thread ?
 

Hello, my cyber friends....this is tapper.

I have been using 100% cotton thread for machine piecing. Cotton thread is very expensive. I am thinking of changing to polycotton.
Will this make a difference to my piecing?
Do you QB members use cotton thread, polycotton or other thread for machine piecing?

I know I can depend on this board for quick replies.
Thanks.

I use poly cotton--probably most of us do. It is strong and not so linty as all cotton. Well, anyway, that's what I use for just about everything but embroidery!

I prefer cotton, but have so many spools of the poly from years of sewing clothes. I can't just throw all that thread away, so that is what I use to piece. And...I use whatever color I grab, as long as it doesn't show through. For fmq, I use cotton thread only....my 6600 seems to like it better that way.

i've been piecing with cotton, but just switched to the polycotton as it is a bit thinner and my dear jane blocks are laying flatter.

I use cotton because I use cotton fabric. Poly thread will eventually cut thru cotton fabric. I'm not spending that much on fabric and all the work that goes into a quilt to have it not last as long because I tried to cut corners and use a cheaper thread. If I use cheaper thread I might as well use the cheaper fabric as well. That's just my opinion; I want my quilts to last. I wouldn't worry about it so much with clothes because we don't expect them to last generations like we do quilts.

Use Aurifil 2 ply cotton; its stronger and it really makes a difference in your seems laying flat and your blocks being the right size. Its low lint too.

Use whatever works for you and your budget.

ARRRGGGHH how long will this myth prevail? This is not true, a fabrication a falsehood, been debunked. Poly thread will NOT cut through your cotton fabric over time. http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/

http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...dition-or-myth

And if you don't want to go to the above link here is a direct quote from Dr. Bob of Superior threads

The point is this: The traditions, myths, and rumors that polyester thread will tear the quilt are not true. Under extreme use, a strong polyester thread might, but so will a strong, glazed cotton thread. Under normal use, softer non-glazed threads will not tear through the fabric and it is perfectly fine to use any type of quality thread, except nylon. Nylon will go brittle and discolor over time. Choose your threads based on quality, feel, and appearance, avoiding wiry glazed threads. Although they are rarely labeled as such, if the thread is stiff and wiry, it most likely has a glaze coating.

I use Marathon cotton thread. It comes in a 6000 yd cone & it's a 50wt. It goes a long way on your bobbin

I'm pretty sure you can't speak for "most of us."

I never use poly cotton. I use Aurifil and Prescencia for piecing. They're both low lint and thin threads. If you figure the actual cost of thread you might be surprised at just how much that "cheap" thread actually costs you. Divide the yardage by the price to get the true cost per yard.

I use poly and poly/cotton all the time. I do not have issues with its performance. Use what you like, judge it by the lint, how well your stitch form, its strenght, and its overall performance. As mentioned earlier, poly does not cut the cotton fabric this myth just never seems to go away.

I buy whatever is on sale. lol

almost as many choices in thread as fabric!! i have just started using Superior SO-FIne 50 wt poly for piecing, I love it. I have Superior Bottom Line, I LOVED using it to hand sew the binding - I like to use a doubled thread, and this just disappeared in the quilt. I like good threads, my machine does too - it doesn't like lint! I do my own machine and FMQ quilting, and am on the lookout for a bit thicker thread to use for that part. Ideas, anyone?

For quilting, I use Connecting Threads' Essential Pro Polyester 3-ply 70 wt thread. It works great for piecing also, and the price is right.

My machine will piece with cotton or polyester however I am in the process of switching over to Connecting Threads Egyptian cotton. My machine will not quilt with anything but cotton thread and it is the most reasonable to purchase.

I have never bought into the "Poly thread cuts cotton fabric" theory. In my opinion, the poly just out lasts the cotton fabrics. And according to Superior Threads website, this is what they believe also https://www.superiorthreads.com/educ...dition-or-myth

Here is another link that debunks the myth: http://doodlequilts.blogspot.com/201...polyester.html This site even states that cotton thread will cut cotton fabric under the right conditions.

ETA - Sorry, I didn't see that Feline Fanatic had posted the link to Superior Threads website! I guess great minds think alike!

Definitely a Myth
 

Thank you Feline Fanatic! You are so right, that is a very old myth. I use 100% cotton to piece because it can take a hot iron and my seams lie flat. If I'm paying $10 - $12 a yard for fabric, I don't mind paying a bit more for quality thread.

Poly thread manufactured now will not harm the fabric. It has been disproved many times. . Seems it's the quilters that have been quilting for for several decades that still believe this and keep passing the wrong info along. I think that comes from not keeping up with what is new in the quilting products. I won't use poor quality thread no matter what type it is. CT cotton thread is very good and not expensive. http://www.connectingthreads.com/thr...g_threads.html

I don't believe poly thread has ever been tested to see if it cuts through cotton fabric.

Here's another vote for Connecting Threads. Not only is it great quality for a lower price than poly/cotton from your big box stores but my fussy machine likes it. Also, I love the fact that it has a simple straight spool. The ones they try to make fancy with wide bases, narrow tops etc my fussy machine won't accept half the time because I can't reverse the way the spool rests. My old Singer plods through anything but not the other machine.

I use cotton thread. It does produce lint but I just clean the bobbin case area frequently. I think that because I am so used to working with cotton that I didn't like or wasn't used to the polyester thread; therefore I am just sticking with cotton.

I apologize for the phrase "probably most of us...". I'm pretty sure I was being presumptious.

I use 100 cotton thread from Connecting Threads. Its is $2.49 for 1200yds and comes in a lot of great colors. Both my machines Singer and Brothers like it!!!! Also they have free shipping for orders over $50. I am sure you can find that much stuff you like besides thread. Also this thread seems to last a really long time!!!!!!!!!!!!That said I just used CC poly thread on some charity doll quilts that I just made and it also worked fine and I can not tell the difference except I used over a spool of thread at $4 that a lot of thread and money.

Scissor Queen is so right about the actual cost of thread. I use Connecting Threads 50 wt cotton, Superior's So Fine & Bottom line in the large spools sizes and they are the most economically thread to buy IMO. I have no problem with lint build up because I clean my bobbin case at every bobbin change, my seams come out true, and never problems with them coming apart. They are a better BUY for the BUCK!!

I use cotton, poly and cotton/poly for piecing but try to use the same type throughout. And yes, it is expensive. That's why I hunt for estate sales that have sewing listed in the description. I've purchased huge bags of thread for $5 and it's rare that I've come across brittle thread that needs to be tossed out. As long as it doesn't show through, I use any color at all. I know that's probably a big old taboo, but it's thrifty. Interestingly, at a lot of estate sales, I've seen bits of thread wrapped around cardboard or whatever -- talk about thrifty! Those, sad to say, get tossed.

I use whatever I have. Even an "all purpose" thread is fine for piecing.

I use Presencia long staple Egyptian cotton thread (50 wt). I get it for $1.69/100 meters or $5.99/500 meters. Not too expensive, and it's really good stuff.

I think the Superior Sew Fine comes in 30 and 40 weight also. I love the 50 wt also and use it for FMQ. But I also love Connecting Threads for piecing - it very reasonably priced and I find it to be low lint. I am not sure why some say it is too linty. I have never had a lint problem with it.

As long as it is good quality, I use anything.

I have used Gutterman 100% cotton since I started quilting. I use a light color(not white) for light quilts and a dark grey for darker quilts. I have used Ransome which is cotton wrapped poly.

I use a poly/cotton blend for piecing and all cotton for quilting. I only buy neutral threads, greys whites creams and beiges. Have industrial size cones of serger threads in deep golds cranberry and hunter green, use those for decor in my sewing room.

try Connecting Threads Website. I bought a large quantity of their threads. They came out to about 2.50/spool. Each spool has 1200 yards. Great prices; good color selection; good thread. They are 100% Egyptian cotton with a satin finish - 50 weight. They run some good sales. Good luck.

I use poly thread all the time to quilt. No problems, and no, it does not affect my piecing. I've been using up some of my thread that's been around for awhile for my piecing. No problems there either.

I think "lintiness" depends a lot on what color one is using. The CT red is very linty, but so is the Aurifil. The off white colors....not so much for either.

"But I also love Connecting Threads for piecing - it very reasonably priced and I find it to be low lint. I am not sure why some say it is too linty. I have never had a lint problem with it."

Ah HECK! I use whatever my hand hits...usually that is a grey Masterpiece on a BIG cone for piecing. Its not cheap, but I usually only use one of those babies a year...with one in stock JUST in case I run out at 10 pm and CANNOT stand to stop sewing. (usually at 10 I'm passed out snoring in the bed...sorry for the mental picture!) For quilting, my long arm is happy with most everything. For the most part I use Permacore or Omni, both poly wrapped cottons. I like the weight and the sheen. I have some silk, Glide and Magnifico to try. The Glide and Magnifico are both polyesters. I say use what you have, what you like and what is in the budget. Just my humble opinion. (No quilt police allowed...)

My first quilts - made over 20 years ago - were sewn with cotton covered poly thread(Coats and Clark Dual Duty) and they are our couch quilts - have been washed many times - I have seen absolutely NO EVIDENCE of the thread cutting the fabric.

I don't even know what type my tread is ................ I bought these HUGH cones from lancaster and paid $3.00 for it... they are industrial size... i sit it on the floor and rig it to my machine... both my babylock and janome are fine with it... it will las me a life time............

I look for long cotton staples or polyester. Mostly I'm concerned with weight. I use 50 wt Aurifil-cotton or 60wt Bottom lline-poly for piecing. The fine size of there threads allows the seam folds to lie flatter.
As to quilt stitching, this depends upon density of stitching and the look of the stitching. Usually I use 30 wt poly wrapped poly-Perma Core. I have used 12 wt for high stitching visibility. If it's a high density, I like Bottom Line.

The choice also depends upon the machine I'm using, some threads work better on each of my machines. I have several collections: serger thread, 4 cones of each color, cross wound for the Brother, straight wind for my Bernina), LA thread (due to the speed of that machine I want low lent and strong thread).

Haven't heard of Marathon before. Where do you get it? Do they have a web site?

I use cotton, poly, silk. Lots of thread is from Superior, but also have YLI, Connecting Threads and Gutermann. I usually use Sew Fine for piecing, mainly because it's so fine and practically disappears into the seam. Paying more for thread is really a good thing in the end, when you think about how much fabric costs, it makes sense to use good quality thread too.