You can’t sew or quilt without thread. That’s a simple statement of fact. What’s not so simple is choosing the thread to use. There are hundreds of choices to make about thread and that’s before you begin selecting a color!

One way to organize your decision-making about thread is to find a brand that you like. At Missouri Star, we stand behind several manufacturers of high-quality thread. One of these is Superior Threads, a company started in 1998 by Bob and Heather Purcell. Their goal is to produce superior quality threads, manufactured under strict guidelines, with no dye-lot variance.

Superior Threads leads the industry in thread and needle education. As they state on their website, “Each thread line Superior designs has a list of specific use recommendations and tips for stitching success including recommended tension settings, needle size, and bobbin thread.” Let’s talk about a few of the most popular threads the company produces.

Superior Threads Omni is a 40 weight poly-wrapped, poly core thread. Omni thread is polyester quilting thread designed to withstand the rigors of high-speed quilting, serging, and sewing without breakage and skipped stitches. It is a favorite of longarm quilters. Superior Threads OMNI thread is available in 172 colors, of which Missouri Star carries a good selection.

Superior Threads Bottom Line is a 40 weight, polyester thread specifically designed for use in bobbins. It also works well for applique, binding, micro-stippling, and English paper piecing. When you need a thread that is virtually invisible when sewn, Bottom Line thread is a great choice. It is manufactured in 55 colors.

Superior Threads King Tut is a 40 weight thread made from Egyptian-grown, extra-long staple cotton. It is designed for quilting on both longarm and home machines. This Superior cotton thread is produced in more than 100 variegated and solid colors. King Tut thread has extremely low lint because it is gassed. Would you like to know what that means? Click here to learn how Superior Threads cotton thread is twisted, mercerized, precision-dyed, and gassed–all so that it lives up to the name “Superior” on the label.

In addition to selling high-quality thread, Superior Threads is committed to education. Their website contains a large collection of articles, videos, and reference guides on topics such as Adjusting Tension, Decoding Needle Numbers, and Troubleshooting Broken Thread. Check out their free education portal. It will surely help you untangle a few of the knotty problems caused by thread, needles, fabric, and sewing machines!