If you've been sewing for a while, you know the selection of threads has increased exponentially. Remember the row of basic colored threads from Coats and Clark. You bought your material and the spool of thread you needed to match. Simple choice - just match the colors.

Today quilters have a huge variety of threads to choose from. Cotton, silk, polyester, metallic, holographic, thin, thick, invisible, thread for bobbin, thread for quilting - where do you start? Make your decisions a step at a time, depending on your particular quilt. Let your quilt influence your choices.

First, you need to make the quilt top. You want a strong thread, especially if you are making a quilt that will have heavy use, like bed or crib quilts. Polyester-wrapped threads are particularly strong. Remember you also need to fill a bobbin. In most cases thread for the top will also work in your bobbin, especially in constructing the top.

Use spools that aren't several years old. Thread dries out and becomes brittle from disuse, so treat yourself to good thread. Avoid discounted threads; you don't know how long they have been around. If you do have older threads, they can be used to baste the quilt sandwich and sew together pieces of batting.

Second, you need to decide on the quilting. Here you make decisions about the visible threads on your quilt. If you are hand quilting, then choose threads specific to hand quilting. You can get a variety of colors, but you want a durable thread; the movement of the needle through the quilt sandwich frays the thread. The type of batting you choose also can dictate the choice of thread; a thicker batting may be harder to quilt, but you may not need as many quilt stitches.

If you are machine quilting, make decisions about your stitch designs. Will you stitch-in-the-ditch? Expensive rayon and metallic threads will not be as visible. Will you outline designs? Shiny threads might take away from the design - or might be just what the quilt needs. Do you want to accent particular patterns?

Metallics and variegated threads might be just the accent. What will the back of the quilt look like? If the back is part of the overall pattern, then choose thread that will add to the design. Consider what threads will work well in the bobbin, as those stitches will be visible on the back of the quilt.

Third, are you doing traditional quilting of patterns from stencils or are you creating your own quilting designs? You want to choose threads that will work with your machine. You may need to change tension (loosen) and needle size (larger) if you work with metallic threads. You may want a shadow effect of quilting stitches and choose to use an invisible thread that picks up color from the fabric itself.

Fourth, are you "painting" with your thread? Using embroidery? You may want several shades of a color to accent designs on your quilt. The embroidery designs available will give you suggestions for threads. If you are new to machine embroidery, then follow the manufacturer's recommendations. As you become more proficient in painting with thread, then let yourself experiment.

Test drive your threads. Use small samples of your quilt top fabric, backing, and batting. Try out your threads. Make adjustments in tension. Use different needles to accommodate the thread. Try different stitches. Check for shimmer and even stitching. Do the threads give you the effect you want?

It used to be that thread just held fabric together. For quilters today the thread is an important design element, worth the time and money to get it just right for your quilt. Remember, if you take the time to quilt, then treat yourself to the best thread available.

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