say to stay away from Coats & Clark?

Connecting thread is great quality and price! Cant give advice on blades. Need some myself.

Connecting Thread is great for quality/price. That's all I use.
I bought my blades from Harbor Freight. They are cheap therefore I can afford
to change blade more often. Makes my cutting mat and my hands happy.
I can buy a lot of new blades from HF for the price of a blade sharpener.

C & C has changed. It is now poly covered poly. It still works for me, but I like the feel of the thread on older spools better. I like Guterman poly - I haven't tried the cotton. Connecting Threads thread is very linty, IMO, but strong enough for my uses.

I bought Olfa blades on ebay for a great price last year.

Very linty.

My personal preference? Bottom Line by Superior. I've used C&C, Gutermann, Connecting Threads "Essentials", but by far my favorite is Bottom Line. I buy it by the cone.

OK, so I have another question: Thread spool size!

I've just used the 'normal' spools on my machine. Can I use the larger ones, like from Connecting Threads? I'm assuming if I use the cones I'll either have to use the upright spool holder on my machine, or switch to using a stand or other non-machine method for feeding the thread to the machine, correct?

"Connecting Thread is great for quality/price." I just ordered 4 cones of the polyester from the thread sale. It came very quickly. I ordered polyester, but it seems to actually be the cotton???? I have some other polyester that has more shine to it. I usually use the Robison Anton rayon thread and wanted to give CT thread a try. I love the fabric from CT!

I've had great luck with the Harbor Freight rotary blades. The Connecting Threads cotton thread I find quite linty- seems like I'm in the minority there. My favorite all purpose thread is Signature & I order it by the cone from http://www.wawak.com/

I'm way in the minority here... I only FMQ and 9 times out of 10, I use thread cones for a serging machine. I haven't been quilting very long (a year?) and I can't afford quilting thread. I love the way the thinner thread looks. When the cotton quilt is washed, it puffs up so nice around the poly thread!!!
I'll look at all the thread a store has to offer, and I think the 100% cotton just looks dull. And it's so much more expensive, I just can't justify it. So I mosy over to the Maxi-Lock display and pick up some lovely colors for $1-2 each.
I have some cotton thread that I got very cheap at a thrift store and I just don't like it as well. It's ok for big swoopy "gotta get this done" quilts, but for one I'm taking my time on and really putting a lot of thread in, I'm picking one of my cones!! Less bobbin changes, too.

I probably wouldn't use it on seams, though. Just quilting.

You don't have to buy a stand for a cone. You can use a jar and put the cone in the jar. I put a big safety pin on my spool holder of my machine and threaded the cone thread thru the little hole at the bottom of the pin.

jhittle has rotary blades, 45mm, 10 for $18.00. I buy from them regularly. I like Connecting Threads for my thread, but it is linty.

Harbor Freight blades have not been very good for me. They don't last long and skip quite a bit. I would stay away from them. I buy good ones now from JoAnne's with my half off coupons.

Agree. That is where I buy my blades. Super cheap and I don't think I have ever had more than one bad blade in the whole bunch.

I have had good luck with Harbor Freight blades and have used Coats and Clark with no problems.

always (cracks me up) when someone totally (dis...'s) a whole company...(stay away from C & C)...they have been around for many, many, many years---if their product was not any good they would not have lasted!
C & C offers many different threads- some are better than others---just like with most other company products...i've had just as many bad experiences with YLI, Geutermann, Mederia, ...the list goes on-
i've used lots of C & C threads over the years that were just fine.
i also love (most) of the threads i've purchased from Connecting threads- I like Aurafil & have bought it from Fabric.com,
i've quilted quite successfully with Maxilock (which some people say to never use)--Joannes generally has great prices & color selection on maxilock threads!
if they are having a great sale & you want to - why not pick up a few different threads to try out- you may find a new favorite---or decide that any number of threads will work just fine & then you have choices when sales happen.
i've been sewing 48 years- quilting for 35 of them---and have a vast variety of threads- i never (restrict) myself - am willing to try them all- some i like better than others- many have their place/use.

I also would like to know why you say to "stay away from Coats & Clark. They have been around for ever and I have never had a problem with it. I also use the Dual Duty.
Pat

I prefer to buy rotary blades in bulk from eBay. They seem to be considerably cheaper per blade that way, and I am still getting the good quality blades. I don't remember what I paid last time, but I think it came to something between $1 and $1.50 per blade. Haven't tried Harbor Freight blades, but they seem to have more problems than blades made specifically for my rotary cutter. The last thing I want to do is insert a new blade that doesn't work well fpr me.

I'd never heard any disparaging remarks about Coats and Clark until I joined this board. Over here it's sold under the name Coats in quite a high-end department store chain (John Lewis). It retails for around the same price as Gutermann, which is a big seller here.

I've never thought to buy blades on ebay, but Amazon sells packages of blades:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B7MUFK/

$16.97 for 5 45mm blades

I use JHittle wholesale for my blades...the last time I bought them they were about $136 or so for 100...and they seem to be good blades. As for thread, I use it all, including some my Mom had years, and years, and years ago...if you try to stretch it and it doesn't break, it should still be good. Hope this helps!

My personal experience is that no matter what brand cotton thread I use, all the way from C & C to the more expensive ones like King Tut, there is still a lot of lint. The thicker the thread is, the more lint there is. JMHO, smile.

I did try the Harbor Freight blades and they did not work for me. Oh well.

I order my blades thru Jhittlesewing.com they have them for 14.95 for 10 blades. they work great for me. I am only on my 1 st blade still this year and it is time to change it the next project coming up. so they last for me . they seem sharper than the other blades i've gotten. as for thread i use the coats and clarks dual duty most but really use whatever hits my fancy at the time. my machines take what i throw at them.

Threads & Rotary blades
 

Depends on what I'm doing But I never use Coats & Clark it doesn't work well with my machine it breaks. frays, a lot of fuzz. It jams my machine. King Tut thread is good I also like Madeira & Gutermann.
I've used a lot of different rotary cutters I'm left handed so some don't work well for me. How ever in Sept I purchased a Gingher Rotary cutter I just LOVE it. It is like night & day. It cuts clean & easy on the hand. I have arthritis.

Well, guess I'll chime in on this thread too. There are threads I like and some I don't like. Some you all say is linty, is not very linty to me, guess how linty is each persons personal opinion. I personally don't like Signature thread, FOR ME it is very very linty, may not be for others. One doesn't need expensive thread, Coats & Clark works just fine, so does Connecting threads, as well as Maxi Loc, Superior and the many others. I think one needs to use what they feel comfortable using and works for them in their machines and most of all what they can afford. As for rotary cutting blades, I have a True Sharp, it works okay to sharpen blades to hold me while I need to purchase new ones. I have also used the Harbor Freight blades, for the most part, they work for a time but dull rather quickly. I have just purchased a new Cutter with a titanium blade, plus two extra titanium blades. The blade cuts very well. So I say use what you can afford, take some of our advice, and make you own opinions from your experiences.

Love my sharpener ... I got it at Joann's ... nothing fancy it' s a circle with sandpaper. Directions are clear and easy to follow. It has extended the life of my blades, which I but in the five pack on sale of course. I also bring a friend to go shopping with that way I can buy 2 things on sale. I buy blades from Harbor Freight as well because they are cheaper. You get 2 blades for about $1.50. Sometimes there are nicks, sometimes the sharpener smooths it out and if not I just bring it back to harbor Frieght. Hope this helps

Okay my turn for my two cents worth... I like Coats and Clark thread... had no problem with it... some of the cheaper thread has lots of lint.... and with the newer computerized sewing machines you have to watch that.....harbor freight blades are okay with me... just try and use what works for you...
hugs
Quiltinmama

In my opinion, don't invest in a blade sharpener kit. I have an older one and it is not very effective. I'd say just buy a few blades and try not to cut over pins, etc. Maybe they'll last you a while. I am off next week to buy a rotary cutter as mine is literally worn out (1980's) and won't run straight now. Good luck in finding a new job. Keep us posted. Aren't you glad you have quilting to occupy your mind during your "down time"?

i may be able to help you with advice on both issues. if i need an assortment of colors connecting threads is the place to go. however that being said i need black thread and white or off white thread this time as thats what i use the most of. threadart. com is having a sale til dec 31 for 1.99 a spool and connecting threads is 2.49 per spool. im getting ready to place my order today. i would also try a pkg or 2 of the carpet cutting blades from harbor freight they fit a 45 mm cutter and ive had good luck with them although not everyone does 2 blades for 1.99 is a small price and if that doesnt work out for you try ebay they have the best prices for blades and you can get your favorite brand cheaper there. i can also feel your pain about your budget too. i still have a job howver my pay has been frozen for 2 yrs and will be that way until you know where freezes over from the looks of things. and we have layoffs approximately every 6 mo so theyll eventually get around to me im sure. my hubbys job has decreased hours tremendously and his pay is frozen as well i guess people cant afford sandwich meat and hot dogs any more either.
apparently the improving part of the economy hasnt hit us yet in our area although im sure it could be worse. im going to have to learn to use my stash (thank god i have one) and just get creative lol. id be in trouble if i couldnt quilt. its the place i go to escape reality lol.
carla m

I use Coats and Clark thread almost exclusively. I buy it on sale at either JoAnns or Hancocks. It seems to work fine for me. I bought some off brand at a discount store I don't remember the name. I didn't like that. Gueterman is also good but expensive. The spools don't seem to hold much thread. As for rotary blades, I used the ones from Harbor freight. They were OK, but they didn't seem to last very long. A couple came with dull spots. I no longer buy them. I like Olfa blades the best. They seem to last the longest for the money of the brands I have tried. I buy them with coupons.

Go to Harbor Freight and get the carpet cutter replacement blades. They're $1.99 for 2. I can't tell any difference between them and the others. And they are way less expensive.

Freight harbor sells rotary blades for about a $1.99 for 2 blades, fits 45mm rotary cutters. All I use now, unless I want a specialty blade. Since they are so cheap, I don't mind changing them. They work great because they are for cutting carpet.

I generally use Mettler or Aurifil thread for piecing and some machine quilting. I like Coats and Clarks poly for the vast array of colors that work well for machine quilting on my domestic machine. I prefer silk thread for applique, and my Joann's only sells Guterman so that's what I use. I really think what you use depends on what you're doing with it, and on your machine. Some are finicky!

this is a great place to get reasonable priced thread http://www.redrockthreads.com/

I use aurafil or Isacord and they are both good thread