Okay, I am probably being denser than usual, but how do you find the weight of the thread. My only resource is Joann's. Maybe I need new glasses, but I couldn't find the info on the spools. :|

Sometimes they just don't bother to put it on the spool. Sometimes it is on the display. And some of the bargain brands don't place it anywhere.

I only recently learned about thread weights myself! I had no idea there were so many options until I joined this group.

usually if there is color #, and amount of thread on the spool there is also a number...30, 40, 50...that is your thread weight. 50 being quite thin, 30 the heavier...my nephew came home with a $12 spool of 12 weight once...found out none of our machines would accept such a heavy thread...we all started paying a little more attention to what we were buying..,
i think it is Signature threads that has a pretty good tutorial about threads...

The higher the number the thinner the thread. 50 or 60 is good for piecing. I buy the thinnest strongest thread I can find for the bobbin and for machine quilting. Coats and Clark use to make a very strong size 70 bobbin thread on a mini cone. I have three cones of it left.

thanks everyone for the info.

It's probably just the needle that won't accept the heavier thread. I use 12 W thread all the time for machine quilting and surface design. It works fine in a 90/14 topstitch needle (larger eye and groove).

I had no idea thread came in different weights til I started quilting.

link for you

http://quiltbug.com/Articles/thread-theory.htm

another link

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/thread.shtml

Thanks craftybear for the links. I have bookmarked them for easy reference. I appreciate the help!