I don't understand the Aurifil hype
 

Today I was testing my thread stash using the 'tug test' and when I tried my brand new - purchased 3 weeks ago - spool of Aurifil 50 wt I was shocked that this stuff breaks SO EASILY. I have 20 year old Valdani and Coats & Clark that are much tougher than this stuff!!

I'm so angry for not thinking to test this at the time of purchase. Wasted 18 bucks CAD on this one stupid spool.

I'm sticking with the "uncool" yet affordable and reliable Gutermann and Coats & Clark for piecing.

Agreed! But it is really nice for hand applique. I do so many donation tops, that I use serger thread for piecing. These are not heirloom quality tops so I refuse to pay the premium thread price.

My friend says the easy breaking is the beauty of it as seam ripper work is halved, just start and pull. I tried one spool of Aurifil and it had knots in it which has put me off. I buy Mettler cones. Mettler breaks fairly easily sometimes, too, but I haven't had a problem with it.

Coats & Clark threads are higher threadweight (likely 40 wt ) and possibly poly-core to 50 wt Aurifil that is all cotton. The fine-ness of Aurifil is what makes it great for piecing - it disappears into the seams. Valdani could be anything - they make a variety of threads, including a long-staple Egyptian cotton 50wt that is basically the same thing as Aurifil 50wt. Ditto Gutermann, but it's most often associated with a poly thread (Mara) which is inherently stronger than cotton.

I think every quilter that has a social media presence is an Aurifill ambassador. Its not the end all of thread by any means.

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I like it. My machines like it and I've had no problems with it.

I've used Aurifil in the past, can't say if i had problems with it or not. I've also used Connecting threads, King Tut, Omni (my go to thread) and Missouri Star. Luck is with me in that my machine really isn't picky.
I also know that it's possible to get a "bad" spool of thread from a manufacturer that either knots or keeps breaking, wasteing half of the spool before it starts to behave again. It's the luck of the draw sometimes.

I like Aurifil. I've not had any problems with it at all. I spent all of the COVID shut down time using up my odds and ends of thread of all colors and wights. Now I purchase Aurifil for no other reason than....I like it because it is finer than Gutterman. But in the end, I use what is at hand: anything donated to me or what I find on the free table.

I am presently repairing a 12 yr old quilt l made for dd which her young dog got hold of a corner. I was pleasantly surprised to see all the quilting stitches beautifully intact though a few places it is looped due to her cats' claws. I used serger thread to quilt it back then when l used my Bailey midarm. I now use Glide...l hopes it performs as well. I will never use all cotton thread.

I used Coats and Clark for many, many years because that was the only thread available to me. The quilt shop I worked in stocked Aurifil 50 wt thread. When I tried it I quickly noticed how little lint there was as opposed to CC thread. And as has been noted, it makes a fine and flat seam. Do I still purchase and occasionally use CC thread, yes. But my main piecing thread is Aurifil. I figure less lint keeps me from having my machine serviced less often is enough to justify the expense as maintenance on my machine is 2 hours one way from me.