I personally prefer to use the Gutermann threads. However, if I were to be making a quilt that I was hoping would win awards and be hung in museums, I would likely select a 100% cotton thread.

I am not a big fan of the monofilament, especially in the bobbin. It tends to stretch and I get more bobbin thread breakage when used in the bobbin. I also have found that when I ue it in combination with cotton or cotton/poly blends, it has a propensity to slice through my other threads and then the quilt ends up looking like a hot mess.

But again, when I taught quilting [a lifetime ago, it seems], I was also for "do what you like, however you choose to complete it". I want people to enjoy the experience and the journey, not regret that they "should have" followed the "rules" or that they somehow "broke the rules." Here's a clue, folks: there are no rules. Only recommendations. We have so many new methods and tools because of the people who "broke" the rules and found new and (sometimes) better ways to do things.

great question.

I'm old enough to remember when monofilament thread hit the market and it started appearing in clothing. OMGosh, can remember shirts and dresses cutting my skin and discovering it was the sharp thread holding them together. Hated it then, and it has influenced my feelings toward it to this day. Still hate it.

I don't for the life of me understand, either, why quilters would be so particular to use only 100% cotton material of a specific weight and then sew it all together with a polyester blend thread.

Needless to say, I use cotton thread. My prejudices are showing.

I also prefer 100% cotton. I use several brands and several weights depending on my project. I prefer to applique with certain threads and FMQ with others. My FMQ machine does better with Superior's King Tut but I use others for piecing if the color is right.

Whatever I have on hand that matches best! I do quilt-as-you-go applique, straight stitch, so I just use regular quilting thread.

I agree about using poly or even nylon thread on 100% cotton-I don't get it.
I even hate tags on clothing sewn with mono thread - scratchy.
Annie - thanks for the close up - this is where you use your zipper foot to stitch the applique - am I correct?

It depends on what I am doing but often I will use my machine embroidery thread as I have tons of it and it works as I usually do the blanket st. or narrow applique st. with machine applique. I also have used cotton. Sometimes I use bobbin thread in the bobbin. I have not done applique on bed quilts so not sure how that would go for me. I am not fond of the mono thread, too much shine and stiff. For hand applique I use silk. Jayne

I have never had much luck with the mono thread. I tried it once in my bobbin and it didn't work at all.
BUT I know people that use it a lot on top with regular thread in the bobbin.
Jayne I didn't think of machine embroidery thread, I'll have to try it.
I am a big fan of cotton and that is what I usually grab.
Rosa

Actually, I free-motion quilt applique down. I like to use a zipper foot for straight-line quilting or stitching bindings down close to the edge.

I prefer Gutermann 100% cotton, Mettler if they have a better color (for applique) Have run into problems finding it lately tho, JoAnn's only carries a little Gutermann that is 100% cotton & none of it in the jumbo spools that I like. Has anyone tried Connecting Threads 100% Egytian cotton thread? Price is unbelievable, which makes me question it's quality - sorry, I'm a skeptic sometimes. You know the old adage you get what you pay for?! If anyone has used CT' I'd appreciate your take on it. Thanks!
~Cindy

I personally like CT thread. Have a # of colors. I find no fault with it but do use other threads as well. I think the quality is as good or better then some of the others. Jayne