on Thread
What thread do you use?
I've always bought cotton thread, preferring to work with natural fibers, but I've tried all sorts of brands. When I started sewing, I bought Coats & Clark - cheap and local. Then, when I became "a quilter" I switched to Gutermann - also local, though expensive and supposed to be better quality for quilting. Aurifil has been much-touted in blogland, so naturally I gave it a try. I bought a pack of basic Aurifil neutrals from Pink Chalk, which I'm still working my way through. Pricey stuff, but so shiny that it feels luxurious. Lots of people recommend it for free motion quilting.
Honestly, I can't tell the difference in how ANY of these sew. That doesn't mean that there isn't a difference (I'm no expert), but it feels like faith to buy one or the other. I know some sewing machines seem to prefer specific threads, but I haven't found that to be the case with my machines. I do love to straight line quilt in the Aurifil 12 wt thread, a chunky thread that really shows off. I'll keep that up, but for piecing.... Aurifil is just too pricey for me.
So, recently, I asked Connecting Threads to send me a cone of their "Essential" thread in 50 wt cotton. The price is extraordinarily good - 5000 yards for $10. Or, if your machine doesn't accommodate cones, it's $2.80 for a 1200 yard spool. Either way, it's the cheapest thread I've seen. Yes, it's less lustrous than Aurifil 50 wt and maybe does make more lint (not sure for my machine, though others who've done comparison tests say so). But the thing is I sew a lot. Price matters.
I've been sewing with Connecting Threads thread for a month now. I've used it for piecing, quilting and garment sewing. Aria's been wearing her Geranium dress weekly, and it's holding up nicely.
Whisper is the first quilt I free motion quilted with Connecting Threads thread. It went wonderfully. So, unless something comes up otherwise, I see more 5000 yard cones in my future. I like the fact that I can load it in white and leave it up there, like forever. Simplicity is golden.
What about you? What thread do you prefer and why?
Note: With thread, 50 wt thread is much finer than 12 wt thread. 8 wt thread would be even thicker. 80 wt thread would be super-fine.
 |
| Connecting Threads Essential Thread |
I've always bought cotton thread, preferring to work with natural fibers, but I've tried all sorts of brands. When I started sewing, I bought Coats & Clark - cheap and local. Then, when I became "a quilter" I switched to Gutermann - also local, though expensive and supposed to be better quality for quilting. Aurifil has been much-touted in blogland, so naturally I gave it a try. I bought a pack of basic Aurifil neutrals from Pink Chalk, which I'm still working my way through. Pricey stuff, but so shiny that it feels luxurious. Lots of people recommend it for free motion quilting.
 |
| quilted with Aurifil 12 wt |
Honestly, I can't tell the difference in how ANY of these sew. That doesn't mean that there isn't a difference (I'm no expert), but it feels like faith to buy one or the other. I know some sewing machines seem to prefer specific threads, but I haven't found that to be the case with my machines. I do love to straight line quilt in the Aurifil 12 wt thread, a chunky thread that really shows off. I'll keep that up, but for piecing.... Aurifil is just too pricey for me.
 |
| Connecting Threads Essential Threads |
So, recently, I asked Connecting Threads to send me a cone of their "Essential" thread in 50 wt cotton. The price is extraordinarily good - 5000 yards for $10. Or, if your machine doesn't accommodate cones, it's $2.80 for a 1200 yard spool. Either way, it's the cheapest thread I've seen. Yes, it's less lustrous than Aurifil 50 wt and maybe does make more lint (not sure for my machine, though others who've done comparison tests say so). But the thing is I sew a lot. Price matters.
I've been sewing with Connecting Threads thread for a month now. I've used it for piecing, quilting and garment sewing. Aria's been wearing her Geranium dress weekly, and it's holding up nicely.
Whisper is the first quilt I free motion quilted with Connecting Threads thread. It went wonderfully. So, unless something comes up otherwise, I see more 5000 yard cones in my future. I like the fact that I can load it in white and leave it up there, like forever. Simplicity is golden.
What about you? What thread do you prefer and why?
Note: With thread, 50 wt thread is much finer than 12 wt thread. 8 wt thread would be even thicker. 80 wt thread would be super-fine.