- Threads can be made from a variety of natural and synthetic fibers, from cotton to polyester or rayon. They can be a solid color, variegated or even metallic. Originally when someone wanted to hand quilt you would select a good quality cotton thread. The thread twisted up on itself and wasn't very sturdy, which could lead to breakage when quilting and with use of the quilt. Hand quilters would run their thread through beeswax to stiffen the thread and keep it from tangling. While this method is still an option, the market is much more embracing of hand quilters who wish to carry the tradition of hand quilting forward.
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Unless you are making a quilt purely for decorative purposes, you'll want to use "Hand Quilting Thread" anytime you plan on quilting by hand. Carefully labeled as such, Hand Quilting Thread is easy to use for hand quilters because often it is made from 100 percent cotton and comes already glazed to give you a stronger thread.
Hand Quilting Thread sometimes comes as a polyester-cored thread wrapped in cotton. This thread will be even stronger, however polyester thread can cut into cotton fabrics over time. These cotton/poly threads can be used when quilting a quilt made from a variation of fiber types, but if you are using 100 percent cotton fabrics it is best to use 100 percent cotton thread as well. - As you quilt various projects, start by selecting threads that match the colors of your quilt top. These threads can hide your stitches if they are a little less than consistent in size and spacing. Thread manufacturers such as Coats & Clark, Sulky and Superior Threads all manufacture thread products for hand quilters. When you are confident in your hand quilting technique try a few different brands of Hand Quilting Thread to see which one feels right for you and is easier to work. With a good thread which you like working with you will find yourself enjoying hand quilting more and more.
