Quilting & Embroidery Thread
Flash Sew & Quilt carries nine of the most trusted thread brands in quilting, embroidery, and serging — available in-store at our Sarasota, Naples, and Jupiter locations and shipped anywhere online. Whether you're piecing a quilt top, running an embroidery design on a Bernina or Baby Lock, or loading a serger for the first time, you'll find the right fiber, weight, and color here.
Find the Right Thread for Your Project
Piecing & Quilting
Fine cotton 50wt is the standard for piecing quilt tops and machine quilting. Aurifil is the staff favorite — lightweight, lint-free, and available in hundreds of colors. Mettler and Quilters Select are strong alternatives.
Shop Piecing Thread →Machine Embroidery
Polyester 40wt runs cleanly through every Bernina and Baby Lock embroidery machine. Isacord is the industry standard. Exquisite gives you over 500 colors at an accessible price. Madeira delivers premium color saturation.
Shop Embroidery Thread →Metallic & Decorative
Kingstar metallic is engineered to run smoothly without shredding — the problem that plagues cheaper metallics. WonderFil rounds out the specialty range with everything from ultra-fine to heavy decorative threads.
Shop Metallic Thread →Serging & Bobbin
Maxi-Lock is the standard choice for overlocking and serging. Ask us about pre-wound bobbins (Fil-Tec Magna-Glide) for longarm quilting — we carry those too.
Shop Serger Thread →
Isacord Thread Blue Dawn 3151 - 1000 Meter Spool
Isacord
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Isacord Blue Dawn 3151 Embroidery Thread Enhance your stitching experience with Isacord Thread, the ultimate choice for embroidery enthusiasts. Ren...
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Exquisite Polyester Thread - 376 Petal Pink 5000M X376
Exquisite
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376 Petal Pink Exquisite Polyester Thread 5000M X376 The Exquisite brand polyester embroidery thread provides the same brilliant sheen as rayon. Th...
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Exquisite Polyester Thread - 1619 Shy Green 5000M X1619
Exquisite
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1619 Shy Green Exquisite Polyester Thread 5000M X1619 The Exquisite brand polyester embroidery thread provides the same brilliant sheen as rayon. T...
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Shop by Brand
Aurifil
Italian-made 100% cotton, beloved by quilters worldwide for its lint-free performance and vast color range. The 50wt is the everyday piecing and quilting standard; 40wt adds visible texture; 28wt and 12wt for decorative and hand-look stitching. Our staff's first recommendation across the board.
Shop Aurifil →Exquisite
Our widest color selection — over 500 shades in a polyester 40wt that performs beautifully in embroidery machines. Priced accessibly without sacrificing quality. The go-to brand for prolific embroiderers who need precise color matching across a massive palette. Thread color conversion chart — between Exquisite Isacord & Madeira →
Shop Exquisite →Isacord
The industry standard for machine embroidery. Isacord polyester 40wt is colorfast, strong, and tested in Bernina and Baby Lock embroidery machines by dealers across the country. If you're starting out in machine embroidery and want a thread you can trust, start here. Thread color conversion chart — find Isacord equivalents in Exquisite & Madeira →
Shop Isacord →WonderFil
A specialty brand with a thread for every technique — from Invisafil 100wt for invisible hand-look quilting to DecoBob pre-wound bobbins for longarm work. WonderFil is the brand for quilters who want to push what their machine can do beyond standard piecing thread.
Shop WonderFil →Madeira
A premium German thread brand with a long track record in embroidery and decorative stitching. Madeira's rich color saturation and high sheen make it the choice for embroidery projects where color depth matters — particularly on darker fabrics. Thread color conversion chart — between Exquisite Isacord & Madeira →
Shop Madeira →Kingstar
Metallic thread engineered to run smoothly through machine needles without shredding or breaking — the chronic failure mode of lesser metallic threads. Use Kingstar when you want genuine sparkle and shine in embroidery or free-motion quilting without the frustration.
Shop Kingstar →Mettler
Premium Swiss mercerized cotton with a signature silk-like finish. Ben, our Sarasota technician and Bernina specialist, recommends Mettler for Bernina machines — consistent tension and a beautiful sheen on finished quilts. Available in 50wt for both piecing and quilting.
Shop Mettler →Quilters Select
Designed specifically for quilters — smooth delivery, consistent tension, and reliable performance in both piecing and free-motion quilting. A strong alternative to Aurifil for quilters who want the same quality focus at a different price point.
Shop Quilters Select →Maxi-Lock
The cone thread standard for serging and overlocking. Maxi-Lock delivers consistent tension through the multiple loopers and needles of an overlocker — essential for garment sewers, bag makers, and anyone working with a serger regularly.
Shop Maxi-Lock →Thread Weight Quick Reference
Thread weight is counterintuitive: the higher the number, the finer the thread. A 100wt is nearly invisible; a 12wt is chunky and decorative.
| Weight | Fiber | Best For | Brands We Carry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100wt | Cotton or polyester | Invisible appliqué, hand-look quilting | WonderFil Invisafil |
| 80wt | Cotton | Micro-piecing, precision quilt tops | Aurifil 80wt |
| 50wt | Cotton | Piecing & quilting — the everyday standard | Aurifil, Mettler, Quilters Select |
| 40wt | Polyester or cotton | Machine embroidery, visible quilting lines | Isacord, Exquisite, Madeira, Aurifil |
| 28wt | Cotton | Decorative top-stitching, big-stitch hand look | Aurifil 28wt |
| 12wt | Cotton or wool | Chunky decorative, hand embroidery look | Aurifil 12wt |
| Cone / serger | Polyester | Overlocking, serging, longarm bobbins | Maxi-Lock, WonderFil DecoBob |
Thread FAQs
- Cotton or polyester thread for quilting — which should I use?
- Cotton thread is traditional for quilting cotton fabrics — it breathes the same way as the fabric and creates a classic matte finish. Polyester is stronger, more colorfast, and the right choice for machine embroidery. Rule of thumb: cotton for piecing and quilting, polyester (Isacord, Exquisite, Madeira) for embroidery.
- What thread do you recommend for Bernina machines?
- Ben, our Sarasota technician, recommends Mettler Silk-Finish Cotton 50wt for general sewing and quilting. For machine embroidery on a Bernina, Isacord 40wt is the industry standard — it's what Bernina certified dealers recommend across the country.
- Do you carry these thread brands at all three locations?
- Aurifil, Isacord, Exquisite, and WonderFil are stocked at all three locations — Sarasota, Naples, and Jupiter. Specialty brands like Kingstar, Mettler, and Maxi-Lock may vary by store. Call Sarasota (941-960-1189) or Naples (239-304-8387) to confirm availability, or order online for guaranteed fulfillment.
- What thread weight should a beginner start with?
- Start with 50wt cotton for piecing and quilting — it's the standard for a reason. Aurifil 50wt is our top recommendation: forgiving in the machine, easy to handle, and available in a color for every project. Once you're comfortable, the weight guide above will help you branch out.