Silk #100

Silk #100 is a very fine 100 wt thread made from pure silk filaments, making it one of the smoothest and finest appliqué threads available. Silk has a refined elegance and strength that allow it to virtually disappear into fabric, whether stitched by hand or machine. Unlike cotton or polyester threads, silk has a natural luster that blends beautifully without creating bulk or shine that draws attention away from your appliqué design. Quilters love Silk #100 for English Paper Piecing (EPP), needle-turn appliqué, and binding quilts because it glides smoothly through fabric and creates nearly invisible stitches.

Yes! You can absolutely use Silk #100 for machine appliqué and fine quilting work. Its very fine weight makes it perfect for machine appliqué where you want your stitches to blend effortlessly into the fabric. For best results, use a Topstitch #70/10 needle, which has a larger eye and deep groove to protect the delicate silk thread. Loosen your top tension slightly (around 2.0 to 3.0 on most home machines) to allow the silk to flow smoothly without excess tension. While many quilters use it exclusively for hand appliqué, Silk #100 performs beautifully on machines when paired with the correct needle and tension settings.

Silk #100 is the finest appliqué thread available because its ultra-fine weight (100+ wt.) virtually disappears into fabric. The natural silk filaments have a subtle sheen that blends with cotton and other natural fibers rather than sitting on top of the fabric like synthetic threads. With over 50 colors, you can match any fabric precisely. One quilter told us: "I love your Silk #100 for Hand Applique. I think I have every color. It's the only thread I'll use." The thread is also remarkably strong for its weight, so your invisible stitches hold securely for decades.

Yes. Silk is one of the strongest natural fibers, often compared to steel by weight. Silk #100's fine diameter doesn't mean weak stitches. It means invisible stitches that are still remarkably durable. Quilts appliquéd with Silk #100 hold up beautifully to use and gentle washing for generations. The thread's natural elasticity also helps it move with fabric rather than creating stress points. For quilts that will be heavily used or machine washed frequently, you can reinforce by taking slightly closer stitches. Most hand quilters find Silk #100 provides all the strength they need.

For both hand and machine appliqué with Silk #100, use a [Topstitch #70/10 needle](https://ylithreads.com/collections/needles/products/70-10-titanium-coated-topstitch-needles). The large eye and deep groove protect the ultra-fine silk as it passes through your machine while the small needle size creates minimal disruption in the fabric. For machine appliqué, loosen your top tension slightly, from 5.0 to 4.5 or 4.0, and adjust further as necessary until your stitches are balanced and even. The fine #70/10 size keeps stitches nearly invisible while giving the delicate silk thread room to move without friction.