
Thread numbering works like this - the bigger the number the thinner the thread. So Perle Cotton 8wt and 12wt are large. Good for quilting, embroidery, embellishments, places you want the thread to show. 100wt is very, very, very fine. Finer thread leaves less bulk in your seams. Foundation paper piecing and places where lots of pieces of fabric come together are good projects to use finer thread. I found that my machine tolerates 50 or 60 wt in one place and the 100wt in the other. If I have 100wt thread in the bobbin, I need to use a heavier thread (50wt or 60wt) through the machine needle. Surprisingly, it does make a difference when doing small pieces of Foundation Paper Piecing. Lightweight poly is good for English Paper Piecing and applique. Since you pull the thread through fabric many, many times and maybe against cardstock weight paper, cotton thread tends to fray and curl.
What do we carry? Most of our thread is all cotton for piecing and quilting. We also have some polyester thread – in 30wt and 100 wt. We have cotton Mettler, King Tut, and the Aurifil subscription packs in 40wt. We also have some waxed cotton and a polyester Superior thread in 30wt for quilting. Thread for piecing is usually 50 or 60 weight. We have cotton Mettler, Aurifil, and Wonderfil Konfetti in 50wt and Mettler in 60wt. There are a few collections of 50wt cotton on pre-wound bobbins. Need a lot of colors for some small projects, these are just what you need. We also have small sets of 100wt poly grouped by color collections. These days you can use either cotton or polyester for sewing. All the technology we have today for weaving cloth and making thread, gives us good quality no matter what combination you choose.
To help you with your thread collection - all thread and floss will be 15% off all week.
Tip one – to get an Aurifil spool started: remove the bottom disk. The thread end is there.
Tip two is a tutorial for making a thread case. These keep your threads from unraveling.

DIY Spool Wrapper
Tame your thread spools with this upcycled cover made from mesh produce bags! These can be made to fit any size spool with a scrap fabric “handle” to secure the seam.
The best mesh to use has some give and should bounce back when stretched. Cut mesh – in its relaxed state – into rectangles as follows: 1.5”w X 3”h for 2” spools (King Tut); and 2.5”w X 4”h for 3” spools. Cut fabric scrap ¾” wide by height of mesh rectangle and iron in half lengthwise. (Optional: use pinking shears or zig zag rotary blade along long edge to prevent raveling.)

Fold mesh rectangle in half lengthwise and tuck raw edges into fold of fabric scrap. Stitch two straight lines close together by rotating piece without back tacking. Be sure to hold your thread ends as you begin sewing so your first few stitches are tight.
Finish the wrapper by cutting it on both ends with pinking blade to the desired length. For spools (like Aurifil) that don’t always have flat ends, leave the mesh a little longer so it curves around the edge of the thread. The fabric edge gives you something to grab it by if stored on its side.

Don't forget that we are also on-line for shopping. You can do curbside pick up or we can mail it to you.
Have fun sewing and we hope to see you soon,
Phyllis and the QA staff