Quilting threads?
 

I'm so confused about quilting threads to use on a high speed machine right now. My Janome 1600P is a high speed sewing/quilting machine and it has broken thread at least 30 times while I'm quilting a little boys quilt. I have tried two different brands of 50 wt gray thread (Missouri Star and Gutterman) on two different machines and it shredds or just breaks it completely. Needles have been swapped out and now I'm using a size 14 top stitch needle in my Jamone 6500MC right now and the problem continues. Should I be using a 40 wt cotton or polyester thread with a size 16 needle? I've never had problems like this before and am completely stumped. Google gives me different answers. Help!

I began using So Fine (poly) on my friend's long arm maybe 10 years ago now? Then I won an auction and bought probably a lifetime's worth of the thread. I now use it for most of my quilting, both piecing and top stitching. t was lovely in my fussy Cranky Bernie machine. It worked fine in my vintage.

My new/current machine I haven't used very much, is a Juki semi-industrial fast straight stitch only machine. It also seems to like the So Fine, both top and bottom.

Short form: Maybe time to try one of the "new" generation of poly threads. They aren't what they were in the 70s or even the 80s.

I find using a size 16 or even a size 18 sometimes help with shredding. I've only had issues with Aurifil and one other which for the life of me I can't remember what it was but it came as a sample spool with my Innova machine. I find I can use my embroidery thread as well as the embroidery metallic threads, both 40wt in my Innova also. Most times I go for Connecting Threads cottons and/or polyester threads and have rarely a problem with them and most of them are at least 5-10 years old now. If one starts to shred, I'll throw it into the freezer over night as that's supposed to put moisture into the thread. It worked for me a couple months ago and now I have those spools in a plastic bag as I have another quilt that will use the same spools to quilt with. Just wanted to save myself the grief of shredding threads.

Most times I use size 16 needle in my quilt machine.

I have used a lot of different threads for high speed sewing and Glide 40 wt using the magna glide bobbins is by far the best I have used. I have no tension problems and no thread breakage. There are so many threads available you can go broke trying them all.

One thing I do. I soak my thread cotton and poly in mineral oil. I won't go in detail about why but it's amazing the difference. It does not make it oily or the fabric oily. I learned this from Sharon Schamber's class.

I uses Glide 40wt with MagnaGlide prewound bobbins and 16 topstitch needles on my Juki TL2010 which is on my Cutie frame. I have used other polyrster thread with no problem Isacord, So Fine and Grace Co Finess.

I have a high speed machine and it takes all threads but one type of Madeira, for FMQ. I can piece with that thread fine. I use a 90/14 either top stitch or microtex in my machine. I had an older high speed machine and it shredded thread and turns out there was something wrong in the hook assembly. At least that is what was wrong with that machine. I got a good deal on a trade to a new same version Brother PQ1500 and it has never given me a problem with anything. Except that one kind of Madiera. I have never found burr on any of my machines. I have also soaked some thread in mineral oil just to see. It didn't affect the thread at all as far as performance, but, since my machine is trouble free, didn't add anything either.

When I bought my Tiara sit-down, the shop recommended Signature 40 wt. thread. Now that I own a Crown Jewel III long-arm, I have continued with the same thread. I rarely, if ever, have thread breakage issues.

Some things to consider ...

Needle Size ... careful that you are not oversizing, as too much slack in the needle hole can have the thread slipping around too much, and ultimately it will break.

Needle Type ... is a huge important variable to get right and too, can affect the success of a thread. While you are now using a top stitch needle, what others have you been using? The type that works best can change from quilt-to-quilt, dependent on the types of fabrics used, number of seams, batting, etc. My go-to is usually an embroidery needle. Sometimes that's where I stay, and sometimes, I switch it up a bunch of times til things seem just right. Have also used your top stitch, and several others. Even a jeans needle, when the going gets tough! :)

Threads ... Are you FMQing? or straight line quilting? That can make a difference in the threads we choose to use. Recently in a discussion with a LA dealer, he gave me a mini-lesson on FMQing thread. We should use a tri-lobal thread (meaning 3-strands) as that helps create a circle effect of the thread. Why? with the 3-strands, it stays pretty much the same shape going through the fabrics, no matter which direction we FMQ ... back, forward, around in circles, loopy and more! Whereas, a 2-strand thread gives a flat surface (as micro-small as that is!). So, doing straight line stitching, no problem, but as soon as we try to do the FMQing, we can run into problems.

The only one I can say for certain is that Aurifil is a 2-strand thread.
Others? can't tell you!

I have a set of Signature 40wt cotton. it's too thick for piecing but does okay quilting with a large size needle. It sure is linty though.