There are a wide variety of thread choices to consider for your new quilting system. From the basic cottons, polyesters and blends to decorative threads, most can be used for your quilting techniques and designs.
There are a wide variety of thread choices to consider for your new quilting system. From the basic cottons, polyesters and blends to decorative threads, most can be used for your quilting techniques and designs.
Thread Holders 
Use the cone holder for larger cones of thread and the horizontal spool holder(s) for smaller spools of thread. You can even use two threads at once for a blended look.
If you plan to try new threads, we recommend that you test samples first to be sure the thread is strong enough to meet your needs. Once you are satisfied with the thread’s sewing performance and the look that it produces, you can purchase larger quantities.
You will need a convenient place to store the thread and bobbins. Both should be stored in a drawer or cabinet (away from light) to prevent fading and dust build up.
Types of Thread
Use cone thread for basic quilting such as blending the quilting into the background, stitching borders and blocks, or any day-to-day quilting techniques. When purchasing cones of thread, it is a good idea to purchase two cones, one for the machine and one for the bobbin winder.
Whenever possible you should consider using the same type and/or brand of thread in the top as you do in the bobbin. This often results in better stitch quality than if you mixed two different types of thread (such as cotton and polyester). Problems can occur when using two threads of different thicknesses and/or weights. However, there are exceptions. When using expensive decorative threads in the top you can achieve good stitch quality by using a good cotton or polyester thread in the bobbin. Mixing these threads will save you a little money because you are not using the more expensive thread in the bobbin.
Most quilters choose thread based on how the thread sews and the look of the stitches in the quilt. Each of us has our own personal taste and, with the variety of threads available, we can easily find the right thread for us and for the quilting techniques we employ.
If you have a quilt with lots of fabric colors. Just remember, the variegated thread isn’t always your friend. The quilting should compliment the piecing. Using variegated thread can sometimes steal the show and overpower the piecing.
Thread Weight and/or Thickness
Threads are manufactured in a variety of thicknesses and/or weights so you can choose a thinner thread for one look and a thicker thread for another.
Often the thread label includes a “Tex” number that indicates thread weight.
Tex is the most consistent of the measuring methods. It uses a fixed length to measure the weight of a thread. Tex is the weight (in grams) of 1,000 meters of thread. Or, in other words, 1,000 meters of thread that weighs 1 gm. = 1 Tex. The higher the tex, the thicker the thread.
Cotton
Cotton threads are made from long or short cotton fibers. The long fibers make the thread stronger, and they generate less lint than the shorter fibers. Good quality cotton threads are colorfast and non-bleeding. There are several brands of thread manufacturers that produce good quality cotton thread on cones. When using cotton thread in the top, use cotton thread in the bobbin. Cotton threads generally produce a lot of lint so be sure to clean out the bobbin area often to prevent lint buildup.
Variegated cotton thread on cones is also widely available and these threads look wonderful on scrappy quilts when using an all-over, edge-to-edge quilting design. Choose a solid-color cotton bobbin thread that coordinates with both the backing fabric and the variegated colors in the top thread.
Polyester
Polyester threads are strong with a slight elasticity. They are colorfast and non-bleeding. Polyester threads generally produce less lint than cotton threads.
Poly/Cotton
Blended polyester/cotton offers the strength of the polyester core wrapped with the softness of cotton. This is an excellent choice of thread for learning to use the machine but it also has a very pleasing look when stitched into a quilt.
Monofilament
Monofilament thread is made from polyester or nylon with the polyester being more heat resistant than the nylon. This means that you can iron the polyester monofilament on a higher heat setting without it melting. Monofilament thread is used when you want to show the effect of quilting but not the stitches or thread. Some quilt shop owners want to concentrate on the fabrics, pattern, and piecing techniques to sell supplies but they do not necessarily want to draw attention to the quilting, so they use monofilament.
Other times to use monofilament thread are for T-shirt quilts where there can be vastly different colors in the quilt top and different ways to quilt each block. In this case, you may wish to use monofilament thread to stitch an all-over, edge-to-edge design. The clear thread blends well with any color and the edge-to-edge design gives even coverage of quilting over the entire quilt.
When using monofilament thread in the top, use cotton or polyester threads that blend with the backing fabric in the bobbin. Monofilament thread has a good deal of stretch so you may need to loosen the top thread tension quite a bit to get good stitch quality. This thread also likes to “unsew” itself so be sure to secure the stitching well.
Decorative
Decorative threads include embroidery threads, metallic threads, and any other threads used for decoration but not for strength. Often these threads, since they are designed for decorative purposes only, are not as strong as cotton, polyester, blends, or monofilament. Therefore, unless the quilt is made for purely decorative purposes such as an art quilt, you should use cotton, polyester, or monofilament thread over most of the quilt for strength. After the layers are sufficiently quilted with the strong thread, you can then add the quilting with the decorative threads.
Since these threads are made for decorative use you will need to test them in your long-arm machine. Look for threads such as polyester embroidery threads that are made to be used in high-speed embroidery machines. These threads are generally stronger and hold up to industrial use on the long-arm machine. Rayon threads are often made from short fibers and are therefore prone to breaking so be sure to test a brand before purchasing large quantities.
Fabrics are woven with horizontal and vertical threads and have a bias on the diagonal. There is little stretch when the fabric is pulled along the vertical or horizontal threads. There is little stretch but when the fabric is pulled along the diagonal line, it has a large amount of stretch. Quilting stitches placed along the vertical or horizontal threads of the fabric give the quilt added strength by reducing the area of the diagonal stretch. However, when lines of quilting are stitched along the bias, the stitches are in danger of breaking if there is significant stretch along the diagonal. If you plan to quilt diagonal lines along the bias of a quilt you should plan to include additional stitches in the vertical and horizontal directions as well. Even some of the strongest threads cannot hold up to stretching along the bias.
Choosing Thread Color
Before we talk about choosing thread color you should understand the concept of “pokies.” Pokies are dots of thread that poke through from one side to the other such as the top thread poking through to the back and vice versa. No matter how well you adjust the tension for both threads there will be instances where pokies happen. Most often they appear in tight curves or in points. When pokies appear on a quilt, either the front or back, the eye is instantly drawn to them in a distracting way which takes the focus away from the piecing and quilting designs. To minimize pokies in your quilt, you should always use the same thread color on both the top and bobbin.
Another factor to consider when choosing thread color is the backing fabric. The quilting thread is the only part of the quilt that affects the look of both sides of the quilt. Often quilters choose a backing fabric without considering how the quilting looks. Solid muslin is a favorite of many quilt makers but can be a disaster for some types of quilting. Solid fabrics tend to show every wobble and bump and all the backstitches for securing threads. Consider using a busy backing fabric that coordinates with the top fabrics.
Choosing a thread color can be difficult at times and your first, more obvious choice can often be completely wrong for the quilt. The best way to be sure you choose the perfect thread color is to compare several choices of the actual thread. Unwind a portion of each of the cones and lay them across the quilt top. Instantly you will see which ones are not right and which ones are possibilities. Begin eliminating threads one by one until the best one is left. That is the thread you should use.
Tip: Purchase high-quality quilting thread and your quilting experience will be more enjoyable!
Thread for Special Uses