Entwining The Perfect Thread

I've been quilting for about 20 years, and when I got my long-arm setup about a decade ago, I did what many crafters today do; I joined an online group to get hints, tips and a support network while I learned the new skills needed to successfully finish quilts this way.

Back then, there were all kinds of rules about thread to use, some of which made good sense and some of which made my head hurt as it made so little sense.

Conventional wisdom says that 100% cotton thread is used for quilting. Of course, for sewing we use cotton, polyester and poly-cotton threads quite interchangeably. There are also beautiful rayon and polyester threads for embroidery that work wonderfully on quilts. Ten years ago, using embroidery threads for quilting was a huge no-no, but perfectly acceptable today.

After much experimentation and trial-and-error, I found that I achieved perfect tension and thread balance by using cotton thread in the bobbin and my embroidery threads in the top of the machine. I was happy with my results, but the purists said it was wrong!

At the same time, they found it perfectly acceptable to use clear nylon or plastic thread, much like fishing line, to do quilting that they didn't want to be seen. I have two problems with this. First, nylon/plastic "thread" has no place on a cotton quilt. Second, why would a quilter not want their quilting stitches to show? While my cotton/rayon combo was wrong, cotton and fishing line was just fine. That was a head-hurting thought to process!

But, it was also a thought that I just let go. I was happy with what I was using and didn't plan to ever try the clear thread option, so the judgment of right and wrong didn't affect me at all. If others were happy with what they were doing, then that was fine with me.

As happens with many members of online groups, I became too busy to continue my membership and dropped out amicably. Since I'm setting up my long-arm system again after a lengthy hiatus, I rejoined the group recently for the same reasons I joined the first time. I feel like a rank beginner again!

Other than embroidery thread now being okay to use in the group opinion, not much has changed in the fact that there are thread rules that boggle my mind. This time, I see that lots of people are using polyester bobbin thread in the bobbins of their machines. I've heard a lot of weird things in my years of making quilts, but this is the first one that makes me want to jump around and shout!

Bobbin thread is generally used to reduce bulk in embroidery stitching. It is not meant for quilting. In quilting, the use of super thin bobbin thread is mainly because more thread can be wound onto the bobbin and for no other reason. While I understand the desire to change bobbins less often, I completely don't understand using a substandard product for the most important part of the quilt!

Bobbin thread is very thin which throws off the machine tension and thread balance. It is not as strong as thicker threads, whether it is coupled with cotton, polyester or rayon. The thinner the thread, the easier it breaks. This isn't an issue that we want after spending so much time on our quilts, especially when these large, heavy blankets will get machine washed and dried!

As we all learn in basic sewing, match the top and bobbins threads as closely as possible to get the best results! Choose the right quilting supplies, use what works for you, and don't cut corners or make decisions that make things easier for you at the time only to create headaches for you later. I don't know about you, but I'd rather change bobbins more often than have to repair the quilting after minor use!

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