thread
 

Hello, I want to try ruler quilting and was wondering, have any of you quilted fancy stitches with embroidery thread? I have 40 wt 2 ply polyester threads is all kinds of colors. Do you match your color to each fabric, if the blocks are different colors? What thread do you use in the bobbin? Thank you for any and all replies.

I haven't tried this yet but do want to try it too. I also would like to find out what rulers are prefered or easiest to work with.

You have to purchase a ruler foot for your type of machine. Some of our machines are high shank, some are low shank. A dealer or foot seller can help you with the right one. Rulers are for sale everywhere, just make sure you are getting the ones that work with your ruler foot.....some rulers are 1/8th inches and others are 1/4 inches thick. You can free motion ruler work with cotton or polyester thread. The contrast or no contrast color of your thread is your decision. If you want your stitches to show, use a different color from your fabric.Do a practice sandwich first. Bobbin thread and top thread work well together is the same weight, although some quilters like a lesser weight on the bobbin. Also always pull your bobbin thread to the top before you start FMQ, this eliminates nests and thread jams.

i use a bobbin thread that will not show up against the backing fabric.
might be poly ... might be cotton.

i often use embroidery thread for quilting.
which i use ... cotton or emb ... depends on which i have in the color i need.

you can end up having to change top threads too often for convenience if you try to match each fabric.
i try to pick a color that will go well with as many of the fabrics as possible.
i sometimes use variegated thread if it has most or all of the colors in the fabrics.

You might want to check with the thread manufacturer's wesite also as to the uses for each thread. I have used cotton, poly, and rayon embroidery threads.....however....in my experience rayon and cotton do not hold up as well as polythread for the quilting......you need to keep in mind how you are going to use the finished project....if you are making a wall hanging ....rayon would be great because it has a nice luster. if you are going to washing and using the project....you might want to go with cotton or poly.....(don't want to use poly in a microwave if making a potatoe holder.....). so consider the use of the project and pick your threads.....

Forgot to say I will be using the Versa tool by Handi Quilter with my ruler foot. I have experience free motion quilting, stippling or meandering, just not ruler work. It is for a quilt that will be used and washed. So if I do use 40 wt embroidery thread on top what do you suggest for bottom thread? Will emb thread hold up washing over time?

I use my 40 wt emb thread on the top for quilting. That stuff takes a beating on the embroidery machine so you know it will hold up. Also I've embroidered a number of hoodies that are worn and washed weekly so it washes well also. I use Wonderfil Deco-Bob in the bobbin. I started that mainly because I had some and wanted to use it up. I find it works well, but I have to adjust the bobbin tension because it's so thin. On the up side, it's so thin, you get a lot on a bobbin. :)

What weight is the Deco Bob you're speaking of ? I don't have any on hand but may have something of same wt. My bobbin thread I embroidery with is 60 wt.

The Wonderfil Deco-Bob is 80 wt and it's smoother than the bobbing thread I usually use with the embroidery machine.

Try Glide thread. It is less expensive than embroidery thread. Use it all the time in our long arm as well as domestic. It is available at habandash.com. Weird website name!