jennlefore Posted August 20, 2013 Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 I just bought my first quilting machine - a 1996 Ultimate I. My local APQS dealer suggested I buy the starter pack that she usually buys. She buys 23 colors and since I don't have business yet I was wondering what basic colors y'all would suggest I get - outside of the black, white and cream colors. Would those 3 be enough to start with or should I expand into one or two shades of other colors as well? Thanks for your input, Jenn Wilson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted August 20, 2013 Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 After the classic black/white/cream I'd add taupe, sage green, gold, and navy blue. Then later add a bright red and burgundy, light blue, forest green, and a couple of shades of gray. If you get a thin thread like BottomLine or So Fine, you'll be amazed at how well these colors blend on many fabrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zora Posted August 20, 2013 Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 I would follow Linda's advice. When I first started I only bought colors as I needed them. Every quilt meant another thread order. So, I started buying "pretty colors" just because. Many of those are still in the package, 3 years later. The basics she suggests will cover most quilts. As you get more experience, you may decide to use different threads, depending on your style. Welcome to the APQS family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisquilter Posted August 20, 2013 Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 Yes, Linda gave you excellent advice. I keep only those really good "goes with lots of things" on hand. I buy special colors only when I have a customer quilt that requires a unique thread. Thread is expensive and having it just sit in a drawer is money wasted. You will be surprised how any of those colors will blend with lots of quilts. I very seldom have to by a special color. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne from Guam Posted August 20, 2013 Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 What I have found out is this: MEDIUM TONES work best.The reason for this is that a very pale color will often read as white on your quilt top. And a dark color will read very dark, or look harsh. The same color in a medium tone will look good on the light fabrics and it will still show up on the dark fabrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted August 20, 2013 Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 All of the above are great answers! I have found that I re-order gold more than any other color. I guess around here folks use a lot of tones that points in that direction. My second major color are blues and greens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennlefore Posted August 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 Thank you everyone! That helped me a lot. I appreciate you! I'm glad I have an APQS - the support has already been wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferBernard Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 You might want to get some baby colors if you start getting that kind of quilt in. Pastel pink, blue, yellow, and maybe light green. The bottom Line thread color called taupe is a one thread wonder. It really does blend with about any color! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mestuart Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 My only other suggestion is don't buy a lot of one type of thread, ie: I bought great spools of cotton. and now have mostly switched to Glide. and the cotton, just sits. Trends etc change. My only excuse is that living in Canada, we need to make a big order "to make it worth while" LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 I go with the neutrals first and I'd too only buy them as you need them...I also found gray to be quite neutral with alot of purples, etc.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fineseams Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 A GREAT color that goes with very many things is what I call "baby poop green". It is a sort of dull goldish-brownish-greenish color. It is a medium value, and is quite neutral. I am always amazed at the things it goes well with. I have it in 100 wt silk as well as in several other thread weights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enchanted Quilting Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 A really pale celery green goes amazingly well with most baby quilts. I find I use it a lot. ....and I totally echo the baby poop green. The color I use is Sumac. It's awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandmaLKB Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 Instead of buying a lot of the large cones and not being sure if I would like them, I would buy the smaller 1,000 yard cones. Plenty to do a quilt or to play with and test on my machine and if it turns out to be a color I really like and would use a lot, I would buy the larger cones. As Linda said, those basics are the "go to" threads, but sometimes you need or want a special color. I have a variety of the smaller cones and they can also be used on my sewing machine for bindings, etc. It is very tempting to buy "all those pretty colors", but be careful to not overload and then have your threads get old. Superior Thread has great color charts of their threads, so it makes it easier to choose. Have fun ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlene Epp Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 If I could only have ONE thread color, it would be "baby poop green". I always challenged my students to find a quilt it would NOT work on. On average, about 8 out 10 looked great with this color. It's stunning on purple, red, brown, blue, yellow, even pink. Black thread is one that I use very rarely, and then I prefer a charcoal so I can see where I'm going and the thread slows a bit on the black fabric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancyharper Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 So Fines 403 taupe is absolutely stunning on a seafoam green fabric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micajah Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 I use more medium gold thread than any other color. Omni and bottom line are my go to threads and are made by Superior. Next would be white, off white, taupe and baby poop green! Darks, not so good as they will show up any deviation in the stitch or look fuzzy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiP Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 It's been a long time since I dealt with baby poop. Could someone provide the thread name and number for "baby poop green"? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kay Anderson Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 I would add a good transparent thread. Lot's of companies make it. Just be sure it is clear poly and not nylon. This is the most reliable choice when you don't have anything that seems to work with the quilt that needs to be done right now! Get the "smoke" color too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 medium gold, medium gold with olive undertone (baby poop metallic?) , baby poop green, seem to be my most used colours. Heidi - So Fine #50 colour number 449 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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