No matter how good you are, unless you have the best threads for hand quilting, the finished product won’t have the quality you’re looking for. Surely, you don’t want your hard work to go to waste. With the proper product, you will be able to finish your project much faster as well.
How can you decide which one is the best with so many products available on the market? Thankfully, we’re here to help find a suitable option. To make things easier for you, we’ve completed our list of top-rated products. What makes the best hand quilting thread? Well, we looked at the material, colors, available length, and weight, along with other key factors, such as the number of spools in each kit. Also, you want to make sure that you purchase a high-quality thread that matches your project requirements. Are you ready to learn more about them? Let’s get started!
More features: extra-long staple, Egyptian-grown, low lint
For many reasons, we think this is the best thread for hand quilting. It has a great level of strength that allows it to be used without fear of ruining your work. It also has a low lint to give any work a professional finish.
Apart from having that high strength, another factor that helps to make this the best thread for hand quilting is how fine the thread is with its extra-long staple. You get 600 yards available on a spool, and it represents excellent value for money.
There are eight color options available, but they are all quite earthy, and if you are hoping for something brighter, you may have to check something else. If they do offer the color you need, then you’ll find this to be an excellent thread with a wide range of usage. It’s very easy to work with, and most importantly, you’ll get great results.
More features: long staple, soft and lustrous, low shrinkage and safe to iron, colorfast and fade-resistant
This Mettler hand quilting thread has exceptional qualities, and you’ll love being able to work with it. It has a soft feel for making quality fabrics, and you can iron and wash it without any fears of damaging the fabric.
At 547 yards, it has the length similar to other spools, and it gives you plenty of thread to work with. There is a good range of colors, and at an affordable price, you can buy a collection of them so that you always have the perfect match available.
Those colors are even better, with them being fade-resistant. It adds to an overall level of impressive durability, meaning minimal breakage. If you aren’t looking for the largest spool out there, then this thread would be more than ideal for your needs.
More features: high tensile strength, low lint, wide application, superior quality
As a contrast to the previous thread, this is ideal for those looking for a high quantity. You get a fantastic 6000 yards on the spool, and with them coming in a pack of four, you get an incredible 24,000 yards in total.
While these technically have a higher price than many other options, with that much thread, you are going to get excellent value for money. You also get an incredible range of colors with over 30 available to get exactly what you need.
The thread is made of high-quality polyester and gives it high tensile strength. It also has a low level of lint, which helps to give it excellent versatility. It ticks all the right boxes, which help to make it perfect for anyone who needs a longer thread.
More features: colorfast, washable, durable, can be used for various tasks, suitable for cotton, wool and synthetic fiber fabric
This polyester thread is another one that comes in a wide range of different colors. There are 24 options available with the spools being 2000 yards in length for black and white threads and 1000 yards for any other color.
The thread will also be able to keep that color with it being washable and colorfast. It also has an impressive level of durability and can be used for a variety of tasks. That resistance to breakage helps to make it perfect for hand quilting.
It is very simple to work with, and that makes it ideal for beginners. It doesn’t quite have the elite quality of premium models, but it still good enough for most uses. The value for money is high, and it allows you to work on a wide range of different projects.
More features: waxed finish prevents tangling and allows the thread to slide easily through fabrics
Gutermann hand quilting thread has excellent qualities, and many will see it as the best option for them. Its best feature is that it has a wax coating to prevent entanglement and make it simpler to use for hand quilts.
The size of the spool isn’t too long at just 220 yards. That may seem like a negative for a lot of people, but for others, that will be more than enough, especially if they don’t need a lot of material. With 38 colors available, it allows you to get exactly what you need.
The thread has been made specifically for hand quilting, and you can tell that when you start to work with it. It’s made of cotton, and it is another great option for those who like working on smaller projects that don’t require a large spool.
More features: does not tangle, knot, or twist, glace finish reduces abrasion, trap spool
Coats and Clark hand quilting thread is known for its high quality, and that’s exactly what you get here. The Dual Duty Plus hand-quilting thread has many qualities that help to make it a great option for a wide variety of uses.
If you’re looking for a thread that isn’t going to knot, then you’ll love working with this. The glace finish helps to prevent any knots or twists while also reducing abrasions. It makes it perfect for hand quilting and other sewing tasks.
An impressive aspect of this thread is that it also easily affordable despite the high level of quality. You also get a high level of strength to allow you to complete any task with a lot of confidence. Unfortunately, there aren’t many color choices.
More features: can be used for a variety of sewing projects, excellent quality
If you’re simply looking for a white thread, then this would be the perfect solution. There is only one color available, which may be seen as a negative for many, but with 400 yards of thread available, you’ll be able to get plenty of quilting completed.
The thread has a perfect balance that you want to see with any option, thanks to having a high level of strength while also being thin. It makes it easy to work with while also being able to produce excellent results, time and time again.
It’s made of polyester and is easy to work with, so you are sure to get impressive results. While this particular model is only available in white, Coats also sell black thread with the same specifications for those who find it more suitable.
More features: prevent tangling, wide usage, come packed in a box
As a contrast to the previous option, this set is ideal for those looking for a wide range of colors. The threats are presented in a box that contains 39 spools, and this would be ideal of anyone looking for a great gift idea.
The fact that it comes with so many different colors means that there may be threads that are surplus to your needs, and therefore it could be a long-term investment. Most people are going to love the wide range of options available to you.
It has all the features that you want to see, such as the lack of tangling, high strength, and thinner size. The threads will be between 393 and 426 feet to give you plenty of material to work with. It’s an excellent option and one that is presented beautifully.
More features: kit includes a soft measuring tape, scissors and 2x threaders, wide application
Similar to the previous model, this is another wide set of threads with 30 different color options available. Along with those threads, you get a measuring tape, pair of scissors, and also two threaders.
The result is a package that may be a little more expensive than what you’re hoping to pay. That being said, you still get spools that have 1000 yards of thread on them to give you plenty of material to work with.
The thread is very strong, and you can use it for various projects, including hand quilting. It is also easy to work with, and that makes it ideal for beginners but has enough quality to make it good for expert quilters too.
More features: glazed finish, extra-long staple
If you’re looking for dark blue, then this YLI hand quilting thread will be the perfect option for you. It comes on a classic wooden spool and has a high level of quality.
You’re not going to worry about any tangling, and it also has a glazed finish to make any work that you do look fantastic. Along with that, it also has the strength and quality you need to give you the beautiful hand quilts.
With it being such great thread, it’s a shame that there is only one color available. Luckily, YLI does have a few other products available. This one comes with a length of 400 yards, and it will allow you to get plenty of high-quality quilting completed.
As with any product, you want to get the thread that is going to be the best match for what you want to achieve. You’ll know what color you’re going to be looking for, but there are also plenty of other things to think about. To aid you through the process, we’ll look at all key features and give you all the information that you need about them. If you have any lasting doubts, then we’ll clear that up with our FAQs.
Many of the threads that we see here can be used for a wide range of different projects. Polyester is seen as a brilliant all-around thread and is usually suitable for both hand and machine sewing, and can be perfect to use for stretch and knit fabrics.
If you’re working with cotton fabric, then many people will prefer to use cotton thread for their hand quilting. This thread can also be ideal for lighter and more delicate projects.
Many hand quilting threads can be used for a wide variety of different projects. All of the threads that we have looked at here have a high level of quality with excellent strength and finish.
It’s important to get a thread that matches the project that you’re trying to complete. Color is obviously a vital consideration, but you’ll want to get the length and weight that you need. The weight of the thread should ideally match that of the weight of the fabric. On top of that, it also needs the quality and features required to complete those top-notch quilts. Let’s take a closer look at parameters that can be important for your next project!
Cotton – Along with polyester, this is the most common type of material. Egyptian cotton, such as seen with the MasterPiece 600 yd. Cotton Thread, is often seen as one of the best due to its combination of softness and durability. Some quilters love it due to how tough it is, but some low-quality options can fray over time.
Polyester – This is a great all-around material. It has great versatility and flexibility to give you the results you’re looking for. It’s often not as durable as cotton, but it does have more stretch and doesn’t snap easily. You can also usually get a wide range of color options, as seen with the GEEDIAR Sewing Threads.
Nylon and rayon – These synthetic materials are good for decorative stitching. They don’t have the durability of other material types, and the likes of nylon can melt when ironed. Thus, these two aren’t ideal for long-term use but do have their place for more decorative applications.
One of the best aspects of polyester is its ability to be made into a wide range of different colors. When you see a large set of colored spools, they are usually made of polyester, such as seen with the GEEDIAR Sewing Threads. It makes them ideal for various decorative purposes when you’re looking for the perfect color match.
That being said, cotton can still come in a good range of colors. The choice in this regard is up to you.
Some people will always want to get a color match, whereas others like to have a contrast. Whatever you’re looking for, there are plenty of options available.
Do you plan on completing a large project, or perhaps you just need to finish one simple job? A lot of these products come as a single spool, which will be ideal for most people.
The problem with that can be that you often don’t get the best value for money that way. Getting more than one spool can end up costing significantly less per spool. For those who need a lot of material to work with, this would be ideal. The Luxbon Rainbow Polyester Sewing Thread Box Kit is a brilliant example with 39 different spools.
Each spool is different when it comes to the amount of thread on them. The likes of the AK Trading 4-Pack Navy Blue All Purpose Sewing Thread Cones have an incredible 6000 yards on them, whereas others, such as the Gutermann Quilting Thread, are much smaller with 220 yards of thread.
There is often a big size and cost difference between these options, and the best one for you will depend on what you need for your work. If you complete a lot of quilting, then it may be the best idea to get a larger spool that will last for longer.
Thread weight can be confusing as you’d often think that the higher number would mean a higher weight, while the opposite is true. The lower the number, the quicker the gauge, so a weight of 30 would be a thread that is 3x thicker than a thread with a 90 weight.
40 or 50 are by far the most common thread sizes, as this represents a good balance between the thread being thin enough while still having excellent strength. You can either go above or below that, depending on your needs.
You don’t want your threads to wear away over time and fray easily. This can not only affect the look, but eventually, the line will break. Along with this, you also want it to have high tensile strength so that it doesn’t snap under the minimum weight.
Being able to keep its color is another aspect of thread’s durability as some of them will fade fairly quickly, along with not being able to cope with ironing.
Tangle or knot-resistance can also help thread to stand the test of time.
Whatever product you’re buying, it’s always nice when it comes with extras. One model we loved was the Luxbon 39 Spools Rainbow Polyester Sewing Thread Box Kit as it comes in a lovely box with all the threads perfectly laid out. It makes it a great gift or even just a present to you.
Aside from that, you can also get more practical tools. Measuring tape is always needed for quilting, and you can also get purposely made scissors along with threaders. This can be seen with the GEEDIAR Sewing Threads where you get the complete kit.
Not all threads are the same. The waxy coating that can be great for hand quilting can clog up sewing machines. This is why we created the buying guide as that should give you a clear indication of exactly what you need. Once you know the basics, finding the right-hand quilting thread should be fairly easy.
If you want a single spool, then there are several great options under $10, such as the Gutermann Quilting Thread and Coats & Clark All Purpose Thread.
The SEWING AID All Purpose Polyester Threads are closer to $30, but you get a wide range of spools and a great value for money.
With the AK Trading 4-Pack Navy Blue All Purpose Sewing Thread Cones, you only get one color but that’s on four separate spools with 6000 yards of thread on each. It’s important to not just look at the headline figure but also to work out exactly what you’re getting for your money.
It’s best to choose a thread specifically made for quilting and also choose a fabric accordingly. Aside from this, you must get the right needle, thimbles, and marking tools. Practice makes perfect, and for a lot of quilters, it’s about using trial and error to find your perfect method.
All the threads that we have looked at here have exceptional qualities. In terms of quality, the one we were most impressed by was the MasterPiece 600 yd. Cotton Thread. It has premium quality and can give you the best possible results.
If you want something even cheaper, check the METTLER Silk Finish Cotton Thread 50WT. This colorfast option is soft, lustrous, and has low shrinkage.
Perhaps some of you are looking for larger spools. If so, the AK Trading 4-Pack Navy Blue All Purpose Sewing Thread Cones are a fantastic option with 6000 yards of thread on each spool.
If none of these three are suitable for your needs, then any of the other products on this list would be perfect. It’s all about choosing the right thread for you, and you can use this page as a guide. All that’s left to do is pick the best thread for hand quilting and start doing those beautiful projects.
