Ultimapoly thread revisited...

One of the posts you are referring to was probably mine. Don't try to use UPoly on a thread stand. That is where the worst problems occur. You can get away with using it on a machine spindle if you are very careful, push the spool cap against the spool snugly, whisper a few magic words, and watch it like a hawk. The minute I walk away the darn stuff goes wild!! It's just not worth it. I much prefer the Marathon or ARC, which are both 40 weight.

I have decided to use the Upoly in the bobbin when I am embroidering free standing lace, or anything where I want the bobbin thread to more or less match the top. It works fine for that.

A couple of weeks ago, I was using my Bernina 1090s to do some machine applique on a wallhanging. I decided to try using some of the UPoly on top, since it was the exact color I wanted. It was a lucky thing that I decided to do a practice piece to check. My trusty old Bernina started making an alarming noise while I was sewing. After checking everything else without success - pulled out the bobbin case (in which I was using lingerie thread, great for applique and machine quilting), cleaned the machine, changed the needle, said the magic words, still making noise - I finally switched the UPoly for a spool of Marathon in a close-enough color. Problem solved. No more noise. I did the whole wallhanging with no further trouble. How can this be? I don't know. It's the first time the Bernina ever balked at any kind of thread and I've had her for over ten years.

I have a question - why are you intent on buying #50 thread anyway, if you have a good supply of #40? I don't find that there is any significant difference between the two and I use #40 for everything now, including the Disney designs that call for Brother thread, which is #50. I have two Brother embroidery machines, often run both of them at once, and have sewn out thousands of designs. Yes, I'm retired with time on my hands! I probably don't want to know the answer to this, because I sure don't need to start another stash either, but what the heck. So how come?

Iris

It is entirely possible that one (or more) of the posts was yours (I read a great many posts from 2-3 years ago).

To try and answer your question, I find that some designs are considerably more "fiddly" than others to begin with (this can be even more true of resized designs), and sometimes changing the thread weight produces a better looking sew-out (no matter how I try to adjust the designs beforehand) . So I use both thread sizes, depending on the design test sew-out. I use 2 ply 60 wt poly in the bobbin usually (which is not quite the same as actual lingerie thread, which has some elastic properties and is nylon, AFAIK).

I have been using some poly brother thread, a large amount was given me by a dealer who was going out of business, but it is pretty well gone now (way too expensive, and the spools are just too darn small)

Aside: I have totally ceased using rayon thread long ago because of the lint issues and the bleaching problems ('tis pretty though)

Hmm...... Here is something that might be of interest: