What is your favorite thread for FMQ'ing on your small home machine?
 

I'm having fits of trouble using Sulky thread in my Janome machine for FMQ'ing. I am wondering what brand of thread you all prefer for FMQ'ing? Thanks!

I now have a longarm, but sometimes do small things on my Bernina. I use aurifil and have had no problems. I used it for larger quilts before I had the longarm and it was fine.

some embroidery threads (sulky) do not work well for free motion quilting.
visit connecting threads, Atlanta Thread Company or Superior threads --
Superior threads have lots of great information and charts you can print off telling you what threads are good for- the differences in sizes/weights and what needles to use with what threads- an invaluable resource.
i love the quilting threads from Connecting threads and Superior threads.

Aurifil 50 WT Sometimes when the thread breaks it might be because the needle opening is too small. I quilt on my Janome 6500 and it is a thread snob. It can not handle much else. I also use a top stitch needle 90/14 schmetz. I also use a vintage Bernina 830 recorder and can use thick thread on it as long as I use the top stich needle.

Aurifil and Superior Threads. Also Titanium coated needles by Superior Threads. Connecting Threads has great thread also, but it does leave a lot of lint.

Aurifil 50 wt (orange colored spool).

Connecting Threads or Gutterman cotton quilting thread work on my Viking. It didn't seem to like Coats & Clark.

Sulky is rayon and a weaker thread. I wouldn't use it to quilt a quilt that is used and washed often. I'm not surprised you're having problems with it. I use good quality, cotton thread like Aurifil.

I like Glide, Isacord, Aurifil, and Connecting Threads Pro. Glide is my favorite. For detailed machine quilting I use silk or Invisifil thread.

Exact same thing with my Viking. I prefer Connecting Threads due to the price.

My machine is a thread snob too...I found my tension has to be set on 8 and right now I'm trying YUI I think but I have another spool from the quilt store to try. It loves a German brand and I found big spools once and of course I can't find the big spools again only 250 meter ones of AMMAN or AMANN (I'm not in my sewing room). I even called the company to find where they supply it to I'll be making the trip.

I have heard this complaint before about this thread. My machine a Janome Kenmore uses most anything just fine. I have not tried Sulky.

I have great luck with Sew Fine on top and Bottom Line in the bobbin.

Thanks to the Viking users for weighing in. Have new to me viking rose lots of connecting thread threads and a brand new foot to try. Guess which configuration I am going to try first? Love this board for all the info on the quirks of various machines and techniques. I'm most interested in what will get the job done neatly and cleanly first shot if possible.

I use good old Coats & Clarks on my Babylock with no problems.

I use Presencia. It is a long staple Egyptian cotton which produces very little lint. The 500 yd spools are more cost effective than the smaller spools.

Connecting Threads Essential Cotton works great in my Bernina.

Lynda, I have been using the Superior also - sew Fine for bobbin and spool - for piecing and machine quilting on my Janome. My only problem is that it is SOOOO fine that I can't see the stitches to use a seam ripper on it! I had to make the stitch size bigger It is a lot easier to see Aurfil.

What is the advantage of using the Bottom Line? Would you use it for piecing also?

The Sulky I'm using is 100% cotton...I bought it at my LQS.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! :)

I just bought the thread from Connecting Threads but haven't tried it yet but I do love Aurifil on my Viking. The rep when I bought the mega quilter said Viking recommends this thread. I use it more than any other for everything. I'm trying Connecting Thread due to the cost. I also use Aurifil on my other Vikings with great success and low lint.

I just received a set of threads from Connecting Threads...15 1200 yd spools on sale for $22.95. My Bernina can be fussy about quilting thread but it really likes the Connecting Thread and you can't beat the price.

I use Signature Cotton, sometimes Coats and Clark 100% cotton, and love connecting threads cotton.

I FM with silk thread now....works really great!

I have a Janome MC 6700, and it can be a real thread snob. I was having a terrible time with FMQ until one of the Janome reps showed me how to reset the bobbin tension, which was a no-no for him. Apparently we dumb quilters are only supposed to rely on the top tension, but I've been sewing long enough to know that there is a bobbin tension as well, and I nagged him into it. Once he showed me where it was, voila! Would you believe it looks and is adjusted just like the one in the machine I had 30 years ago? A tiny screw right in the front of the bobbin case. Don't adjust it more than a quarter turn at any one time. Breaking thread means your bobbin tension is too tight, and in the case of machines that do both embroidery and sewing, they set those bobbins extra tight, for the embroidery, which is no wonder it's too tight for quilting. On mine, I just lift up the top plate, and I can see the screw right in front of me. I don't even have to take the bobbin case out.

Having said that, my Janome is still a thread snob. The rep told me my machine would do better with the same thread on top and in the bobbin too, and I've found that to be true. For quilting, since I still like a cotton thread but a strong one, I like "King Tut" put out by Superior Threads. Lots of colors. I've only had one thread break with it, and that's after miles of quilting. If you want different colors on the top and bottom, it also works fine by using a different colored King Tut on top and in the bobbin. As long as it's the same make of thread, it works. I haven't been able to get these pre-filled bobbins to work well.

Cheers!

My Pfaff 2034 doesn't like anything but good quality thread so I'm using Mettler mostly and it's happy with that. My older Pfaff 1209 is happy with anything although I don't do FMQ very often with the older one, mainly because I like the needle down and slower speed of the 2034. Of course I have tons of Coats and Clark's thread and some of the big spools from Joann's and now don't use it except in the 1209. My only complaint about the Mettler is that our LQS doesn't carry a big spool of it (not sure if that is even available) and when FMQ you use alot of thread.

I've never heard of Presencia, where do they sell it?

I use Signature cotton a lot because of the colours that are available, especially the varigated ones for the top. HOWEVER, I use Gutterman, Sylko, Aurifil, Mettler, Isacord just as often. The only ones I won't use are the really cheap quality.

Gutterman on my Quilter's Pro for white, and Coats and Clark when I need colors. One thing i did find when FMQing - DON'T use rayon. Pretty and shiny and breaks like crazy!!!

Sulky may make some rayon thread but is is not all rayon. I was advised to use Sulky Polylite to FMQ and I have had wonderful results with it...not a single feather, knot or thread break with my Janome 6600 or my Bernina 530. I give at least partial credit to the thread which gave such wonderful results to this klutzy beginner. I had good results with Aurifil 50wt too.

My machine (6600) did NOT like Bottom Line and broke repeatedly, even with a size 90 large eye needle. My normal size is an 80 large eye Organ needle. I know others who use Bottom Line in their 6600 (top and bottom) successfully. They key to success is to try different thread/needle combinations and find what works for you.

I like Glide. No tension problems!

For MacThayer,
Janome puts out a "Blue Dot Bobbin Case" for FMQ. It is specifically for FMQ, this way you don't have to "mess with" changing your everyday bobbin tension. I was skeptical, but put one in my Janome 6600, first class, first time FMQ...turned out perfect.
Diana in TX

It depends on the look you want. If its purely decorative and you won't be washing it, I use Sulky rayon embroidery thread to give it some sparkle . If I want the quilting to sort of blend in, I use Superior Threads "So Fine". If I want the stitching to stand out, I'll use a heavier 40 wt. thread like King Tut. I particularly like to use a variegated thread. Of course, a regular piecing thread works fine, too.

I use King Tut by superior in the top and bottom line in the bobbin works great

I read all the post for this thread and this post is closest to what I just learned at a FMQ class I just took given by a Master Quilter. We were told to bring a size 12 Top stitch needle and explained that the hole needs to be larger than twice the size of the thread. With the small holed needles, the thread frays and loops, resulting in breakage. I asked if this was good for my machine on a frame and was told yes. Another thing she taught us was that if the thread is streight wound on the spool that it should roll from the side. If it is cross wound on the spool, such as a cone, it should be pulled from the top. If not done this way, it will twist as it unwinds. She also recommended Superior Threads.

I have been receiving the Superior Threads Newsletter for years and just joined the Superior University Thread of the Month club. One of the items that came with my first month's things was a fabulous DVD that explains ALL the threads, how they are made, and what setting to use on the tension dial (any machine) and which needle to use. I'm sold. I've been happy with any of the Superior threads I have used in the past for FMS and now I know why. I also like Aurifil and Bottom Line.....I particularly like Bottom Line for the bobbin. I, too, have the "blue dot" bobbin and think it helps me with my FMQ. I do most of it on my Janome 6600 like another quilter here on this board.....I also have a bunch of the Connecting Threads thread, but it is linty so I only use it when I need special colors.....it works fine, just linty....

I have a Janome 6600 and have used Robinson-Anton for piecing and FMQ, it works fine. The time I tried Sulky, I had lots of breakage problems. I recently bought my first spool of Aurifil and I'm piecing with it. Omg, I'm a convert! This thread is amazing : )

One thing I noticed is that no one mentioned buying "cheap" thread. I know when i started I looked for whatever was cheapest and some of those threads are not even worth the $1 I paid for them. I have used lots of the threads mention and a few I have never heard of but I do like Connecting Threads and my Viking Sapphire likes the thread but remember to clean the bobbin area frequently as there is lint when you use cotton threads.

I just took a quilting class from Master Quilter Mary Buvia and she also uses silk thread as her go to...even for piecing....and then many others to achieve the look she wants

Sounds like the instructor I just had a class with. See my latest post

I use my favorite thread brand - Aurifil.