Quilting and Sewing Thread

Thread shows up in every seam and every line of quilting, so it pays to match it to the job. We stock three quilting and sewing threads: Madeira Cotona 50 in Egyptian cotton, Madeira Aerofil 120 in polyester, and Grace Finesse Classic, a polyester with the matte look of cotton. Every spool and mini-cone holds 1,100 yards.

Cotton quilting thread

Madeira Cotona 50 is a 50wt, 2-ply thread made in Germany from double-mercerized, extra-long staple Egyptian cotton. It is low lint and fine enough to keep seams flat, which makes it a natural partner for quilting cotton when you piece. Use it with a 75/11 or 80/12 needle. It comes in solid colors and in a box of 18 variegated spools.

Polyester thread for machine quilting

Polyester is the stronger fiber and keeps going when the machine runs fast. Madeira Aerofil 120 is a 40wt, 2-ply polyester in bold, colorfast shades, a little heavier, so your quilting lines show. Finesse Classic is a 50wt, 3-ply polyester with low lint and a matte finish that blends into cotton, for piecing, home machine quilting and longarm work. Aerofil also comes in a clear box of 18 smaller spools.

Solids, variegated and bundles

Finesse comes in solid colors, in variegated colorways that change along the strand, and in bundles of four mini-cones picked to go together, from Classic Neutrals to Baby Quilt Pastels and Winter Holiday. A bundle is the quick way to start a thread stash that already matches.

Quilting thread questions

What is the best thread for quilting?

It depends on the job. For piecing, a fine 50wt keeps seams flat, and both cotton like Cotona 50 and a cotton-look polyester like Finesse do it well. For machine quilting, polyester holds up better at speed, and a 40wt like Aerofil leaves a line you can see from across the room.

What does thread weight mean?

The lower the number, the thicker the thread. A 40wt is thicker than a 50wt, so it sits on top of the fabric and shows more, while a 50wt sinks in and blends.

What is the difference between quilting thread and sewing thread?

Quilting thread is chosen to suit quilting cotton: cotton itself, or polyester with a matte finish that blends in. Many all-purpose sewing threads are shiny polyester made for garments, and that shine can look out of place on a cotton quilt. The threads in this collection work for quilting and for everyday sewing.