New Threads-A Review of Quilters Select and Microquilter by Superior
Note: I have two posts today. Check out my other post on “Trends, Trunk Show and my new machine!”.
I am always interested in new threads. If the line looks promising I will purchase a few spools and take a spin to see if I will invest in it. Two new thread lines suitable for our quilting world have recently hit the market and I had to try them!
Quilters Select is a new brand specifically made for quilters, featuring the endorsement of Alex Anderson. I talked with her a little bit about the line a few weeks back at Quilting in the Garden. The line is manufactured by RNF which manufactures Floriani products. The line includes rulers, mats, a rotary cutter, applique products, a batting line and two threads.
Alex has made a video about how the rulers, mats and rotary cutter work in union to create an entirely different cutting experience. Alex calls it “The Trick” and you can view a video that explains it here. It really sounds slick and may make it worthwhile to invest in new cutting mats and rulers-really. I haven’t tried them yet so I have no comment other than it does sound pretty cool-watch the video.
I did try both of their threads: Perfect Cotton-Plus, a 60 wt thread with Egyptian Cotton over a poly core, and Para-Cotton Poly, an 80 wt thread that would be ideal for micro quilting, nearly invisible machine applique and bobbins.
At first I was shocked at the introduction of a cotton-wrapped poly thread. Don’t you remember that stuff we used to use in Jr High Home Ec (I’m dating myself here!) that was junk? But it actually makes sense. The poly core gives it strength that a pure cotton thread cannot deliver. When I took my pojogi class and we hand stitched our work, it was perfect. It held up to the intense tugging I did to snug up the thread on the project yet it was a thin thread with a cotton look.
Perfect Cotton-Plus is skinny and strong. The above photo shows its size next to other popular piecing threads-Aurifil 50/2 and Superior Threads Masterpiece 50/3. All these are good threads. The Perfect Cotton Plus is the skinniest of all at a 60 weight. The thinness of the thread combined with the strength of the poly core makes for a good piecing thread. I did some hand sewing and a little bit of piecing and I did like the combination of the thinness of the thread with its strength.
My experience with the Para-Cotton Poly was not as good. I had several problems with this thread. But first the positive-I was excited about an 80 wt poly that would be strong enough to go in the bobbin but skinny enough to be able to micro-quilt when needed and be able to go on the top of my quilts. Skinny poly threads can mimic silk without the expense of silk. So I was excited about this entry into the market.
My first issue was the thread splitting. I bought 4 spools and each did this. Just one stroke or two, like you would do to ready the thread for threading through your machine, and it split. That is very annoying.
Then there was the shredding. Every single time after maybe about a yard of free motion quilting, it would shred. I had been quilting with various threads and this same needle earlier so I didn’t think it was my machine or the needle. I did try different needles sizes and types, even different batting and fabrics. BTW I never use icky batting, thread, needles or fabric, snort.
I wrote the company and even spoke with them and could not resolve the problem. To their credit they were very responsive, concerned, helpful and speedy to reply. But I was not able to resolve the shredding issue.
And then there is the issue of the label. When a company puts a label on like this, with the central hole covered by a sticker, it is a problem! If you just spike that guy onto your thread holder, it will push the label into the hole, resulting in the spool not spinning properly because the paper tightened up the hole. You can have tension issues because the spool does not spin freely. Also, the sticky from the label will get onto your spool holder, preventing future spools from spinning freely. This is a bad idea in my opinion.
I discovered this earlier and wrote about my issues with a Superior threads spool doing the same thing here. You’ll notice that Superior no longer labels in this manner-they punch the hole out in the middle, eliminating this problem. It’s such a simple fix and it vexes me why a company would manufacture their spools this way.
So this thread was a no-go for me. In all fairness, there may be some undiscovered Operator Error involved. If I discover that there was an error on my part I will be sure to report back to you.
UPDATE: Quilters Select sent a replacement spool of the Para-Cotton Poly. I went right to my machine to test it and…..same thing-shredding. Ugh. Their customer service is outstanding! But I can’t get this thread to work. I hope there is a “fix”. Hoping some of you are having better results.
Somewhat coincidentally, Superior Threads has recently come out with a 100 wt poly thread to be used for the same purpose-micro quilting, bobbins and nearly-invisible machine applique. Of course I had to test this thread too!
I purchased several 3,000 yd cones of this one to try. My first try was to do some very small scale quilting:
It ran beautifully through my needle and laid a gorgeous line down. I had no troubles with shredding or splitting.
I intuitively knew to use a 60 Microtex needle, but isn’t it nice that all Superior threads tell you what needle to use?
Note how they punch the hole through the label-thank you!
I quilted a sample extensively, at times going pedal-to-the-metal just to test it. I experienced no problems at all. This will be my go-to skinny poly thread. Jerry Granata, quilter extraordinaire, did a You Tube review here. It is an extensive review and may be of interest to you.
So have any of you tried these threads? What has been your experience? Let me know!
I have tested Superior’s Microquilter and it will almost certainly become my go-to thread for micro quilting, and I do a lot of that. I have two cones, and got the sample card too. Love the colors.
I got the sample card too-kind of committed to the thread before I tried it! Superior has earned my trust.
You are a real trooper for trying the new threads. I am such a fan of Superior (quality, service, variety, price) that I just ignore any new products that come out. The examples you give are some of my reasons for using Superior exclusively.
Superior always seems to create a hit. And that Microquilter really does run beautifully!
I love this blog! Thank you for your insight into threads.
Thank you Laura-glad you enjoy my posts!
Thank you Jenny for the shout-out and kind words.
Your review of these threads is excellent!
You’re welcome Jerry. You did a great review and I wanted to share it.
Thanks for your thorough review, Jenny. I will definitely give a couple of these threads a try.
I think you’d like them Franki.
Jenny, thanks for the honest review on these threads. I’ve heard, but not seen or tried, that Aurifil has a new micro thread coming out. I’m a big Aurifil fan and look forward to trying it.
I just saw that today and I think I have to try it also! So many new threads coming out.
have you ever tried Invisafil by wonderfil. It has had a matte 2 ply polyester thread thats 100wt too .
Yes and I loved it. It almost mimicks silk!
Thanks for the review. What you experienced of thread splitting is what I was having happen with my mid-arm until I started using Superior. I guess I will stick with it!
Yes, Superior is always a good bet Janice!
I have always used Aurifil on my domestic machine and was extremely happy with it for quilting, but I have a mid arm now and am finding that poly thread works so much better. Superior, Isacord, and Floriani are my favorites. Not a fan of Alex Anderson, so I wouldn’t buy any product based on her endorsement.
Interesting Laura that the poly works better in the mid-arm, so maybe that’s why this thread was created. I do like the poly core cotton thread-thin and strong. The 80 wt poly was not working for me but I reserve judgement-was I doing something wrong? I like the rest of what I’ve tried of the Quilters Select product line. Alex has done a lot for the quilting community and she gives a lot back to the quilting community in both education and philanthropy.
Okayyyyy I don’t know if I want to ever try cotton covered poly again, after all the past thread troubles. The superior sounds promising, and thank you for the very clear and honest review!
You’re welcome. I’m doing some pajogi by machine right now with the poly core cotton and it’s perfect for that.
Thank you for the review! Superior really has it down. Thread is what they do and they never disappoint.
Glad you are happy-we need our thread!!
Hi Jenny,
I know the quilt police will be all over me, but I have been a longarmer for 15 years and have always used Maxi-Lock or Superior thread and I have never had a quilt fall apart or threads break. I have tried other threads with disastrous results. Especially the splitting issue. Arc-Poly is famous for this, but the thread is beautiful and strong so I use it for piecing and top stitching. I appreciate your feedback on products.
Thanks for the comment Linda-you use what you know works! Me too-life’s too short to use diva thread!
I can’t get the micro quilter thread to sew at all. It shreds & breaks with the first stitch. If I keep going it might make a couple of stitches then it’s like the top thread & bobbin thread aren’t connecting at all & it makes a loopy knotted mess on the back that is so loose the thread will just pull out. I have a Bernina 200/730 machine & have never had any trouble with any kind of thread, even the super thin monofilament thread sews beautifully in my machine. I have made sure that the thread is going through the tension disks correctly. Any suggestions?
Yes, I do have a suggestion: call Superior! They have the most amazing phone support and I can almost guarantee that they will help you resolve the problem. The only thing I can think of is spool orientation-it’s cross wound so the thread needs to come off the top of the spool and the spool should not move. You’ve probably already rethreaded, changed needles, etc. Call them at 800.499.1777
I just recently used the para cotton poly in my Bernina 780 and had no issues. It was a delight to use no heaviness. I really liked it
Louise greatcthat it worked for you! I have since learned that it’s original intent was as a bobbin thread for piecing.