Dream Seam #308 - Turning Class 15

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 staples.
• 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 including on labels.

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.

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 submerging cotton thread into a solution, causing the fibers to swell. This process improves dye absorption, strengthens the thread, and adds a nice, subtle 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.

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.

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.

This is a common myth—but it is not true. High-quality prewound bobbins are safe to use in all sewing and longarm machines.

We use prewound bobbins every day in our sewing classroom (with over a dozen different machines) and in the longarm machines we use for quilting services in our store. They are reliable and efficient.

Here’s why we love them:

• They save time by eliminating the need to wind your bobbins.
• They’re precision-wound with professional-grade equipment for a tighter, more uniform bobbin.
• They hold up to 70% more thread than self-wound bobbins, so you stitch longer with fewer interruptions.

YLI's prewound bobbins use the same high-quality thread on our spools and cones. We offer them in both Dream Seam and Precision, and we recommend them to any quilter who values smooth stitching, consistent tension, and maximum convenience (and who doesn't?).