justflyingin

I think that was the main point of this thread. ;0
--the OP was saying that this is a "myth".

And we are discussing it.

As for me, I use what I have.

charlottequilts

[QUOTE=quilterpurpledog;6537424] Having a textiles background I would say that the information you get from Superior Threads (Dr. Bob) is very well done and informative. /QUOTE]

I wonder how many people realize that he has an MBA, not a doctorate.

Hugs,
charlotte

ArchaicArcane

Almost anything can cut through a thin cotton thread like one used in construction of quilting fabric with a sawing motion. I could make my cotton thread do it if I wanted to, quite easily in fact.

Heck, water is used to cut steel...
I don't really think the context of his "Dr. Bob" title is intended to be literal. Nor is "Mother Superior" likely to be an indication that Superior threads is run by a nun....

charlottequilts

No, but there are a lot of literal people out there, and it does sound professorial. Just saying.

Hugs,
Charlotte

crocee

Given enough time anything can be picked apart to show its bad points. This is the whole idea behind selling a product. This is how its "proved" one thing is better than the other in the consumers eye. With a few adjustments poly thread may perform the same as cotton thread in the short term of a few dozen years. The manufacturers aren't really worried about the long haul unless its a company who's been around for hundreds of years and based their longevity around the product.

Poly is cheaper to make so more profit. Poly is renewable since it can be made from recycled "trash", Poly can be made into new and exciting types of threads. The stuff melts under high temps. Will it stand the test of time? Who Knows.

Cotton is an old product and more expensive since it must be grown and treated to be useable. Cotton can be changed in its coloring and is user friendly. Cotton doesn't melt and has been found in the pyramids. Its stood the test of time.

ArchaicArcane

Fair comment Sort of like Dr. Phil doesn't have a doctorate either?

Possibly, but it's also less expensive on the average even at the consumer level. I paid $3.75 for a mini spool of Glide (1000m I think. It's downstairs and I'm feeling lazy), and on average I pay about $8 for a 1300m spool of Aurifil cotton. No, not apples to apples, but the only Aurifil Poly I've bought was on an awesome sale from Tristan, I don't even know the retail on it.

This brings up another point - certain climates will be better suited to the use of cotton specifically because it's a natural fiber. It rots if not kept in the right conditions. (Can it mold too?) Poly won't do this. (See my comment previously about the museum quilts)

I'm not saying poly is superior, I'm saying there's a right tool for each job.

Most of the quilts I make are going to be hard used and short lived (charity quilts, stepped on, stretched, used for play forts, used as superman capes, camping, etc), and I think the poly will stand up better so that's what I use. The fact that Lucey likes it and is very friendly to use with poly is a bonus.

For my Aphrodite quilt which may end up a show quilt and likely seldom used or often hung, it will likely be cotton thread for the surface design.

At the end of the day, we have to make our decisions based on the information we have available to us at the moment. If it turns out to be wrong down the road, so be it. We made the best choice with what we we knew.
</snip>

charlottequilts

[QUOTE=ArchaicArcane;6540377]Fair comment Sort of like Dr. Phil doesn't have a doctorate either?

You got me curious on that one. On his website, it says he does. Is that fake? I haven't been paying attention. Perhaps you're thinking of Dr. Laura, who indeed had a doctorate but not in psychology. There was a flap about that some years ago.

Charlotte

ArchaicArcane

I seem to remember a similar flap about Dr Phil a bunch of years ago too. Perhaps he's rectified it, maybe it was untrue at the time, I don't know.

QuiltnNan

according to wikipedia, he does have a doctorate in psychology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_McGraw
the rift may be that some think he has a doctorate in psychiatry, which he doesn't
i found the wiki bio quite interesting

ArchaicArcane

Perhaps that's it. I might be remembering the "doesn't have a Psychiatric degree" hubbub or some such. To be on TV, he doesn't need it though. The most notable difference between the 2 is that the psychiatrist is able to prescribe medication. Can't do that from a TV set anyway