Gutterman here. I've had too much trouble with Coats and Clark. I think it depends on your machine, too.

When I'm buying "bulk" thread am not concerned about a match. Kinda like fabric stash only it's threads stash! :-0

I have been using connecting threads' 100 percent cotton and it works well on my janome. They have such a nice variety of colors and I use it for piecing and quilting. Will be trying Superior metalic variegated for quilting when my order comes.

Superior.

I really like Superior threads for quilting.

I use superior threads. Just love them.

Alex Anderson's Master Piece by Superior is great for piecing :-)

My Bernina really likes Aurifil, but I'm trying to use up all my other threads so I can invest in more Aurifil.

I've been to shops that have brands I'm not familiar with. Can you tell by what is good and not so good just by looking at the spools?

When Connecting Threads first had thread sets I bought each set when there was a sale. Dirt cheap compared to prices now. I haven't had any problem with CT threads at all but their cotton is is more linty then the mako cotton thread.