Thread: Cotton vs. Polyester??

[Specialk311]

Hello, all!

I am hoping for some thread help. I am very new to quilting...in fact, I just finished my first quilt top! Super excited about it!! However, now I need to quilt it, and I'm not sure which thread I should use: cotton or polyester. I've been doing lots of internet and magazine reading, which has made me even more confused. Some places seem to say that cotton is better and more durable, but then I'm finding other sources that say to use polyester since it holds up better to frequent washings.

Any help that you could lend me would be greatly appreciated. I've spent so many hours piecing this quilt (a gift for my brother and his new wife) that I don't want to use the wrong thread to quilt it when I'm so close to done!

[K. McEuen]

I use 100% cotton thread. Some like polyester, I don't. I think a lot is personal preference and also what your sewing machine likes.

[Kgrammiecaz]

I use polyeter for quilting and 100 percent cotton for piecing. Works for me. Everyone is different on this and its probably good to find what works best for you

[HandsomeRyan]

I use 100% cotton thread. Some like polyester, I don't. I think a lot is personal preference and also what your sewing machine likes.

This.

Everyone is different on this and its probably good to find what works best for you

And this too.

[soul60s]

Hello, all!

I am hoping for some thread help. I am very new to quilting...in fact, I just finished my first quilt top! Super excited about it!! However, now I need to quilt it, and I'm not sure which thread I should use: cotton or polyester. I've been doing lots of internet and magazine reading, which has made me even more confused. Some places seem to say that cotton is better and more durable, but then I'm finding other sources that say to use polyester since it holds up better to frequent washings.

Any help that you could lend me would be greatly appreciated. I've spent so many hours piecing this quilt (a gift for my brother and his new wife) that I don't want to use the wrong thread to quilt it when I'm so close to done!

I am in no place to give advice since I just did my very first top too. From what I have seen in videos, it depends on what the quilt is used for. If it hangs on the wall then it doesn't get washed often and cotton will do. But if it is used on a bed (especially if they have pets) and needs to be washed often, then it would make sense to use polyester. The last thing you want is to put all that time into it and have the threads break down from frequent washings. You never know how many times they will wash it. Better to be safe. Anyhow, that is my two cents, for what it's worth.

[K. McEuen]

I am in no place to give advice since I just did my very first top too. From what I have seen in videos, it depends on what the quilt is used for. If it hangs on the wall then it doesn't get washed often and cotton will do. But if it is used on a bed (especially if they have pets) and needs to be washed often, then it would make sense to use polyester. The last thing you want is to put all that time into it and have the threads break down from frequent washings. You never know how many times they will wash it. Better to be safe. Anyhow, that is my two cents, for what it's worth.

I have quilts that my grandmother did by hand using 100% cotton that are 75+ years old, have been washed repeatedly and there has been no thread breakdown what ever.

The main argument between cotton and polyester is that the poly is stronger than the cotton fabrics and could possibly cut the fabrics of your quilt as the fabric wears. It is not the breakdown of cotton thread.

[Auntpiggylpn]

Will Polyester Really Tear The Fabric? | Truth, Tradition, Or Myth?

This is an excellent read about poly thread. The poly thread doesn't cut the cotton fabric; it is a matter of the strongest fiber winning. The cotton fabrics will deteriorate over time; could be a few years, could be a hundred (or more!) years. The cotton fibers will start to break down but the poly thread doesn't.

It is truly a matter of personal preference and whatever will work in your machine.

[auntiemern]

I must agree with everything that has been said. I personally use 100% cotton for everything. But what ever you decide is fine.

[coffeebreak]

I gotta go with the cotton to. But only cause it seems to work better in my machine for the FMQ'ing than the polyester does. From all I have learned.. the poly doesn't cut the cotton fabric these days. It used to, but cottons are made better now than then. I'd say to that with the seams of the piecing and the top stitching..there is so many stitches holding everything together anyway that even if one did break...it couldn't do much damage as there'd be 2-3 other stitch "lines" before, during or after the broken one so those would hold things together. I have used poly for FMQ'ing thinking it was a bit more pliable than cotton..can't be sure but kind of makes sense, but then with the thing about strength wins...if you have cotton thread and cotton fabric..there wouldn't be any fighting...
But for some reason the poly breaks in my machine after FMQ'ing for awhile. Don't know why and it has to be the thread as the cotton doesn't break doing the same thing.

[soul60s]

I have quilts that my grandmother did by hand using 100% cotton that are 75+ years old, have been washed repeatedly and there has been no thread breakdown what ever.

The main argument between cotton and polyester is that the poly is stronger than the cotton fabrics and could possibly cut the fabrics of your quilt as the fabric wears. It is not the breakdown of cotton thread.

Just passing on what I saw. Sorry if it is wrong.