How to Choose the Right Longarm Thread for Your Quilt

There’s a lot of different kinds of longarm threads out there, so how do you know which one to choose? A number of factors will affect how the thread will show, hide, and even impact the machine you’re stitching on, so it’s important to get threaducated on the variety of longarm threads on the market. We’re going to take a closer look at the different weights, materials, and thread manufacturing technologies used so you can find the perfect thread match for your quilt!

Want to see all of these threads in action? Head over to our YouTube channel to see just how wonderfully these threads work with longarm quilting!

1. 40 and 50wt Threads

To begin, let’s discuss medium size 40 and 50wt threads. These are your versatile standard quilting threads that you’ll most often come across.

A 40 or 50wt cotton quilting thread is probably one of the most common and widely used options for longarm quilting. One of the perks of cotton thread is that it carries no stretch to it, making it easy to sew with. It’s also ideal for use in quilts where you don’t want the thread to stretch in the fabric, which can pucker and distort your quilting lines when using low quality threads.

Cotton is an all-around reliable quilting thread that is versatile enough to be used for most kinds of quilting, whether you’re doing edge-to-edge quilting or doing something decorative in a contrasting color.

Konfetti and Tutti are two cotton thread lines that take cotton quilting thread to the next level. These 50wt threads are made from long staple Egyptian cotton fibres that are strong and help reduce the lint in the thread. But as an additional feature, they have also undergone a treatment called double gassing where 80% of the lint has been burnt away from the surface of the thread. This process is repeated a second time, resulting in one of the lowest lint threads on the quilting market. Having less lint shed into your machine while you’re quilting will make an impact on how frequently you need to clean and service your machine. Afterall, there’s no point in spending thousands of dollars on a state-of-the-art machine only to feed it low quality thread.

Interested in using Konfetti or Tutti in your next project?

You can shop online, or find a retailer near you who carries them by visiting https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/konfetti for solid colours and https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/tutti for variegated colours.

2. Polyester Quilting Threads

We get a lot of questions about polyester thread, namely how it compares to cotton. Not only does polyester hold up in terms of quality in comparison to cotton, but it even exceeds it in some factors.

This cottonized polyester thread line called Master Quilter is a 40wt thread with basically zero lint. Not only will it treat your machine with love, but it also sews really well. This is a thread line we recommend to anyone who’s just starting out with longarm quilting because it’s strong and reliable.

As you can see, comparing cotton to polyester side by side, they do have a different look to them. Some people prefer the matte look of cotton, while others like the smooth finish of polyester. But what if you want the look of cotton but the strength and ease of sewing of polyester?

Interested in using Master Quilter in your next project?

You can shop online, or find a retailer near you who carries them by visiting https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/masterquilter

This hybrid thread is a cotton wrapped polyester. That means it has a polyester core surrounded by cotton. This 40wt thread is called Ultima and it offers the best of both worlds: the strength and easy sewing of a polyester with the look of cotton. You can see how all 3 of these different thread types how up in your quilting, with each providing a different look and feel to your quilts.

Interested in using Ultima in your next project?

You can shop online, or find a retailer near you who carries them by visiting https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/ultima

For a 40wt thread that stands out a little more, you can reach for a trilobal polyester. Most threads are round in shape, but a trilobal polyester is actually triangular in shape. This helps it reflect more light from its surface, giving it a shine that you won’t find in a cottonized polyester.

This 40wt trilobal polyester thread is called FabuLux, and it’s designed to offer your choice of a bold pop of color available in its 5 neon colors, or a variegated color that can match the colors in your quilt blocks.

Feeling fabulous about FabuLux?

You can shop online, or find a retailer near you who carries them by visiting https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/fabulux

3. 100wt Small Size Threads

Now what if you want a thread that shows as little as possible? This tiny thread is a 100wt cottonized polyester called InvisaFil, and it really knows how to hide in the fabric.

This is actually a great choice for stitch in the ditch because even if you fall out of the ditch, it won’t show anyway.

And because the thread is so small, it’s ideal for dense stitching and micro quilting because the thread doesn’t take up a lot of space in the fabric, meaning your quilt will still stay soft and flexible.

You can see just how much this thread hides in comparison to its medium weight counterparts. Simply by choosing this thread, you can totally change the look of your quilting to show the quilting itself more than the thread.

Interested in InvisaFil for your next project?

You can shop online, or find a retailer near you who carries them by visiting https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/invisafil

4. 12wt – Heavy Size Threads

But what about the opposite? What if you really want to make a big impact with your quilting thread?

This is Spagetti and Fruitti, 12wt long staple Egyptian cotton threads that have also undergone double gassing, just like Konfetti and Tutti. These ultra low lint threads know how to show off boldly in your quilt. 12wt is actually the thickest thread size you can safely fit through the eye of your machine needle.

This thread weight is perfect for adding emphasis and outlining because it stands out so much. One strand stands out as much as three strands of a medium weight thread.

Loving the bold look of Spagetti and Fruitti?

You can shop online, or find a retailer near you who carries them by visiting https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/spagetti for solid colors and https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/fruitti for variegated colors.

You can see altogether how much your choice of quilting thread can change the look of your quilting. We hope this gives you a better idea of which kind of thread to choose when quilting your next quilt!

You can also check out the Quilt Social blog about ways that they use WonderFil’s DecoBob 80wt cottonized polyester thread to create stunning quilts by clicking here!

Are you looking for some new and exciting patterns for your quilts? You can purchase some beautiful computerized quilting patterns by heading over to Quilts Complete: https://www.quiltscomplete.com/Departments/Computerized.aspx

Is it time to get your quilt on? Head on over to www.shopwonderfil.com/shop-local to find stores near you that carry WonderFil products, or shop online. You can also sign up for our educational newsletter by clicking here for weekly tips, tutorials, and free patterns delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll see you again next time!