How To Make A Quilt: Part 3 – Threads for Machine Quilting

Essential Materials for the Beginner Quilter

By Terry White

Quilters are an emotional group of people. We tend to fall in love with a thread, a pair of scissors, a sewing machine or fabric. After we love it, we defend it and try to convince everyone that, “mine is the best!” Please keep this in mind when I give you advice…I am suggesting materials for the beginner. When you get to know all the products available, then you will make informed choices.

The variety of threads available today is wonderful! I have almost never met a thread I didn’t like. However, I didn’t like the 4 for a dollar thread…it was bad thread.

The problem with too many choices is, “What do you need?”

You Need:
• Thread to sew patchwork together
• Thread to stitch appliqué shapes onto fabric
• Thread for the bobbin
• Thread to baste the quilt
• Thread to quilt the quilt
• There are even more choices when it comes to
decorative stitching on the surface of the quilt!

Sewing Patchwork

When you sew patchwork on the sewing machine, you want a thread that is of consistent high quality and will give you a good even stitch.

Coats&Clark Dual Duty regular sewing thread – this is a polyester thread of good quality that most people use. Many good clothing designers and manufacturers use this thread, also.

100% cotton thread – some people feel very strongly about piecing cotton fabric with cotton threads. This thread is also used for appliqué and quilting.

The picture shows a group of 24 colors of STAR cotton thread which I designed, King Tut, Gutermann, Metrosene are favorite threads for piecing.

I use regular sewing thread for patchwork. It is economical and because this thread doesn’t “show” in the work, it doesn’t have to be fancy. Use a thread that blends well with your fabrics so that it doesn’t show.

Stitching Appliqué

Appliqué shapes can be stitched with any good quality thread – depending on the look you want. I think that you should start with either cotton or rayon as these threads behave well in the sewing machine.

The picture shows rayon threads from several different companies. As you can see, rayon thread has a lovely sheen like silk. It actually is a silk substitute (silk thread is very expensive). Rayon thread will shrink and fade after time and it isn’t as strong as cotton. That is why many people use it decoratively in machine embroidery and to enhance appliqué.

The polyester threads that have recently come on the market are quite superior to the old polyesters and give the same look as rayon. They are very good for quilting.

Bobbin Thread

This term can be confusing…there are specific threads called, “bobbin thread”; and any thread that you put in the bobbin will be called “bobbin thread”. Threads called, “bobbin thread” are usually a lightweight thread that is used for programmed machine embroidery. For our purposes, the bobbin thread is that which is put in the bobbin.

When sewing patchwork, use the same thread in the bobbin that you will use in the top of your sewing machine, or, “the needle thread”.

When stitching appliqué shapes to the top of your quilt, use a regular sewing thread in the bobbin, even when you use a cotton or rayon in the needle thread.

When quilting, the bobbin thread should be the same thread as in the needle thread.

Basting Thread

When you baste, you are stitching the quilt top, batting and backing together with very large stitches. This keeps everything in place as you quilt. I use a very strong hand quilting thread for this. I like to use a thread that is similar in color or as light in color as the quilt.

Quilting Thread

There are many threads labeled as “machine quilting” threads…they are all good. The polyesters and cotton threads are the same as described above. Don’t use hand quilting threads, they don’t work well in your sewing machine.

For more information on how to quilt for beginners,
and free projects by Terry, click here.