I often have questions about thread when I attend quilt shows. "Why did I choose Aurifil?" "What weight should I sew with?". Here's a brief introduction on 50wt, but if you have more time, why not check out the Aurifil blog (www.aurifil.com), there is so much information there on tips and tricks on sewing.
Lets talk about 50wt first. Why is this the go to for so many of us? I know I find it easy to sew with, there appears to be less lint in my machine and when hand sewing, I find it rarely snaps on me. But why?
First, the material from which it is made makes a huge difference. The very best cotton is grown in the Mako region of Egypt, in a small part of the Nile Delta. Cotton grown in just the right amount of sun and precipitation in just the right soil lends itself to produce a long staple fiber. When spun, this long staple fiber creates a very fine, premium quality cotton that is smoother, finer, and stronger than any other existing cotton in the world.
Second is the construction of the thread. Spinning turns the cotton staples into single strands of cotton. These strands are then twisted together to make a single thread. Two ply is two strands twisted together; three ply, three strands. Aurifil Mako 50wt 2ply thread (Aurifil MAKO NE50/2) is a 2ply thread made from long staple cotton grown in the Mako Region of Egypt. This makes it a stronger, higher quality thread, without adding the bulk to your seams that a 3ply thread would add.
So Aurifil 50wt cotton thread is a high quality, minimal lint, high sheen thread creating less bulk in your project, without sacrificing strength.
I'll write more in a future blog.In the mean time, check out the glorious colours in 50wt that I have in stock and some fantastic boxed collections.