Had to sign in again to be able to answer. I use Ralman, Birch, and Madera which I get from Local janome shop and I use Kingstar which I order from www.embroiderysource.com.au

Meganne, I am not an Aussie gal, but I do not use the Madeira colours, I just use my best judgement in picking a colour that make the design work for my taste. I like to have the colour charts to have something to go by, but I have never had the exact same colour on any of the designs that I stitch out from that site. Matter of fact, when I get those designs - the colours are always messed up, they tell me it is because of my program, but it is the only site that I have trouble with PES format files. *4U

Hi, I live in South Australia and I only use Robinson Anton thread it is the best one I have tried and I know many of my friends say the same.
I did try some others but they seemed to break a lot. I buy them at a Janome shop at Marion and they are very reasonably priced they are on a 1,000 metre reel. Good luck hope you find some and I'm sure you will be happy with it.I have a 11000 Janome Embroidery sewing machine and do a lot of embroidery on it as well as other sewing
Regards Dixie

Hello Meganne, I live in a suburb of Ipswich, Queensland. I have used the Madeira, but not often. The best cotton I use, which I like to call my good cotton is Robinson Anton, they have a good colour range and is very good. I get this from the sewing machine shop in Ipswich called Cribbins. I also use a cheaper one QA that comes in a pack of 14 colours by 1,000 mtr spools. They are $24.95 a set, there are many different colours in the packs and I ge them from Bargin Box in Ipswich. QA also have a smaller pack of verigated cottons. The only trouble I have had from these have been from the black ones, they seem a little thinner than the other colours and I have to adjust the tention. but it could be my machine that doesnt like it because some times it is ok to do a larger fill but not the outline with the black. But all the others are ok. If I wanted to do something that was of top quality I would use the Robinson Anton thread.I never go by colour chart numbers I just pick a colour that is close to it or that I like better, some are too pale on the design and I like to make them brighter and sometimes I use a differnet colour to what they say. The colour choice is yours.

Meganne, where do you live?

Hello Meganne, I use some Robison-Anton and have found it to be really good. I also have a big collection of QA which you can get at Spotlight. They come in six mixed packs of 14 spools for about $24.95 and there are also 2 packs of 6 spools varigated for about $14.95. The good thing is that tomorrow (Monday 10th March) Spotlight is having a 20% of everything in store sale with extended trading hours. A good time to stock up.

i use Isafil, which is unavailable now. But I've been buying Royal thread and find that that is good you may be able to get Isafil from the Thread place in WA Can't think of its name at the moment

Hi Meganne, The Royal thread I just mentioned is available at www.emss.com.au or at 578 Princes Highway St Peters NSW 2044 or Sydney (02) 9557 8967 Large reels and reasonbly priced. I really like it and I do lots and lots of embroidery, that and Isafil

meganne, I use mainly Isacord, because when I bought my first machine they gave me *heaps* of spools, all different colors. But I also use RA, QA, Birch and a few other strays. I hardly ever have a problem with any of them, and if you use the spool nets, like I do, I find they eliminate most problems. I don't follow color charts unless I specifically need to, so don't buy thread to match them. Hugs and flowers.

Are you opposed to ordering from the US and paying the shipping cost? There are so many different (wonderful) embroidery threads here and the colors are limitless. I'm sure a lot of us would be willing to forward sites for you to explore and you could decide if the shipping and assortment is worth ordering from here.
Let us know.

Hello Meganne, was flicking through doing some "gardening" (randomly clicking flowers) and found this one. I have just found a website called www.allstitch.net. It has a huge range of Madeira at really good prices, so even with postage and exchange rate, you are getting a huge bargain. They also have the colour charts with actual thread swatches for comparison to other brands. Have added it to bookmarks. hope this answer gets back to the top of list so you see it.

Hi Meganne, we get our thread from GN Trading who stock Marathon Threads, 837 New Canterbury Rd Hurlstone Park 9558 0200 5000m about $8.50 will send cartage free if you order 20 or more they will aslo send you a catalogue of their thread. we use the 100% viscose rayon and have had no trouble with it. Colmag

www.embroiderysource.com.au have a good variety of thread. Kingstar polyester is $9.35 for 2000meter cones and Airplane rayon is $8.75 for 5000 metre cones