Using "vintage" thread. Is cotton wrapped polyester or plain polyesterusable for quilting

[LynnS]

Hello all, I was lucky to get to an estate sale where I was able to buy a bunch of zippers and buttons, and also a few spools of thread inexpensively. I do both quilting and craft sewing, and have always used 100% cotton thread.

Some of the thread I bought is cotton wrapped polyester, and four of the spools are polyester. From the looks of the spools (which are nearly full) they are probably from the early 70's to the early to mid 80's. Is this thread usable at all for quilting, or is it too old/the wrong type? What is the "shelf life" of these threads? If I can't use them for quilting I can always use them for other sewing projects.

Thanks for any input or thoughts!

[auntjana]

I have found in the past coming across old thread is problematic of whether to use it - polyester covered thread has a tendency to cut through in time the cotton fibers of the piecework of quilt fabric. That is why I only use cotton. Poly also tends to break as it gets old - brittle.

So look and see if you have just cotton thread - you may be able to use it, but it tends to become brittle too - I am finding that thread has a shelf life.

I only buy a few spools at a time of neutral colors that I piece with, to avoid breakage.

Jana

[purrfect-lady]

My thoughts and experience are exactly as Jana stated. Even sale thread sometimes is just a way to unload old thread and it breaks easily.