What thread should I be using?
 

I read a post earlier tonight having to do with the threads in a quilt deteriorating when it was washed. Now I'm worried that this may happen on some or all of the 10 quilts I have made in my quilting career. I haven't paid any attention to the type of thread that I have used to piece my tops. I have purchased my thread at places like a LQS, Walmart, Joanne's and other stores that sell fabric and I have based my purchase on nothing more than finding a color that will blend with the fabric I use in piecing my tops.

I use a rather small stitch when sewing my blocks together and send my quilts to a LA to be quilted. I attach the binding by machine turn it under and sew it down by hand using a slip stitch. I wash the quilts after I have sewn the binding on and so far I have not noticed my thread deteriorating. Should I make the people I gave the quilts to aware that they may start to fall apart when washed or say nothing and hope for the best?

And, to prevent this issue in the future, what should I look for in a thread? Is there a certain brand and weight that I should be using? Iis there other information about thread I need to know?

Thank you for reading my post and any advise you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

I use aurifil or sulky cotton but I can't imagine thread like coats & clarks would disintegrate like that. I've seen $1 spools at Joann's that might be poor quality though.

I use 50 wt for piecing and usually for quilting too. I've tried some 40 wt for quilting and it didn't really look any different.

nothing lasts forever, but if you bought regular coats, guterman or similar threads i wouldn't worry it too much.

aileen

Agree with above, most threads are good quality. However I have some old thread from my Aunt which before I put them in my sewing room I pulled on them. If they broke real easily I threw them away. If they held their tug like the new ones I kept. some of those threads (over 40yrs old) I"ve used in my grandchildren quilts and believe my after 40 or more washing's, they are still holding up.

visit the 'Superior Threads' website- they offer a vast amount of *free* information concerning needles & threads- along with charts you can print off & keep for future reference. they tell you about all the different types of threads, their properties, fiber content, weights, what they are best used for, what needles to use with what threads (and why) a great resource. if you feel you should tell the *quilt recipients* something--- I would just tell them- (if you notice anything coming apart- any broken threads after laundering- bring it back- I will fix it). or give them laundering instructions that will help preserve/protect the quilts. one way threads *especially cotton threads* break is when a wet quilt is hung to dry- the weight of the wet quilt puts stress on the threads and they break. but their are other factors- if the thread you used was a good, strong thread- and the quilts are laundered carefully they should last a long time- when making kids quilts/utility quilts that will be dragged round, used a lot, laundered a lot a good polyester thread is a good idea- it is stronger than cotton and will hold up better through the rough treatment. but, even cotton threads will hold up for a long, long time *look at how many beautiful 200 year old quilts their are in museums* - if the quilt is cared for properly- kept out of direct sunlight & laundered with care.

I have used coats and Clark cotton thread in most of my quilts and the ones that are washed regularly are still in fine shape. I've been quilting for about 9.5 years - but I don't make "heirloom" quilts.

I agree with everyone else, if you hold the thread between your hands and pull really hard and it breaks, then it is no good. Don't use it.

I use cotton thread of any kind, because I tend to use the highest setting on my iron so that I can set my seams quickly. I am afraid that I may leave the iron sitting on the seam thread too long and maybe melt polyester thread. I know several quilters who make beautiful quilts that use whatever they have on hand... polyester, cotton, silk. If it matches, they use it. Some of them don't set their seams and care little about the ironing. They do their own quilting and say after it's washed the first time, they all look alike. Not me....I press and set every seam. If I have a material that won't press easily, then I do use some steam.

I always have to keep in mind, that I am my own Quilt Police. I make mostly utility quilts. I want mine used and if they are used, then they have to be washed. I tell those I give them too, treat them like any washable bedspread. Wash in cold water and dry on permanent press. I've had no problems so far with seams coming out or tearing apart, but maybe, I've just been lucky. Probably not. I use new thread, even though I have some 30 and 40 year old spools hanging around.

For piecing I use Aurifil, with it being cottona and two ply not only does it have the strength to hold up, the 2 ply helps give you more accurate blocks, especially when doing ones with multiple seams. I always use cotton thread on my quilts because it won't damage the fabric. Sometimes poly or rayon will cut into the fabric after prolonged use or washing, cotton goes with cotton when it comes to quilting.

I think a good cotton thread would last a long time. Look at all the antique quilts, they used what was available and we still have them. The fabric sometimes gives out but the thread is still there..

There is a lot we don't know about the situation you make reference. Don't panic. The is a logical explanation as to why that thread broke. In all my years of making quilts I have never heard of thread breaking in the wash.

I have a quilt on my bed that's over 10 years old. It has many types of blocks so there's many pieces to it. I made it before I knew anything about thread and I am sure bought thread at Joann's. Because I have dogs, it gets washed and dried about 6 times per year. I used to use quilt soap bought at LQS but now I just use Tide. It still has all the stitching intact except for one appliqué that needs a little repair.

Is this the thread you are referring to?
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t238138.html

If so, I don't think deterioration of the thread is the culprit. The thread would have to already be deteriorated before being sewn (dry rot) to account for this kind of breakage. It's good to keep in mind that the farther apart quilting lines are, the more stress will be put on the thread when the quilt is used or washed. Also, it's a good idea when using a top loading washer to never actually let the machine agitate the quilt. Rule-of-thumb is to stop the washer, agitate by hand (pushing down on the quilt), then advance to spin for both wash and rinse cycles.

If you think about it, hanging a quilt on a clothesline puts tremendous stress on the quilting lines; water is very heavy, and the added water weight in the quilt can cause thread to snap. The same thing can happen in a top-loading washing machine with the typical central post agitator. Thinking back to when I washed clothes in a top-loader, there were many times when the clothes came out all twisted (and sometimes knotted together). This wasn't so much of a problem with small loads (and may not affect smaller quilts, such as those for kids) because they had space to slosh around in the water. A large quilt stuffed into a top-loading machine could get twisted enough to put tremendous stress on quilting lines, especially if the quilting lines are far apart. (The further apart the quilting lines, the more stress on each quilting line.)

I believed in the "break" test for thread too, until I went today and tried out threads I have successfully used in quilts that have been washed and dried. Both the Signature and Glide threads broke easily when I jerked my hands. I think a bigger factor is how close together the quilting lines are and, of course, whether machine agitation in a top-loader was used.

There is a reason why some thread is twice the price of other thread.

A while back last summer actually, I got some thread at an estate sale. $.50 for a bag and took what they had. I had my DH tug on it. It is some sturdy thread and we've both used it. He learned real quick how to wind the bobbin and has patched a couple of his "grunge" shirts. He goes into the bag every once in a while and will not use anyother thread. When he's done he attaches the bobbin to the spool like I showed him with the rubber band. If it passes his tug/snap, it's good to go.

I made my early quilts with Coats and Clark and they have survived decades of washing. I would not worry.

For me, it is now a matter of what my machine likes and the ONLY thread she balks at is Coats and Clark. I buy Connecting Threads thread and like it - even if it is a bit linty. The key is more in the construction than the thread. As long as you use quality thread (not something that's been in grandma's basement for 40 years) you will be fine.

If the thread breaks after the quilting is done tells me that the stitches were too small. Lengthening the stitch length (I generally use 3 mm) allows the thread to work through all 3 layers.

Another possibility - the stitching lines were tight - and broke when more tension was put on them.