What thread to hand stitch a binding, and why?
 

I use Rasant which is a cotton wrapped around poly for piecing and binding but I have also used what I have on hand as poly does no damage to cotton fabrics.

I am more likely to colour match than the make of thread. You don't want the stitches to show.

I use 100% cotton thread only, just don't like polyester thread, and cotton-covered poly thread feels like thin wire to me. I usually use the thread that I used for quilting the quilt.
Greetings from foggy Bavaria!

i generally use silk thread for bindings, it is fine/thin; strong, i have a good variety of colors, and it disappears. is wonderful to work with (fine, no lint, strong) i can make really tiny stitches with it- i just love to work with silk threads and use them for most of my hand work, appliques, english paper piecing, and bindings.
if i don't have the correct color i will generally turn to a good polyester or aurafil for bindings- cotton thread is just not strong enough (in my opinion) i've had to replace way too many bindings for people where the cotton thread simply gave away with time/use/laundering...i prefer threads that are strong-will last the test of time.
i do use cotton thread for machine piecing often- knowing that the quilting process will help add stability & strength to the finished project

I usually use poly because it is strong.

On the one I'm working on now I'm using rayon. It just happened to be the thread that best matched. I blanket stitch so it does show some. I like it that way.

I never actually thought about it. I try to match it to the color of the binding fabric.

I use whatever I have that's reasonably strong and the right color. Usually Dual Duty Plus -- leftovers from years of garment and home dec sewing. I don't like most all-poly threads. I find that the all-cotton "hand quilting" threads are usually a bit stiffer than I want for binding.

I guess I never thought much about what kind of thread to use. I just pick whatever is a reasonably close color match that I have on hand. Usually it is the same as I've used for piecing and/or quilting.

I am a color matcher on the binding.

hand quilting thread

I prefer cotton thread and usually use a color closest to the binding. I use the same thread that I piece with, which is 50 weight/3 ply. I use the same stitch to sew the binding that I use to applique, so the stitches "disappear" into the fabric.

Well, I'm intrigued by the silk idea "ckcowl", I will have to try that!

I've also had cotton bindings actually snap in the wash on a large, heavy quilt. I then tried cotton wrapped poly...tends to separate while hand stitching, very frustrating. The latest I've tried is Fil-tec poly wrapped poly run thru some thread heaven..working great so far and I'm almost finished with a ginormous king!!!

I color match, often use polyester and frequently use what's left of the thread on the bobbin of my long-arm when I finish a quilt. Polyester doesn't wear out cotton fabric. I just believe that's an urban myth. So, for the sake of invisibility, fine and color matched are my checkpoints. The thread also needs to be strong. You don't want any breakage here and the binding of a quilt takes more stress than any other part.

I don't have any poly thread. I use Mettler for bindings. I don't worry about the color since my stitches don't show at all.

I'm curious about the silk thread as well, ckcowl, and just ordered a small variety pack of it from Superior Threads. I would love this to be the answer to my stitches showing (and yes, I keep practicing the "invisible stitch", and I'm getting a whole lot better, but I could improve.

Thanks for the advice, omaluvs2quilt. I'm working on a king sized quilt, my first king, and I was wondering if cotton thread (which I've used in the past) would hold up on this monster. I just found a 50# polyester (So Fine) that matches, and will use that. The silk doesn't have a matching color, too bad, but the So Fine comes highly recommended from my quilt shop.

Thank you everyone for your input! I think what I'm hearing is that on smaller quilts, a good, strong cotton would do nicely, or whatever matches in some kind of poly. I also learned that ease of use is very important while hand sewing, as several of you commented that you like the "feel" of the thread and how well it worked. And for bigger quilts, I need to make sure the thread is strong enough to hold.

Thanks again everyone!

I use cotton thread. Poly thread *might* cut ever so slightly into the fabric and over time would damage the quilt.

I usually use the same thread that I quilted with. I use the ladder stitch on my bindings - nothing shows which makes it look really nice.

Due to it's wt (60) and strength (polyester) I us Bottom Line.

Someone, might even be ckcowl, once wrote that silk thread works beautifully. I use silk for hand/needle turn appliqué and I wanted less stuff in my sewing room. Once I learned that you could use it for the binding,I have never looked back. I now only have connecting threads cotton thread for piecing and quilting and silk thread for appliqué and binding.

I use the same thread I used when I did the hand quilting.

Hand quilting thread when what I have matches - otherwise cotton.

Me too! It is strong and doesn't knot up easily. I have it in white and cream so don't worry about matching colors (I take little stitches).

Cotton thread to match the binding even tho my stitches 'almost' never show. If it's strong enough for piecing and for quilting, it's certainly strong enough to handstitch a binding that gets much less stress than the rest of the quilt.

I really like Guttermann Polyester; but am going to experience with silks in the future. Actually, anything goes....all depends on the quilter because we each have our own preferences. Most quilters will say to not use anything but cotton....well, the shop where I buy my machines only uses poly for everything they do.

Guess I will have to look up 'ladder' stitch. Might be something I want to try. As for silk thread, I am not finding it so strong. Just have to experiment until you find what suits you...I always go with color first!

I use Presencia 40 wt. for everything, and match the color of the binding. Take tiny stitches so they don't show.

I use Aurifil for my hand sewing of a binding, never had an issue with it either by machine or hand.

I use whatever I have that matches the colors. I make tiny stitches and never let them show. I guess it depends on the wear and tear of the quilt as to whether I need to worry what type of thread I'm using. (Also I have a lot of thread from and Aunt and Mother n law and I don't want to buy if I really don't need)