What Thread is Best For Quilting?

What Thread is Best For Quilting?
By Kate Welder

Quilting thread is classified under two categories that is sewing and embellishing thread. The sewing thread is the one most used and is especially fit for quilting. Sewing thread comes in a variety of options, fibers and weights alike and the latter can be between 28 to 60. Because quilting threads need to be durable and withstand the time test, you should buy threads of 40 weight or somewhere near this number. Those closer to the 28 thread are for embellishments and those with a weight of 50 are sturdier and stronger, therefore used for piecing. How do you read the weight of a thread? Just study a little the label and you will see a little marking on the label, saying for instance 40/2. This means the thread weight and respectively how many plies it has. Therefore, the thread in the example has a 40 weight and 2 plies.

Threads designed for quilting are made of cotton, polyester, plastic, rayon or metallic materials. The metallic or plastic threads are commonly used in embellishments or to add specialized stitches. The cotton ones are used at larger scales and therefore they are widely available. They are also subjected to a mercerized process, in which the cotton threads that are treated with sodium hydroxide to shrink and increase their luster and affinity for dye. Cotton threads usually weigh from 30 to 60.

Rayon threads also display an increased affinity for luster while the polyester one holds the advantage that it doesn't shrink when washed and it neither loses its color. You should also bear in mind that metallic threads need acquires skills beforehand so that you can sew them together, so this type of sewing is not for beginners. When purchasing threads for your quilting, look for the specialized companies that have a long term tradition and quality reputation like Coats and Clark, or Guterman specializing in hand quilting and renowned for the quality and refinement of their threads, Madeira rayon threads, strong enough to be used for embroidering on denim and leather or Mettler, a company which offers several types of fibers.

Another thing to consider is your sewing tool; if it's old and rusty, it should be better left behind. If the spool moves itself, unreel it then pull it back on. If you come across threads that snap, it's best to leave them apart because they will snap inside your sewing machine too. Considering that the thread market nowadays offers so many inexpensive options, it is best to buy new thread whenever you need one and don't try to save money on the threads' quality. After all, you will end up less frustrated and you will do your work more quickly.

You will also find numerous types of threads available for different embellishments and you could find these in the local specialized store. For manual quilting, you can utilize embroidery floss, which comes in different shapes and fibers in every store you can think of.

At the end of the day, by choosing wisely the threads you are just beginning to become mesmerized by the beautiful art of quilting.

For more information on quilting and to receive a free ebook "Quilting Reveled 101" please visit http://www.quilthowto.com

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Superior Threads Giveaway

Last day for the Mother Superior thread giveaway. I just found this blog today, and wish I had seen it sooner to share with you all. But if you hurry you can still get in on the drawing for $50.00 gift certificate from Superior Threads.

If you are a quilter, you know you need thread, why not take advantage of an opportunity to get some of the best threads for free! The contest ends Midnight February 14th, 2009 and the winner will be drawn on the following Monday.

All you need to do is go to Mother Superior read the article and follow the instructions, you can get 1, 2 or 3 entries into the contest depending on what you do. All three are really simple and then you will increase your chances to win!
Go now to Mother Superior don't miss out on your chance to win some fabulous threads!

Picking the right quilting thread

Choosing a thread color for your quilting stitches is as important as the fabrics you use.

If you are new to machine quilting, try a thread color that blends or matches your fabrics well. When you match the thread color to the fabric your stitches won’t show as much. For a simple all over design try meandering. Meandering is just a larger version of stippling. Think of it like large puzzle pieces.

If you really want to show off the quilting stitches than use a thread in a color that is contrasting to the fabric color. This may be especially important when using decorative threads as a strong design element.

If you are not sure what colors will look best, do a sample quilt using the same fabrics as in your quilt. Sample pieces are a good way to make sure not only the thread is right but also your tension and stitches are right. This is especially important when trying out a new quilting design.

For more helpful advice check out the quilting FAQ’s on the site. If you have not been to the site in a while you may be missing out on our weekly discussions. So head over to Quilting Weekly and get caught up on all the latest quilting advice.

Choosing Thread for Quilting

Choosing a thread color for your quilting stitches is as important as the fabrics you use.

If you are new to machine quilting, try a thread color that blends or matches your fabrics well. When you match the thread color to the fabric your stitches won’t show as much. For a simple all over design try meandering. Meandering is just a larger version of stippling. Think of it like large puzzle pieces.

If you really want to show off the quilting stitches than use a thread in a color that is contrasting to the fabric color. This may be especially important when using decorative threads as a strong design element.

If you are not sure what colors will look best, do a sample quilt using the same fabrics and batting as in your quilt. Sample pieces are a good way to make sure not only the thread is right but also your tension and stitches are right. This is especially important when trying out a new quilting design.

What caused my thread to break?

Thread breakage during sewing can be a real problem. Knowing what caused it can help you to prevent it from ever happening again.

Here is a checklist for trouble shooting thread breakage:

Damaged or incorrect needle: Change the needle, as it may have dulled from overuse or could have a burr or nick. If the needle is new, check that it is the correct size and the eye is large enough for the thread type being used.

Defective or old thread: Lower-quality threads may have thick and thin spots that lead to breakage Thread that is too old becomes dry and brittle as it ages, causing it to break easily. (So inheriting grandmas thread box may not be such a treasure after all)

Improperly threaded machine:Check to see that your spool is properly positioned on the sewing machine. the thread may be getting caught on the spool cap and as it comes off the top o the spool. The solution may be as simple as turning over the spool on the spool pin.

Or, if the presser foot wasn't raised when you threaded th machine, the thread may not be caught between the tension discs inside the machine. the quickest fix is to remove the spool and re-thread your machine with the presser foot raised.

Operator error:Pushing or pulling on the fabric or allowing drag to be created by hanging a heavy quilt over your work surface can increase stress on the thread and cause breakage.

Tension too tight:Refer to your machine's manual for the proper tension setting.

Wrong thread: You may have the wrong thread type for the fabric you've chosen. Change the thread and sew on a scrap of fabric to see how a differnt thread performs.

These helpful tips were taken from the Complete Guide to Quilting by Better Homes garden.