Thread weights and machine quilting
 

I have a Pfaff Grand Quilter on a frame and have been using King Tut thread that is 40# ELS Cotton. This thread is getting harder to come by at my local store and most of the LQS don't stock thread.
So, either I purchase online and pay for shipping or find a suitable thread.
I was/am hoping some of you could point me in the right direction. Cotton, Rayon or Polyester? The store I was in today pointed me towards the Rayon RA emb. thread, didn't think that was right.
Please help.
Kirsten

check out Superior Threads, Atlanta Thread company and Connecting Threads- i purchase quilting thread to use with my long-arm from these 3 shops regularly- and if you plan ahead- you can usually order enough to take advantage of free shipping ($50 at Connecting Threads) better to spend all that on thread & supplies than on shipping. :)

connecting threads has a great sale on right now, 40% off thread sets. it works great for piecing, and is a "maybe" for fmq - works for some people not others.

I have also had good luck with Connecting Threads (which is 50 wt) for both piecing and FMQ on my domestic viking. It is affordable, relatively low-lint and as I make most of my quilts to be used, machine washed and dried, it is a good fit for me and they are having a super-sale on now.

I should have added that my machine (the viking) "likes" the connecting threads better than coats & clarks or gutermann and confess I haven't tried many others.

Kirsten, have you gone to the Quilt Barn in Puyallup? They carry tons of King Tut and all the other Superior threads as well as silk, Aurifil and Mettler. I wouldn't go with Rayon since it is too fragile. I have used the Superior Threads Rainbows trilobal polyester and my only advice is to use a needle made for metallics. You will be much happier!

My Pfaff GQ ONLY likes King Tut on top and bobbin line or aufil in the bobbin. I mainly buy the cones at quilt shows and stock up.

I was able to buy King Tut from one of the LQS that specializes in Long Arm Quilting. She has the Computorized Stattler Stitcher and says it's the only thing she uses unless customer requests or brings their own. Some times that won't work well and she has to discuss that with them. I paid just over $20. for 2000 yd Cone. I use it on both a 180 and 440 Bernina and haven't had a problem in over 3 years.

Check with Superior thread. They guarantee their thread. I've been using them for all of my machines. You can rder online or call them to place a n order. They ship pretty fast.

I'm about half done with my latest quilt and I'm using Connecting Threads polyester. It looks good and I have not had one thread break....of course I almost never do with my Janome 6600. It (the thread)was very inexpensive, too.

I originally bought it to use in the bobbin because I didn't want to change it so often, but decided to try it on the top when I read that others had done the same....and I'm very happy with it. I'm used to using Auriful top and bottom and this behaves the same.

If it is good quality polyester or cotton, either would be suitable to quilt with. However, I prefer good cotton on good cotton quilts as it is my belief that it goes through the material more smoothly than other fibres. It also washes and irons in much the same way and so you don't have to pay extra care because of the thread you have used. I use every weight from 12 to 60 on my quilts as I like decorating them. The only time I use the rayon is for embroidered sections, but not to quilt.

I've been using YLI silk thread for machine quilting...works really well and is not so heavy. Love it.

i also have the pfaff grand quilter and have used signature thread and have good luck with that. It is a 40 wt and comes 3000 yards/cone. i ues the same on the top and bottom. king tut has worked well also using thread on the same on the top and bottom. i purchased signature online and the cones are less expensive that king tut.

for machine quilting, my go-to threads are Permacore and Omni. Omni is a poly wrapped cotton just like the perma core ( or is that cotton wrapped poly?). Any how, I like them both. They are not very heavy..and not too thin. the Omni is a new line from Superior Threads and has a bit more of a sheen. They come in scads of colors. Permacore is a bit cheaper.