What makes of thread are the best?

[BigBoobiedBertha]

I'm doing a lot of hand sewing at the moment. I have been using Gutermann cotton threads which I have never had a problem with before but they are driving me slightly potty at the moment as they keep getting tangled and knotted even though I am threading the needles straight off the reel.

Can anybody recommend a better sewing thread? We are advised cotton is the best for most things on the course because we are using cotton fabrics but other than Coats/Silko I don't know any other makes and all my local shops only seem to sell those. The quilts shows seem to be full of other types of threads but I don't want to waste money buying something over the Net that is no better than what I have.

Thanks.

a mner... hahaha but seriously - no idea - bump.

Very true.

Thanks for the bump.

I actually prefer YLI thread, I find it doesn't leave as much fluff behind on my machine. Madeira is another good thread, I've not used it myself.

Thanks. I had forgotten about YLI as nobody seems to sell it round here. I shall have to see if somebody a bit further afield sells it. I don't really want to buy it online because you can't see the colours properly.

I have some Madiera embroidery thread but I don't think I have seen any sewing thread. Again another one to investigate. I sense a thread buying spree about to start!

I have YLI that I bought from the USA; because of postage I would order about 20 reels at a time so I've a few colours built up. If I'm piecing I usually use natural or grey and keep colours for quilting. For quilting it's not necessary for the colour to blend in completely, it adds to the quilt.

I know quiltdirect stock YLI, but as you say, it's hard to guess the shades. Have fun with the thread shopping.

If you are quilting what about the Guttermann quilting thread, its spun finer than the normal cotton/polyester that they do?
And for YLI is there anyway you could request a shade card from them so that you can order the correct shades online?

I use the gutterman hand quilting thread and it's lovely- feels slightly thicker and has a coating that means it tangles much less. Not the easiest to get hold of offline though.

Yes, I love the Gutermann hand quilting thread. It is very 'crisp' for want of a better word but it is the ordinary cotton sewing thread that is causing me grief.

I have been doing Japanese folded blocks and variations of cathedral windows which we were supposed to hand sew and it has been a real pain. However, I went to a proper quilt shop the other day and although they only had Gutermann ordinary sewing thread they did have some of the waxy stuff to pull the thread through so I shall give that a go and see if it helps.

Thanks for your replies.