Welcome back everyone!

We’re just wrapping up an excellent week of in-person training with national Handi Quilter educator Waynna Kershner. One of the highlights of her free motion quilting class was demonstrating how using different threads can really make your background fill quilting pop!

That got me thinking about the role that thread plays in quilting in general. Even when you’re doing edge-to-edge quilting, thread choice can be a major consideration. Do you choose a contrasting color to make the quilting design standout? Or do you use a thread color that blends in with the colors of your quilt top so focus stays on your fabric choice or the piecing?

Of course, various factors go into your choice of thread. First and foremost, you want high quality thread. Some quilters prefer cotton thread while others prefer polyester. Then there’s the weight of the thread to consider. And the obvious, color!

The Quilting Connection uses and sells only the highest quality thread. Our supplier is Superior Threads. And I’ve chosen to explore four lines of their thread in this post: So Fine!, Magnifico, Fantastico and OMNI. I also want to introduce one of their specialty threads, Vanish.

Superior Threads

Superior Threads was started by Bob and Heather Purcell in 1998. In 2016, they joined the Premier Needle Arts family. Today, Superior Threads is proud to provide dozens of the quilting industry’s most popular products.

But creating a high-quality product is only part of Superior’s mission. They also lead the industry in thread and needle education. You can find numerous articles, videos and guides under the Education tab of Superior Threads’ website. They want quilters to understand what makes a high-quality product and how to achieve success using it.

I love it when our suppliers share our belief in education! Now let’s check out some of that great thread.

So Fine!

So Fine! 50 wt. 3-ply polyester thread is our go-to thread at The Quilting Connection. This thread is designed for quilting, sewing and bobbin thread.

So Fine! is a lint free, matte-finished, smooth three filament thread. Filament polyester is a continuous fiber thread. Because it’s lint free, your machine will remain cleaner and require less maintenance.

Due to its fine nature, So Fine! is an excellent blending thread that is loved by both longarm and domestic machine quilters. It is available in 134 colors.

The recommended needle size for So Fine! 50 wt. thread is #16.

Magnifico

Magnifico is a 40 wt. 2-ply high-tenacity trilobal thread. It is designed for quilting, decorative stitching and embroidery.

As a trilobal polyester thread, Magnifico is a multiple filament, twisted, high-sheen continuous fiber thread. It has the appearance of rayon or silk, but with the advantages of polyester. Its triangular shaped fibers reflect more light, giving an attractive sparkle to quilts. Magnifico is ‘heat set’ in processing, eliminating the unwanted shrinkage often associated with high strength trilobal polyester thread.

This extra-strength, high-sheen polyester thread can handle the speed and tension of longarm quilting machines. A solid color thread, it is available in 200 beautiful bold shades.

The recommended needle size for Magnifico 40 wt. thread is #18.

Fantastico

Fantastico is a 40 wt. 2-ply high-tenacity variegated trilobal polyester thread. Like Magnifico, it is designed for quilting, decorative stitching and embroidery.

Made of the same high-strength fibers as Magnifico, Fantastico is a variegated high-strength, high-sheen polyester thread with a one-inch precision dye pattern.

It is available in over 100 variegated color blends.

The recommended needle size for Fantastico 40 wt. thread is #18.

OMNI

OMNI is a 40 wt. 2-ply corespun polyester thread. It is designed for quilting, serging and sewing.

OMNI is a cleaner, brighter and stronger alternative to other poly-wrapped poly core threads. Corespun polyester threads are a combination of a filament polyester core thread wrapped in spun polyester. The benefit of using a core spun polyester thread is the added strength that the filament core adds.

With its strong tensile strength, OMNI is designed to withstand the rigors of high-speed quilting. This matte-finished thread is available in 172 solid colors.

The recommended needle size for OMNI 40 wt. thread is #18.

Vanish

Vanish is a water-soluble thread. It is perfect for basting and applique.

Created from a special blend of ingredients, this thread can be sewn or quilted then immersed in water where it will dissolve.

Now why would we want our stitching to dissolve? I’ve been working with Vanish for basting our Quick Zip Zippers™ onto quilts … no pinning! And since Vanish dissolves, there is no need to pick out the basting stitches once your quilting is complete.

There is a video for this method on our YouTube channel - Angie's Answers

So Fine!, Magnifico, Fantastico, OMNI and Vanish … five quality Superior thread lines, each with its own characteristics and purpose. Checkout the Thread tab on our website for availability and pricing information. If you are local, make sure to purchase in-store and you could qualify for a discount!

I know many of you have used these different threads on your quilts. But I also know that others haven’t had that opportunity. If you’re in that group, I have a couple of suggestions to offer.

First, check out Superior Threads’ website. Explore the blog posts, articles and videos found under the Education tab.

But maybe you’d like an interactive way to learn more about how thread choice impacts your quilting. If so, my second suggestion would be joining us for one of our upcoming free motion or ruler work classes.

These classes help you build your quilting skills and your personal library of designs. As you explore design ideas, ask how different types/weights of thread will impact your quilting and the finished look. Depending on your availability, we have both Zoom and in-person classes on the calendar. Check out the Classes tab of our website.

And please share your thread experiences! I’d love to see pictures, hear your stories and answer your questions. If there is any way I can help, just let me know!

As always, if you have ANY questions or want additional information, please call us at (262) 723-6775 or email us at info@QuiltingConnection.com.

You can also visit us online at QuiltingConnection.com or in person at 21 Adams Street in Elkhorn, WI (usually M-F 9-4, please call to confirm we’re open) or 1017 W. Northland in Appleton, WI (W, Th & F 10-4, S 10-3).

And finally, check out our blog at QuiltingConnection.com/blog and our Facebook posts.

Please share your thoughts and questions with us. We love to hear from you!

Angie