Choosing the Best Cotton Thread for Quilting | YLI Threads

The Key to Choosing the Right Cotton Thread for Quilting

A wise quilter once said, "Cotton threads are not created equal; just ask my machine if you want a second opinion." If you have experienced frayed, broken, or linty cotton threads when quilting or have spent hours at your machine cleaning the lint monster from under your needle plate, you'll most likely agree with her statement.

The difference separating low-quality cotton threads from high-quality cotton threads often comes down to one surprisingly simple detail: staple length. Understanding the differences between short, long, and extra-long staple cotton will help you choose the best cotton quilting thread for your projects, whether you're free-motion quilting on a longarm or piecing blocks on your favorite home sewing machine.

In this guide, we'll explain what staple length means, why it's important to understand the differences between short, long, and extra-long staple cotton thread, and how to select a thread that helps you achieve smoother, balanced stitches, cleaner seams, and a more enjoyable quilting experience.

How Long is a Cotton Staple?

When the word staple comes to mind, we think of the small, U-shaped metal wire that keeps stacks of papers together. Did you know that the small fibers from a cotton boll are also called staples, and that there are three different sizes, or categories, of staples referred to as staple length? Think of each fiber as being similar to a strand of hair, which can be short, medium, or long. The longer the fibers, the smoother and stronger the thread will be. Staple length directly affects the performance of cotton threads used for quilting and sewing. Staple length is categorized into three types: short staple, long staple, and extra-long staple.

Short Staple Cotton: Functional but Less Refined

Starting with the shortest length, we have short staple cotton. These fibers measure less than 1 1/8 inches in length. Cotton threads made from short staples are inexpensive, linty, and weak. The short length of these fibers requires more splicing to create a continuous thread. Imagine twisting the ends of a 1-inch strand together to create a 500-yard spool of thread. That's a significant amount of splicing during the manufacturing process. There is an association between the number of splices and the amount of lint a thread has. The greater the number of splices, the more linty it will be.

Characteristics of short-staple cotton thread include:

Excess lint
Visible fuzz and flyaways
A slightly rougher feel in the thread
Generally weaker, leading to more thread breaks

If the label of a cotton thread doesn't specify 'long staple' or 'extra-long staple', chances are it's a short staple thread.

Long Staple Cotton: A Step in the Right Direction

Long staple cotton fibers measure between 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 inches in length. The increased staple length results in a smoother, stronger thread than short staple, with reduced lint and fewer breaks.

We consider long staple cotton a good mid-range option for quilting thread because it offers an upgrade from short staple cotton threads in both the user experience and stitch quality. However, many quilters who try extra-long staple cotton thread find they prefer it, thanks to the noticeable improvement in stitch quality and machine cleanliness.

spools of majestic extra-long staple cotton quilting thread

Majestic is our 40 wt. quilting thread made from 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton

Extra-long Staple Cotton: The Cream of the Crop

Extra-long staple cotton fibers measure up to 2 inches in length. This increase from long staples' 1 1/4-inch-long fiber length (an extra three-quarters of an inch) surprisingly makes a substantial improvement in thread quality. A few traits that quilters love about extra-long staple cotton include:

Smoother surface: These lengthy fibers are spun together in a more even manner, allowing the thread to flow more smoothly, so it glides through fabric and your machine with less resistance.
Low lint: Fewer splices mean there is less lint buildup along the entire thread path, including tension discs, bobbin case, and beneath the needle plate.
Increased strength: Due to the nature of the longer fibers, extra-long staple cotton thread resists breakage significantly more than short or long staple cotton, even under tight tension or high-speed longarm quilting.

If you want dependable performance when piecing and quilting with a cotton thread, extra-long staple cotton is worth every penny.

YLI Threads' Dream Seam is a 50 wt. 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton thread, designed for seams that lie flat, making it perfect for piecing and quilting. For a more visible stitch with bold, variegated colors, Majestic is our 40 wt. 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton thread that adds texture and depth to your quilting.

How Staple Length Impacts Your Quilting

For both home machine and longarm quilters, staple length directly influences stitch quality, machine performance, and the durability of your finished quilts and sewn projects. Longer fibers create a smoother, more uniform thread surface.

Extra-long staple cotton also sheds less lint, keeping your machine cleaner and running more efficiently. That means more time spent quilting and less time maintaining your machine. Because these fibers are stronger, they hold up beautifully under the demands of detailed quilting, stitching through multiple fabric layers, or tight tension settings.

Hand quilters notice these advantages even more. A smooth, strong thread glides effortlessly through the quilt sandwich, preventing tangling or fraying and making every stitch more enjoyable and precise. Learn more about what makes a high-quality cotton hand quilting thread.

diagram showing the relative length of cotton staples

A diagram representing the number of splices along a finished thread for each staple length.

a spool of white cotton hand quilting thread on a quilt

High-quality cotton hand quilting threads are made from extra-long staple cotton and are treated with a glaze.

When piecing a quilt, a fine yet strong, extra-long staple cotton thread helps keep seams flat, with minimal presence or bulk, and maintains the fabric's natural drape and flexibility. Fifty weight threads (often written as 50 wt.) are the preferred choice for quilters when piecing blocks on a home machine. Using a thread that isn't too heavy but still strong enough to form secure stitches and keep the quilt together strikes the perfect balance.

For machine quilting on home or longarm machines, especially when you want your stitches to stand out, a 40 wt. extra-long staple cotton thread provides bold definition and a slightly more substantial presence on the quilt, showcasing the stitched design.

Hand quilters benefit from a glazed extra-long staple cotton, which resists tangling, knotting, and fraying, allowing it to easily glide through fabric layers.

Best Thread Weight For Quilting with Cotton

40 wt. cotton threads are a favorite among quilters because they are heavy (thick) enough to be visible, allowing for pure creativity to add texture and dimension to the quilt. However, there are times when 50 wt. cotton thread is a welcome choice. We enjoy using 50 wt. Cotton for piecing is preferred because it has a finer weight (it's thinner than a 40 wt. thread), allowing it to fit neatly between fabric layers. This helps keep seams flat and reduces their presence and bulk, ensuring your quilt top lies beautifully.

The fine (thin) nature of a 50 wt. cotton thread makes it an excellent choice for topstitching when you want your stitching to blend into the background rather than stand out.

Tips for Choosing Cotton Quilting Thread:

High-quality cotton quilting threads, especially threads made from extra-long staples, have the highest tensile strength (resistance to breaking), the smoothest stitches, and a beautiful natural finish that complements cotton fabrics perfectly.
Cotton threads work well in both home and longarm machines. You can use cotton for the top and bobbin at the same time or mix fiber types.
Cotton staple lengths vary: short staples are less than 1 1/8 inches, long staples are 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 inches, and extra-long staples are up to 2 inches. Longer fibers produce smoother, stronger, and lower-lint threads.

Staple length may be small in measurement, but it has a big impact on your quilting experience. Upgrading to extra-long staple cotton quilting thread is a welcome improvement. You will enjoy smoother stitches, stronger seams, less lint, and a cleaner machine! Explore our full selection of cotton threads for quilting and discover how the right thread can transform your quilting experience from good to great.

About YLI's 40 wt. Majestic Quilting Thread

For machine quilting, our 40 wt. Majestic thread is genuinely exceptional. Made from 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton, this thread is available in forty-five variegated colors and five solid colors. Bold and ready to enhance any quilt with eye-catching motifs, filigree, feathers, or edge-to-edge designs. Majestic is one of our premium cotton quilting threads, available in 2,000-yard cones and 600-yard spools.

Get inspired by Majestic colors

cones and spools of majestic cotton quilting thread

Cotton Threads - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between short, long, and extra-long staple cotton?

Cotton staple length refers to the length of each individual fiber. The longer the fiber, the smoother and stronger the thread.

Short staple cotton: Less than 1 1/8" long. It produces more lint and weaker threads due to its short length, requiring many more fibers to be twisted along a given thread strand.

Long staple cotton: 1 1/8" to 1 1/4" long. It is of better quality than short staple cotton, but it still sheds more lint and is not as strong as extra-long-staple cotton.

Extra-long staple cotton: Up to 2" long. It is the highest quality cotton, producing strong, smooth, and low-lint thread.

YLI Threads uses only extra-long staple cotton in our cotton threads. This is how we achieve a soft-to-the-touch thread strong enough for high-tension and high-speed quilting. If a spool or cone of thread does not explicitly state "extra-long staple cotton", it is made from either short or long cotton fibers. Extra-long staples are worth bragging about and should be included on labels.

What makes 100% Egyptian-grown cotton so good?

Egyptian-grown cotton is considered the finest in the world, especially for cotton threads, and for good reason.

It is grown in the Nile Delta's nutrient-rich soil and ideal climate.
It produces extra-long staples, which results in stronger, smoother, and softer threads.
Its slow-growing cycle naturally enhances fiber integrity and color retention.

We use 100% Egyptian-grown cotton in our Dream Seam, Majestic, and Hand Quilting threads. Not only can you take our word for it, but you can also ask many award-winning quilters who use it and recommend it in their show quilts.

Are YLI's cotton threads mercerized and gassed?

Yes, all our cotton threads, except for Hand Quilting Thread (which has a glazed coating), are mercerized and gassed. These finishing techniques enhance quality, appearance, and performance.

Mercerization refers to the process of submerging cotton thread into a solution, causing the fibers to swell. This process enhances dye absorption, strengthens the thread, and adds a subtle, attractive sheen.

Gassing refers to removing surface fuzz and loose fibers that create lint by passing the thread above a gas flame, close enough to burn away excess fibers without damaging the thread. The result is a cleaner, smoother thread that performs better in machines.

You shouldn't spend time fighting with a lint monster growing in your bobbin case. This is why we mercerize and gas our cotton threads. We want to help make your quilting and sewing cleaner, smoother, and more enjoyable.

Why are some cotton threads more linty than others?

Some thread companies use short or long staple cotton fibers in their cotton threads. Shorter staples require more fiber ends to be twisted together to create the same thread length. Each of these connections creates a potential point of friction, which increases lint as the thread moves through your machine.

At YLI, we reduce lint at every stage of production:

We use only extra-long staple cotton fibers for smoother, cleaner thread.
We source 100% Egyptian-grown cotton for greater strength and uniformity.
We mercerize our cotton threads to enhance durability, improve dye absorption, and create a smooth texture.
We gas our cotton threads to remove excess fuzz and minimize lint.
We apply tight primary and secondary twists to boost strength and reduce fraying.

These steps work together to give you a premium thread that is strong, low lint, and uniform in color. Enjoy quilting and sewing instead of battling a poor-quality cotton thread.

Why do most quilters piece with a 50 wt. cotton thread?

Most quilters choose to piece their quilts with a 50 wt. cotton thread because it offers the perfect combination of strength and precision. A 50 wt. thread is:

Fine enough to keep seams flat without adding bulk.
Strong enough to hold fabric pieces securely, even when paper piecing.
Cotton has a high heat tolerance and can handle pressing from a hot iron.

Our Dream Seam is a 50 wt. 3-ply thread made from extra-long staple 100% Egyptian-grown cotton. It is specially designed to be your go-to piecing thread and is trusted by quilters.