I actually have mostly 40 weight 3ply cotton YLI. I would like the stitching to show up once I get better at quilting by machine so it sounds like it will be useful again where I'm not doing feathers because of the areas that have two threads in the same place (overlapping stitches) Thanks Dr. Jan or simply Jan. (I should have come up with a better screen name, I'll have to think on that)

You will probably get a lot of ideas and opinions about this. Just when I think a product is meant for just one type of technique, somewhere out in the quilting world uses it for something new and wonderful.

For me, I use the heavier wt threads when I want my machine quilting stitches to show. So if I want to do some free-form stippling and the thread will add color as well as texture, heavy wt threads are great.

If I want to have the texture of my machine quilting to take front stage, then I use a lighter weight thread. An example might be a feather motif surrounded by some tight and tiny stippling to make the puffs stand out. Any areas where you retrace over lines you have just stitched will have less thread buildup.

One of the shows that showed machine embroidery with the long arm machine would be a great idea to use the heavier wt threads because you are not really retracing but sewing rows of stitching side by side to fill the space with color.

have fun!

drj2athome,
Geez, what a long name!
You use the 30 wt thread when you want to have the quilting really show. It all depends on what you're trying to highlight. If you want the piecing to be the star, use a thinner thread.
Does this help?
eileenkny

I bought some beautiful heavy quilting cotton thread. Then I heard Sue Nickels say she usually quilts with 50 weight thread. Maybe the heavier thread is good on art quilts and such. Are there any tricks to using heavier thread>?