Monale

For some reason I couldn't open your link, but I googled the name and found http://www.jinnybeyer.com/quilting-w...lt-gallery.cfm Wow, that's all hand pieced! Amazing! Are you hand piecing your quilts, too?

Craftnut

Aurifil, Gutermann, Metler, or Essentials from Connecting Threads. Coats and Clark left North Carolina for overseas production years ago, and their quality has gone downhill ever since - thick and thin spots, easily tangling and knotting, breakage, and overall bad compared to other threads. (Their factory remains empty and an eyesore). I find most Coats and Clarks users who still like it haven't tried enough other brands to make a good comparison. Some years ago I gathered up all my C&C thread and donated it to a thrift store.

joe'smom

I had hoped to hand piece, but the running stitch proved to be too difficult for my arthritic hands (though I don't have trouble with applique or the hand quilting stitch). I would strongly recommend a top quality thread for your piecing. I use Guttermann for machine piecing, and their hand quilting thread for my hand quilting. I think I am going to try some Aurifil 28 wt. for hand quilting as well -- their colors are so wonderful. I'm not sure about using the Aurifil 50 wt. for machine piecing -- has anyone tried that?

SandyWh

As you can see, everyone has their favorites. It's a process you will go through and finally decide. I've been through YLI, Gutermann, Coats and Clark. I want a 100% Cotton. As I progressed through all of these, I discovered I wanted my stitches to show a little more so I'm now hand quilting with Valdani Hand - Overdyed 24 wt(US) 35wt (Euro). It's a bit thicker and gives me more definition and comes in all sorts of colors. This thread is a bit difficult to find. I get mine from this seller on Ebay. ..fjell781

I've also used even thicker thread to get the look I want. I've used Sulky Blendables No. 12 or even embroidery thread. The small wall hanging below was done in Valdani


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mcdugan

I'm hand piecing and machine piecing. Hand is so portable and easy to pick up a bit at a time. They're both fun, but I find it's more intimate to hand piece
Mary

jo bauer

I've used most of those mentioned. Depends on what is available. Just be sure to get a thread that is designated for hand quilting-- all of those are waxed already. Be sure not to use in your machine since the wax/glaze can gum up the machine. I do love the Gutterman and always try to find it.

lclang

Our grandmothers used regular cotton thread and then waxed it with an old candle end or a hunk of beeswax. I use the Coats and Clarks unless I wans a variegated thread, then I use regular thread and wax it with beeswax. Either will give years of service.

Onebyone

I use very thin waxed beading thread. It's the best hand sewing thread I have ever used. No tangles, no twisting, no shredding, just glides like butter through the fabric.

feline fanatic

Ninnie, You need to take the price you pay for a spool and divide it by the number of yards on the spool. I think you will be shocked to find that C&C thread is probably the MOST EXPENSIVE on the market.

Here is a little sampling to show you.
The link a previous poster gave for C&C dual duty quilting thread was 2.24 for a 250 yard spool. 2.24/250= .0089 per yard

compare that to a higher quality YLI hand quilting thread a 1000 yard spool is 8.25 so .0082 per yard, better quality less $$

and my favorite hand quilting thread, Vildani is 7.50 for an 1,100 yard spool for solid colors (more expensive for variegated) works out to only .0068 per yard
http://www.thethreadexchange.com/miv...oduct-selected

I have always found that to be the case with C&C threads. Cheapest by the spool but least amount on the spool so ends up being the most expensive. And I agree 100% with craftnut about the quality. I have some older C&C dual duty hand quilting that is still quite good but the new stuff not near as nice as it used to be.

roadrunr

I have used both coats & clark handquilting thread and YLI handquilting thread and prefer the YI thread. I have also heard of people using pearle cotton for handquilting.