Before my arthritis became severe in my hands, I could hand quilt, and have spools of thread marked "extra strong hand quilting". My question is can I use this thread for machine stitching? It is cotton covered polyester. Also, I have several spools of Mettler silk finish cotton thread. Can I use these on my machine? Thanks for your help!

You should not use hand quilting thread in a machine; it can cause damage. Mettler silk finish cotton is fine to use in a machine.

What she said!!! LOL!

I use my hand quilting thread for basting before FMQ. I have a lot of it left from my hand quilting days and I don't waste it that way.

Hand quilting thread has a finish on it that is not good for your sewing machine. :D:D:D

Thank you. I did not know that and you saved me a lot of grief.

I have a spool of hand quilting thread and it is wax coated.

I hate wasting anything. Left over from growing up in the Depression, I guess.

Thanks for the info. Just what I needed to know.

Good info for me too- thanks!

If the thread says it is glazed, do not use it in your machine. The glaze will gunk up your machine.

And that would be the last thing I need.

the hand quilting thread usually has wax on it, so it can really gum up the works on the machine, along with just being too heavy. it would be good for any basting you might need to do. the mettler thread is a machine thread. most machines accept a wide variety of threads, weights/ brands, but you want to stay away from the ones specifically for hand work, they tend to have coating to make them go through the fabric by hand easily but it's not good for the mechanical parts of your machine.

I very much appreciate your information. Thanks.

My Viking dealer said I could use it on top, but definitely not in the bobbin. This is an older machine, not computerized, so perhaps that might make a difference.