If you've been here before, you have probably noticed that English paper piecing is something I do on a regular basis. I love it.
And while I try not to be too particular about my supplies, I do like trying options to see what I like best. Usually I baste and join the pieces with hand quilting thread. It works well for me, plus it's easy to find at JoAnn (which makes it not too expensive too).
My typical thread of choice is the Dual Duty on the left. But then someone suggested that I try the So Fine thread on the right. My local quilt shop carries it, so I figured I may as well give it a try.
It's 100% polyester, as compared to the 68% poly/32% cotton of the Dual Duty.
The biggest difference to be see between the threads is the thickness. Taking pictures of strands of thread isn't easy, but I think you can see the difference here. Which, to me, is significant that it shows up in a photo like this.
The So Fine really is so fine. And the theory is that it will show less when you stitch with it. I think it does.
I say "I think" because I often wonder if it has a placebo effect. I'm expecting it to show less, so maybe I'm seeing it less? Or maybe it really is the Superior Thread. I'm going to work with it longer before I show off samples (although they may be even harder to photograph!).
For now I ask, what kind of thread do you like to use for EPP?
I use so fine for all my hand sewing, and it really does show less. In fact I use the same silver color for EVERYTHING hand sewing including applique, and as long as I'm really careful on the darkest fabrics I never see it. I suppose I could invest in a darker spool at some point, but I don't like to rock the boat :p
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteEDITED: Do you use the color #403 Putty shown above or color #408 Silver? :)
DeleteI'd love to hear this too. They didn't have the silver when I went to buy mine, so I went with putty, which is similar to another thread I've used with success. But If the silver works well, I'd definitely go back and buy more.
DeleteI guess I'm going to have to check this out. I really just use anything for the basting, I figure it doesn't show and then I just use whatever white thread I happen to have. It's probably the Dual Duty shown above. Perhaps I should be paying closer attention to my thread? :)
ReplyDeleteFor basting, yes...anything goes! For joining, I think it's best to go with what you are comfortable working with, and what you think looks good when you're finished. There are no rules on this, just finding what you like!
DeleteThere's a quilt shop just down the road from where I work. I hadn't visited it before, but I might need to this noon. You know, just for research. :)
DeleteYLI soft touch
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of that one yet!
DeleteI love Gutermann Natural Cotton Thread. I have always preferred 100% cotton thread, it never tangles or knots up on me.
ReplyDeletei use dual duty and take tiny whip stitches. i'm not picky about what colors i use (currently trying to use up a spool of unpopular purple), but i rarely have any peek-a-boos.
ReplyDeletedoes so fine and gutermann hold up to everyday use?
This is something that I'm wanting to hear and experiment with. Because the Dual Duty feels stronger. Like you, I take tiny stitches!
DeleteThe thread I use depends for EPP very much on what type of fabric I am stitching. For most regular quilting weight cottons I use Aurifil 50wt. I've slowly been building up my stock of Aurifil and it is now my go-to thread for most of my sewing. I will mostly use an off white or light grey coloured thread but will on ocassion thread match to the fabric especially when I am sewing with darker fabrics. If I am using Liberty lawns for my EPP I prefer to use Superior's bottom line thread. At 60wt I find it to be perfect for the fine lawns and even though I often love to work with tiny pieces such as 1/4 inch hexies, and smaller on ocassion, I find it to be pretty much invisible on the finshed pieces.
ReplyDeleteGah, lost my comment, so let's try this again :o)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason we've all gotten the idea that stronger thread is better, but in many cases it's not. If a seam is put under too much stress and the thread is stronger than the fabric, the fabric is likely to tear. It's much better for the thread to break. It's much easier to mend a seam that has come undone than it is to patch a tear.
I use off-white Aurifil 50wt for all my EPP.
I mostly use the Dual Duty... I get the one in the cream color to use with linen that I use for embroidered EPP's and I use white usually for everything else :) I never really gave it much thought before, I just grabbed what JoAnn's had :) Maybe I should experiment with different threads too!
ReplyDeleteI use whatever for basting and Aurifil 50wt for everything else. I have a favorite med grey and lost the bottom that tells me the color number. Took it to work (I work at a quilt shop) and I'll be darned if that hook was empty!;) So now I have to wait for a reorder!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what the differences were between poly blends and 100% cotton. Is one recommended for a certain type of sewing or machine, or is it really all preference?
ReplyDeleteFor my basting, I am slowly using up some cheap thread I bought ages ago...I bought a big thing of like 50 colors...and used it a bit at the time, but now it lives in a shoebox in my sewing room as I use mostly 100% cotton thread for quilt piecing and Gutermann all purpose for general sewing. I am finally almost done the pink spool I have been using forever! For piecing my epp, I use 100% cotton...right now I have a black Gutermann and a grey Gutermann and an off white Coats and Clark (I think) and then use which ever one blends best with the fabrics I am piecing.
ReplyDeleteMollie,
ReplyDeleteWe'd love to hear about what you think about So Fine! #50 when you use it! Please email me your thoughts - celeste at superiorthreads.com. Have a great day, love your blog!
With area road construction, I cannot get to my area fabric store. If things don't improve soon, I will have to click the button to order this thread directly from the source. :)
DeleteMy question...does the So Fine get as many tangles and knots?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDoes the s or z curve make any difference in hand sewing thread?
ReplyDelete