what thread do you use for piecing?

I (and several others) use 50 wt. Aurifil cotton thread. It's strong, doesn't take up much room in a seam and lasts a long time on a bobbin too. It's also very clean so you have very little lint in your machine. It may seem expensive, but there is a lot of thread on a spool! I've purchased mine from:

mostly at quilt shows. I use ecru shades a lot more often than white or black. The thread really blends into the fabric in a seam.

I use a 50 weight thread for piecing, Judy. I use Aurifil; though I have recently bought a spool of Robison Anton to try. I make a lot of miniatures, so the finer thread is better for me. I live in the UK and buy my thread here, so I'm not much help in that department! Loads of people do buy online, so they'll be able to help. . In message , Judy writes

I like using a 50 wt. thread for Piecing, both by machine and by hand. Or a 60 wt for machine. Have used several different ones, favorites so far: Machine: Aurifil or Precensia (love the 60 wt, very little bulk) (Several of the local shops carry the Aurifil, as do many on line. The Precensia I get from Sew Thankful, on line.) Hand: Mettler silk finish, some colors of Aurifil, Precensia (all 50 wt.)

All of these threads are smooth, long staple threads. Little to very little lint and strong. Easy to sew with and fairly easy to thread through the needles.

YMMV, Pati, > I have read different things on what type of and size of thread to use for

Patty, Do try the Presencia (or is it Precensia???) from Spain in the 60 wt. It is wonderful. Not a lot of difference, but it is a bit finer than the 50 wt.

Pati, > I use a 50 weight thread for piecing, Judy.

A local sewing maching dealer spoke at our Quilt Guild meeting recently. He said that Aurifil is fine for wallhangings, but since it's 60 wt, he would NOT recommend using it in a quilt that's going to get lots of use and laundering. I like the Mettler silk finish, but I quit using it because I go through the small spools way too fast and I've never been able to find it in larger spools or cones. I've started using Robison Anton 3000 yd cones. It's good quality, not very fuzzy. I've had no problems with it at all. I only have 2 colors - ecru and grey! Those two colors work for everything that I piece.

Like so many others here, Judy, I love the 50wt Aurifil thread. There's so much on the spool that it works out to be less expensive than some of the other (more linty, less fine) threads available. I can frequently buy it at my LQS, but another good source for me has been . They're fast and honest. :)

others have replied what are good threads. my question is where are you shopping? i know its silly cuz some shop employees dont know squat about what they sell but have you asked anyhow? maybe they hide the good cotton thread from the general putblic, lol. i cant imagine not being able to find cotton thread. now if you were looking for something tricky like metallic thread, i could understand not finding it but plain old cotton? go figure. jeanne

I have three spools of Prescensia. I put one on the machine a couple days ago and I noticed several slubs in it as I pulled it through the needle. I thought it was fuzzier than my Aurifil.

I mostly use Coats and Clark's thread left over from sewing clothing. After all, the scraps in my quilts are from clothes I've sewn; why not the thread, too? It's yet another reason to make scrap quilts, I say--use up the thread! C&C also make big (1200 yards? at least 500 yards) spools and I always have one or two of them in some beige-y color in case I'm sewing scraps that don't want, say, royal blue thread. But generally I'm not too fussy about my thread color when piecing.

Donna, I have Aurifil in 50 wt. I have seen it in, I believe, 30 wt. But never seen it in 60 wt. And if the seams are secure, and the quilt is quilted well, I don't see why a 60 wt. thread should be a problem in a quilt??? (As long as it is a good quality thread, of course. ) I'm with you though about a grey and an off white. I do most of my piecing with the off white. And bought a cone of 60 wt.to do it. I do have some different colors for the quilting though.

Pati, > A local sewing maching dealer spoke at our Quilt Guild meeting recently. He

I've been using Essential thread from Connecting Threads. It is very reasonably priced and doesn't leave a lot of lint in my Elna. Coats and Clark Dual Duty is okay if it's all you can find, but it does leave more lint than some other brands in my machine. I have also used the Coats and Clark Star brand cotton thread -- not as linty as Dual Duty, but more lint than Essential thread.

Julia > I have read different things on what type of and size of thread to use for

I've been wondering about Connecting Thread's Essentials thread. Haven't ever talked to anyone who has used it. Think I'll order some next time I run out.

I've never used Aurifil - just going by what the dealer told us.

I use the large Coats & Clark cotton threads, usually the natural (beigish) colour.

-- Anita --

I use Gutermann 50w cotton thread for machine piecing. That just happens to be what my LQS carries and I really like it. I used to use Coats & Clark's until I turned into a thread snob, LOL. But I only get really picky about the thread used for hand-quilting. I've learned there is so much difference in quilting thread. Some of it snarls worse than others, some breaks easier. That's one item that I don't ever scrimp on.

Sherry

The Aurifil I use is 50wt cotton - and it has stood up to HEAVY wear very well. Some of their threads are different weights and contents.

Ooh! I'll look for that, Pati. Thanks. I love the thought of a 60 wt. I have some 100 wt silk that is perfection, but too expensive to use for piecing! . In message , Pati Cook writes

Smile! I did use up all my clothes sewing thread first! It took a few years, but now I buy my 'specials' >g< . In message , dogmom writes

I use size 50 mercerised cotton, and buy the biggest spools or cones I can find. Red Rock Threads sells big spools of various brands. Or sometimes I'm lucky locally. But check carefully if buying unbranded thread. Hold up a length in good light with your glasses on, and you can see if it looks the least bit fuzzy -don't buy it! Roberta in D

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