World Wide Quilting Page

Question of the Week

Question for the week of November 10, 2003:

Our question this week comes Patty H:

I am confused about which type of thread to use for piecing - 100% cotton, cotton/poly, regular sewing thread - what do you use?

DEBRA STRONG :
WELL IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF FABRIC YOUR PIECING ,IALWAYS TRY TO USE THE SAME TYPE OF THREAD THAT THE FABRIC I'M USING IS, .I USUALLY USE COTTON ,AND I'LL USE 100% COTTON ,I HAVE FOUND THOUGH THAT METLER IS THEE BEST THREAD TO USE WITH ANY THING ,IT'S SPENDY ,BUT ANY THING I TAKE THE TIME TO CREATE DESERVES THE BEST QUALITY.IF THE FAB.IS GOOD QUALITY THE THREAD SHOULD BE THE SAME QUALITY ,SO ONE DOESNT WHERE OUT BEFORE THEE OTHER,IF ANY MORE QUESTIONS I'D LOVE TO HELP ,EMAIL ME @pnut1834@yahoo.com, hope i have been a help.debra

> karen :
Ialways use 100% cotton. That way if the fabic shrinks when you wash it, the thread shrinks at the same time.

Christina in WA :
I'll answer with a question. When I first started machine quilting I used cotton thread, but it broke easily and built up too much lint. Now I use cotton/poly and it seems to work very well. I'm a beginner so I'm not making an heirloom quilt yet. But, was I just using the wrong needle perhaps or maybe the wrong cotton thread?

Becky from NH :
I usually use 100% cotton, but any of the above will work. Just make sure the thread is smooth, and doesn't have any little hairs sticking out from it. That indicates a poor quality thread.

Kathy in Washington :
Do you notice something? Ask about ten quilters and you will get about ten different answers. Once again this is not something that is carved in stone. For the long term (hundred years) matching thread fiber to fabric fiber is advised. Otherwise, use what works best for you.

Bonnie Jull :
regular sewing thread

Leslie Norman :
When piecing 100% cotton fabrics, I use 100% cotton thread. A poly-wrapped or "regular" sewing thread is stronger than most quilting fabrics, and can cut into those fabrics. The good-quality, 100% cotton thread just lays into the fabric so nicely -- they're meant to be together!

LuAnn :
100% cottow when piecing. However, When it comes to machine quilting pretty much anything goes. Most popular for quilting are the rayon and silk threads. They add a shimmer to the surface of the quilt. Always 100% cotton for piecing 100% cotton fabrics.

Annette :
The way I understand it, polyester is much stronger than cotton, so after about 50 years, it may start cutting through the cotton fabrics. So, if you want to make an heirloom quilt that will last for 100 years or more, definitly use 100% cotton. But if you're making a utilitarian quilt, why not use the poly/cotton?

Susan :
It depends on the fabric you are using. If I'm using 100% cotton fabric, then I'm using 100% cotton thread and 100% cotton batting. If I'm using a blend fabric, which I haven't done in years for quilting, then the poly or cotton covered poly, with poly batting, is fine. Your best bet is to try the various threads available and use the one that suits you, your machine, your purpose and your pocketbook.

sheila brown :
100% cotton

violet :
100% cotton is especially nice for hand piecing as it is strong and doesn't tangle.Regular sewing thread is O.K. for machine piecing.

Marguerite :
I just started using 100% cotton (versus whatever was laying around) because it makes sense to use it if you are adament about 100% cotton fabrics and I worry that the poly in the cotton/poly will cut fibers in my fabric.

KTEDID :
I hand piece with regular cotton/poly sewing thread simply because it is easier to thread through the needle. However I have had some problems in the past with the seams seperating at corners. I solve this by backing over, double-stiching, my first few stiches and last sticthes and quilting the pieces more closely, avoiding shift.

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