100 Percent Cotton Thread

Many quilters are very loyal to 100 percent mercerized cotton thread. Experts recommend cotton especially for beginners because it is easy to work with and less likely to break with machine quilting. YLI Select is one of the threads designed to eliminate the fuzz and the lint many threads leave in your machine. Madera Cotona 80 is recommended for its softness and matte finish.

Polyester Thread

Some quilters like polyester thread for its softness. Some quilters favor Superior Poly Quilter 30 wt Spun Poly Quilting Thread due to its extra strength and ability to maintain softness. Experts suggest reducing upper machine tension when using this thread.

Invisible Thread

Quilters use invisible thread when they do not want thread to show in their designs. These threads come in nylon and polyester. Many quilters find nylon thread tends to break during machine quilting. Some believe polyester thread also holds up longer than nylon after being quilted and does not deteriorate over time. Monofilament thread, which is another name for invisible thread, works best if it feels like hair, not fishing line. It should be marked .004.

Topstitching Thread

The idea of top stitching is that you can see it, so many quilters use a color that contrasts with the colors in the quilt. Rainbow thread is made by numerous manufacturers. Some rainbow threads contain all the colors of the color wheel, one after the other, while others have only a few colors, such as yellows-oranges-reds or red-white-blue.

Metallic Thread

Many quilters complain that metallic thread breaks too easily. To avoid this, first check the instructions to see what size and type of needle should be used. Many times a different thread is also recommended for the bobbin. If instructions on the thread are unclear, ask a quilt store professional for advice. Then, on a practice piece of quilting, stitch and adjust the machine tension slightly until you get a stitch you like that doesn't pull and isn't too loose.