Thread and needles for hand quilting

Originally posted on Patreon, April 7th, 2021

Much of my quilt making practice is wrapped up in using existing materials and not buying new things- so until recently I’ve not had especially helpful thoughts on sourcing materials because my thrift is not your thrift. HOWEVER since the pandemic has turned my thrift into a clubhouse for maskless old men to gossip in I’ve branched out a bit into the world of bought-new supplies.

THREAD

I hand quilt my quilts, which you can do with almost any kind of thread that you like. My preference is a plied cotton thread a little thicker than regular sewing thread because the stitches stay nice and plump. Usually I thrift it- that white thread came in a taped shut ziplock with about 40 of its brethren for $1. The green thread was likewise thrifted- it’s just regular sewing thread but that color! And it’s made in Detroit! It’s pretty sturdy for vintage thread but when I use it I stitch my rows close together to limit how much pressure is on the stitches. That colorful mess of thread is also vintage, though less durable. I only use it paired closely with a sturdier thread or on wall quilts that won’t be yanked on or need washing. You can test your thread by holding different lengths of it and snapping it- if it’s easy to break at all don’t bother. It will break your heart later.

The red thread and the pink thread both came from Purl Soho (ordered online). The red is just pearl cotton, but wow what a treat to be able to choose from all of their colors! The pink is linen thread, which is new to me (I used it on my Big Star Quilt and the blue quilt that I just finished). It’s a bit thick and thin and occasionally pulls bits of batting through with it because it’s so textured. It’s quite rough to quilt with (like- it is literally coarse), but the colors are deeply saturated and it washes so soft.

NEEDLES

Here, again, I mostly use secondhand. A lot of my needles came from a sewing box my friend pulled out of his neighbor’s trash when she died and her house was emptied out. They are old and long with big round eyes, and they are very sharp. If I don’t wear a thimble they will and do split my fingertips!

I recently tried the Shibori needles that every contemporary quilter lists in their material list and they are lovely but surprisingly thick and dull (no link for these- I can't find the ones I got!)? I’m enjoying using them on a linen quilt with wool batting, but pairing them with tightly woven vintage cotton and cotton batting is a finger bruiser compared to my gnarly old baddies.

THIMBLES

I’ve never gotten the hang of using a rigid thimble- maybe I just haven’t found the right fit. So I use the fingers that I cut off of an old leather glove. They stay on quite nicely and they BEND. Honestly, I avoid wearing them unless my fingertips are split and angry, but they are there when that inevitably happens.