when you quilt a quilt top with these colors being the more predominent ones (but not limited too) what is the best color of thread to use? The back of the quilt is basically black sew I am thinking a darker color for the bobbin.The clam shell stencil is the pattern I am thinking of using on the top

thank you ladies all sew very much, the quilt is on the rack & I am ready to go, Now I just have to find some of this monofilament thread as unfortunately where I am they only have the 150 yd spool sew & that will NOT work but I am still searching for it & I have sent out emails to some online sites & am aiting for a call back from another store out of town but only an hour away! hope to hear something soon before I loose interest................

I am not an expert , but I would used red or gray, I have read, gray is a neutral color .

Hi Loralye..I would recommend you use the Polyester mono-filament thread versus the nylon mono thread...in my experience it sews better and holds up better to heat...Superior makes a good brand, but if you Google it, there are other brands. I use to use the nylon mono thread as that was all I could find, but now the poly is out and I feel it gives much better results...and you can definitely use in top and bobbin...you may have to adjust your top tension a bit...depends upon your machine...

I used a light grey varigated on my sons quilt that looked great..I was told by a professional quilter to use a light shade of grey, that way it isn't to noticable..Why not try a red thread? depending on your ability or taste.. good luck i'm sure it will turn out brilliantly

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by pldc 10 Apr 2013

actually I was told to use a light grey on everything but I think in this case it will show quite alot. but thanks anyway I appreciate your sharing. Hugs Loralye

I once used cotton variegated thread, especially made for quilting. Maybe you could look at a variegated thread with black red and white [if available of course]

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by pldc 10 Apr 2013

I have this too & this was my next step if I am unable to find any mono-filament on a roll. thanks Hugs Loralye

I have used mono on both sides of projects (not quilts - but taggie blankets, machine quilting for a wallet base, etc.). I don't know how much thread you need for that size job - I get the 2,200 spools at Joann's - not sure if that helps you in CA tho.

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by pldc edited 09 Apr 2013

I wonder if they carry this at all the JoAnn stores? I can get to one in Michigan if they have it? I tried to look it up but it says online only but not store specific?

can you use monofilament on the top & on the bottom? & does anyone know wher to buy a spool large enpugh to do a queen size quilt? here we only have small spools sew that will not help me?

2 comments

by rescuer 09 Apr 2013

Yes, you can use them on the top and bottom. There is a dark and a light mono-filament so you could use the dark on the bottom and the lighter one on top.
Good luck!

by pldc 09 Apr 2013

great thanks sew much now I just have to find some. Hugs Loralye

If you have extra fabric, test stitching on the layers to see what it looks like and if you like it. If you use black on the bottom and light on the top the white may show up on the back. So I would really test to see.

I think that would depend upon how much you wanted the machine quilting to show...sometimes people use mono-filament thread so the thread does not show, just the suggestion of the quilting...sometimes you may want the quilting to really show and you would choose a light color (even for the back) so your quilting would really stand out. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. If you didn't want the quilting on the back to really stand out you could use black in the bobbin..if you used black in the top, you would really see the quilting, especially on the red fabric...so many options!

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by pldc 09 Apr 2013

I would rather the quilting NOT show on either the back or the front. I would like the pieced top & backing fabric to speak for themselves. sew black on the bottom & monofilament on top?

this is going to be machine quilted