As for needles, I prefer the ones made by John James, regardless of type they are my 'go to' maker, Milwards will do, although I loathe their current packaging. And don't touch Pony needles with a barge pole, Yuk!

Your experience might be different, and that will have to do with the acidity of you hands, and there is no way to fix that Although a powdered emery pin cushion/needle cleaner can do wonders if you are inclined to turn your needles black.

Margo wrote:
Now I'll never forget! hehehe

Pam, The way I remember which spool goes which way is this: The spools that are wound round and round are "stacked" like a smokestack which is vertical. So the spools that are crosswound would be horizontal. Getting it right does make a big difference. Betty Ann

I am with Rita. My machine likes the superior threads. I hardly ever have to clean lint out of the bobbin case. That makes me think we might need to describe ourselves as something other than thread snobs. It is a very practical thing to protect and care for the valuable equipment we use to construct our quilts. We don't love the thread just because of the label we love it because of the function and that sounds rather practical to me. Most of the Superior cones, spools or whatever also seem to contain good yardage as well. I think we are saying we appreciate/require quality. I am just amazed at the quality. I think it is about having respect for our work. Lois

pam7040 wrote:
Pam, the way I remember is to look at the spool (reel) to see if the threads are wound parallel to one another (STACKED) or if are they criss-CROSSED.

Then, I relate them to trains! :shock:

A train's smoke STACK sticks up in the air. So for stacked threads the spool (reel) goes on the vertical thread pin to feed off the side of the spool.

A train travels on tracks laid on CROSS ties. So for criss-crossed threads, the spool (reel) goes on the horizontal thread pin to feed off the end of the spool.

Large cones are usually cross wound and feed off the end of the spool, but they are usually feeding through a vertical cone stand or mounted upright on a long-arm machine.

Hope that didn't confuse you more!

I have a broad smile as I read everyone one elses comment and I am nodding in agreement with you all. Knowledge certainly is power. The time that Bob invests in thread education definitely is worthwhile for us all.

@Betty Ann, I still struggle to remember which reels should go on horizontally and which should go on vertically, I must write it on a piece of paper and stick it on the machine. I spent 4o years doing dressmaking with only a vertical spool so that is my natural tendency.

@ Lorchen, We understand that you are investing in your retirement

I have appropriate Superior topstitch needles for my machine but I now need to get myself some good quality hand sewing needles and lay aside my wierd and wonderful assortment of awful dressmaking ones, lol.

i've joined the club - bought a couple of "superior" cones when i was in canada this march - 3 weeks ago a colleage from our miami office had a meeting here in switzerland and brought my first online superior purchases - oh are they ever fab !!!!

My name is Nancy and I am a threadaholic. I like the Superior threads very much and have recently become a big fan of FilTec Glide thread. The Glide really quilts like butter and is fairly cheap ($7.20 for a 5500yd cone). I started using it after it was recommended by Karen McTavish. But I will use just about any thread that has the color and look that I'm after, so maybe I'm not a snob. I use the cones of neutral colored threads from Connecting Threads for piecing (Essentials?) and Gutermann (sorry!) for hand sewing the binding to the backs of my quilts and sometimes for piecing.

Nancy

Yes I have to admit I too am becoming a thread snob! I have been using Aurifil threads a lot in the last few months and I find that my sewing machine likes them very much - which makes me happy. I recently got some Superior Rainbows, Highlights and King Tut threads to try and I was completely delighted with them. I just love, love, love how the rainbows and Highlights behave on a quilt. So for me now it's mainly Aurifil and Superior threads. I won't be throwing out anything in my thread collection because I know that they will come in handy too. My thread stash has become nearly as big as my fabric stash - better make some more quilts!

Sewdreamy wrote:
I can't quite yet! The receiver needs to see it first! But, soon!!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

Scoopie wrote: Ooh Dawn, pictures please...sounds wonderful!

I can pretty much say, "Ditto" to what all of you have said! But, don't get rid of the "thick" stuff! I am working on a project right now where there wasn't a clear outline of one the "characters" in the design. It just sort of blended into the background. I grabbed the thickest black thread I had and outline/quilted it. MUCH better, now! Whew! Now I can get back to my Superior Threads! lol

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

With knowledge comes power. The fact that Bob has taken the time to educate us all about thread makes all the difference. I now know which thread works for what need. I understand how tension works, what needle is best, spool horizontal of vertical, and lots of other "stuff" about thread. I am proud to say that I too am a thread snob. Superior thread is my go to thread in all cases. I even look forward to the Superior thread newsletter and Bob's groaner of a monthly joke. Count me among the snobs. Betty Ann

Once I started practicing with Superior and I watched the quality of my piecing and machine quilting start improving I became a thread snob. When I teach and there is a Superior Threads booth in the building I'm a walking talking advertisement for their thread.
Coats & Clark, Mettler & Gutterman are best for fashion sewing.
Teri