What is your favorite thread to use? and what weight? name of thread

for piecing by machine
quilting by machine

piecing by hand
quilting by hand

& where is a good place to buy thread?

Thanks everyone!

Craftybear

I have about every brand of thread. All the good brands are alike as far as quality. I like Connecting Threads Essential threads, Robison-Anton, Aurifil, Superior, YLI, Sulky, Fil-Tec, Guttermann, InvisiFil, Star, Supreme, and Coats and Clark variegated. I use cotton, poly, rayon, and nylon. For hand quilting I like YLI hand quilting thread, for applique I like YLI silk.

What ever I have on hand!

I use sulky cotton 30 wt.

Aurifil

I have been trying to learn all the differances when it come to threads and it can be so confusing. I was at Joanns the other day & had full intentions of buying thread and I ended up so confused I didn't get anything.

I have a serger so therefore I have quite a bit of serger thread. Lately I have been using that.

What is YLI???
Thanks!

I'll be watching this thread to learn about threads. LOL.
As someone who is new to the sewing craft, the only difference that I can tell between threads is how linty they are. I've been using my JoAnn coupons to stock up on their Guttermann 50wt cotton thread, I think it is my favorite for piecing, and I don't see much lint using it. For quilting, I've been using Sulky invisible thread and like it.

Guttermann

Aurifil for machine piecing and bobbin for machine quilting
also King Tut on top for machine quilting and So Fine in the bobbin.
I also like silk for hand applique.

I don't like the silk for handwork, it is to hard for me to sew with. Do you all have any tricks to make it behave?

I use Star thread a lot and Connecting Thread thread. There is some Mettler and Guetermann in the bin too. I fluctuate between 50 and 60 wt 3-ply for the most part.

I really like Superior Threads. Check out the web site they also have some great educational tutorials on the site. Very informative. I really like them because they have the recommended needle type and size on the spool. They are pricey but I can attest that the amount of lint coming off is SO MUCH LESS . I never realized how much lint actually comes from the thread.
Also when sewing with a poly or poly blend the static from their thread is much less in the bobbin. Static will cause irregular stitches.
Their metalic thread is truley the best I have ever used.
http://www.superiorthreads.com/
They have a wonderful chart for thread recommendations for specific projects.

I use a lot of dif threads but Essentials is one of my very favorites. I like Guttermann too. I even use Maxi-lock on my Tin Lizzie. Coats is very linty. Superior is good as well as King Tut.

I really like Connecting Thread's thread. I have one of every spool color they make, and several cones as well. Very good quality at priced great.

I bought some of my thread from threadart.com they are a pretty fair price and have all brands

YLI is a brand of thread. Here is their website:
http://www.ylicorp.com/

I haven't purchased from them, but Red Rock Threads seems to be a good discounted source for thread purchases:
http://www.redrockthreads.com/

The Superior Threads website is a great source of information, but their prices seem high to me.

Not sure if you know - King tut - is a type manufactured by Superior Threads.

wow, lots of information, thanks everyone and will follow this thread

[quote=Lori S]I really like Superior Threads. Check out the web site they also have some great educational tutorials on the site. Very informative. I really like them because they have the recommended needle type and size on the spool. They are pricey but I can attest that the amount of lint coming off is SO MUCH LESS . I never realized how much lint actually comes from the thread.
Also when sewing with a poly or poly blend the static from their thread is much less in the bobbin. Static will cause irregular stitches.
Their metalic thread is truley the best I have ever used.
http://www.superiorthreads.com/

Ditto re Superior threads. Especially the varigated.

I was at an embroidery class where we used Brother machines. A Brother rep was there, and he made a point of visiting every table during the 2 days, so he could answer questions. He told us the embroidery teacher was using *** rayon embroidery thread, because that company GAVE them to the teacher; however, he (the Brother rep) told us that he prefers POLYESTER. We were shocked. He said it has a similar sheen to rayon, but it causes MUCH less trouble for the machines - virtually no lint; it comes in LOT of colors, AND IT'S MUCH CHEAPER!!!!!!!!

I buy nearly all my threat from Connecting Threads. It is a great all around thread.

Coats and Clark Varigated.

Aurifil from Tristan Threads.

I currently have Aurifil 50/3, Gutterman and Prescencia 60/3 on my table. I'm trying to finish a spool of Isacord which I bought not realizing it is polyester versus cotton. Fortunately it is a neutral color so will work well on some of the non-quilting projects on my table.

I went in search of the Prescencia after reading Harriet Hargrave's review of it in the Quilters Academy and so far am very pleased with it. Was able to find it locally (Randy's Quiltshop in Greensboro) so didn't have to pay shipping. It is fairly hard to find in the 60/3 weight.

Cheers, K

I love all threads by Superior and by Presencia. They are virtually lint free and are this quilter's dream thread.

These brands are both available online at Red Rock Threads and Sew Thankful (sewthankful.com). Both stores have frequent sales and have very reasonable shipping charges. I have shopped both sites for years and have found them to be very dependable.

You will love Presencia 60 wt 3 ply for piecing. Scant quarter inch seams are a breeze because the thread takes up less room in the seam and is just as strong as any other company's 50 wt 3 ply.

Enjoy finding a thread that pleases you!

I see serger thread on sale alot its ok to use for sewing/quilting?

Serger thread is made very thin and fine as you are supposed to use at least 3 to 5 layers(think a serger) for it to hold a seam. Although some people here have used it, I've always been told it's way too weak of a thread to use in quilting. It's also typically 100% polyester and I prefer cotton.

When I was taking my learn-your-machine class, the instructor said that if crummy thread, including the poly thread sold just for sergers, was used for any length of time it could leave a residue on the tension disks. She also said that if that happens, it meant a repair man had to clean them.

I don't know if this is true, it doesn't sound reasonable to me. It also could have been advice specific to my brand of machine, but I haven't seen it written down anywhere in any of the literature for my machine.

She may have been passing on an "old wives tale." She was sort of a nut! LOL...

Anyway, I don't use thread made just for sergers in my sewing machine. I prefer cotton.

I've been using serger thread to piece with my computerized Pfaffs forever, and I've had NO trouble. Before I bought my first Pfaff in '99, I used a computerized Viking for 12 years with serger thread. No trouble with it either. The thread has held up in all the quilts I've made. I usually take my machines to the dealer about once a year for a 'tune-up', and I've never been told there was 'stress on the tension disks.' It usually just needs cleaning in the places I can't reach.

The reason you use 3-5 threads in a serger is to overlock the edges of the fabric and prevent raveling in addition to sewing a seam. The thread is thinner so it won't wind up making a heavy seam that would show through on the front of the garment. Polyester is a VERY strong thread.

Right now, I'm repairing a quilt that one of my grandsons has 'loved' a lot. The thread didn't break - it wore out where he or the dog chewed on it, where there was too much stress in places where I didn't do enough hand quilting, and on the edges of the binding.

The quilt police haven't raided my house yet for using serger thread in a quilt! LOL

That's really good to know...I thought that serger thread shouldn't cause a problem with tension disks. So...don't call the cops! LOL

I thought not to use it ever exc ept for serging but then I bought my Tin Lizzie and have learned otherwise. Sometimes we can become thread snobs. If you are doing an heirloom then maybe cotton only and the very best. Otherwise use what you like and what works for you.