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NEW THREAD -- Dream Seam cotton thread for bobbin, quilting, and piecing

We've been supporting quilters and sewists for 47 years! Learn about our history.

Discover the Perfect Cotton Thread for Every Quilting Project

Frustrated by linty, fraying threads? Our premium cotton threads create even, balanced stitches.

Cotton threads have long been cherished by quilters and sewists for its natural softness, subtle sheen, and strength. The journey from seed to finished thread begins in a field. Cotton plants typically take about five to six months to grow from seed to harvest, with each plant producing fluffy white cotton bolls. These bolls, roughly the size of a small walnut or a large grape, contain up to several hundred thousand tiny fibers. In the textile industry, these fibers are known as staples and form the foundation of the threads we rely on to bring our quilting and sewing dreams to life.

Transforming tiny cotton fibers into strong, smooth threads requires care and skill. After harvesting, the fibers are cleaned and baled (did you know that a bale of cotton weighs nearly 500 pounds?), spun into yarn, twisted, dyed, and finished. The result is a thread that feels both soft and strong. Cotton threads are valued for their natural appearance and texture and are a favorite among many quilters and sewists.

Cotton threads are used for a variety of applications and techniques, including piecing, hand quilting, machine quilting, topstitching, as a bobbin thread, and more!

Which Cotton Thread Should You Use?

You may wish to choose different cotton threads depending on your application or preferred technique. For example, a variegated 40 wt. thread would not be your first choice as a piecing thread because it will be visible and thicker than standard piecing thread, causing bulk at the seams. Similarly, you would not want to use a finer, 50 or 60 wt. thread for machine quilting if you aim to create a design where the thread is meant to be bold and attract attention.

Each quilt or sewn project offers an opportunity to express your creativity, and the best thread helps you do that beautifully. We’ve summarized our cotton threads below with descriptions, weights, recommended uses, and techniques to help you find the perfect match.


yli threads dream seam cotton threads on quilt pieced with color 301

Dream Seam

50 wt. 3-ply, for Piecing, Quilting, Bobbin, and Sewing

For piecing, our 50 wt. Dream Seam thread is a go-to favorite. Like its namesake, piecing with it is like a dream come true. It is made from 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton that undergoes a uniquely tight primary and secondary twist. This makes it fine enough for flawless piecing, allowing it to lie perfectly between layers of fabric. Surprisingly strong for its fine diameter, Dream Seam is also an excellent quilting and sewing thread, easily handling the tension of longarm machines while maintaining balanced stitches. Dream Seam is designed to blend into the fabric, making it easier to press your quilt blocks for clean and precise points. Available on 2,000 yd cones, 600 yd spools, Class 15 and L style prewound bobbins in eighteen colors.

majestic cotton quilting thread cones and spools

Majestic

40 wt. 3-ply, for Machine Quilting

For machine quilting on both home and longarm machines, our 40 wt. Majestic thread is genuinely exceptional. Made from 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton, Majestic comes in forty-five variegated colors with a one-inch color change interval, as well as five of the most popular neutral hues that quilters love as solid options. Bold and ready to enhance any quilt with eye-catching motifs, filigree, feathers, or edge-to-edge designs, Majestic produces minimal lint as you finish a quilt. A subtle sheen helps the thread stand out without overpowering the design and pattern of the backing fabric. Majestic is one of our premium cotton quilting thread and is available in 2,000 yd cones and 600 yd spools across fifty colors.

yli threads ecru hand quilting thread on hand quilted sampler

YLI's Hand Quilting Thread

40 wt., For Hand Quilting

If you appreciate the tranquility of hand quilting, our 40 wt. Hand Quilting Thread has been trusted by both occasional hand quilters and award-winning professionals for over two decades. It is made from 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton and features an additional glaze coating that stiffens and significantly enhances its strength. This thin coating prevents our Hand Quilting Thread from fraying, knotting, and tangling. For hand quilters who enjoy stab stitching, you will adore this thread and wonder where it has been your whole life. Available in 500 yd spools and fifteen colors.
Please avoid using any glazed threads in your machine, as the glaze can rub off on your tension discs and clog the thread path, leading to unwanted issues.

yli threads machine quilting thread spools 40 wt cotton quilting thread

Machine Quilting Thread (MQT)

40 wt. 3-ply, for Machine Quilting

MQT is our original 40 wt. variegated cotton quilting thread. Made from 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton, MQT holds a special place in many quilters' thread stashes as a favorite among cotton quilting threads. A variable three-inch color change interval creates unique color sequences when stitched onto quilts. MQT is one of our legacy products that will be gradually phased out in favor of Majestic. For quilters who have enjoyed stitching with MQT, we encourage you to try Majestic for bold, vibrant machine quilting. It is available in 3,000 yd cones and 500 yd cones in thirty colors.

yli threads soft touch 60 wt cotton piecing and quilting thread

Soft Touch

60 wt. 2-ply, for Piecing, Appliqué, and Bobbin

Soft Touch is a lightweight 60 wt. 2-ply cotton thread designed for quilters who prefer cotton as their fiber of choice for appliqué and piecing. Made from 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton, Soft Touch excels in detailed piecing and delicate appliqué, making it an excellent choice for bobbin thread. Its slim profile makes aligning points and achieving flat seams effortless. Soft Touch is one of our legacy products that will gradually be phased out in favor of Dream Seam. For quilters and sewists who have enjoyed using Soft Touch, we encourage you to try Dream Seam for flawless piecing. It is available in 6,000 yd cones, 1,000 yd mini cones, and 250 yd spools in twenty colors.

yli threads fusions 24 wt cotton quilting thread

Fusions

24 wt. 3-ply, for Machine Quilting

Fusions is a heavy (thick), 24 wt. cotton thread designed for quilters and sewists who want their stitching to be decorative and visible. Made from 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton, Fusions is a strong thread, making it an excellent choice for longarm quilting and decorative topstitching. As a heavier thread, each stitch stands out on quilt tops, garments, totes, aprons, and all sewing projects, adding a unique cotton texture and design. The variegated colors feature a one-inch color change interval, creating dynamic and bold patterns that capture attention. It is available in 1,500 yd cones and 350 yd spools in twenty colors.

yli threads prewound bobbins 50 wt. cotton quilting thread

Cotton Prewound Bobbins

50 wt. 2-ply, for Piecing, Quilting, and Sewing

Our Dream Seam prewound bobbins are the ideal choice for piecing and quilting. Made from the same 50 wt. Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton thread, found in Dream Seam cones and spools, is available in a 2-ply format to reduce bulk and lint. These prewound bobbins produce consistent stitches from start to finish. They are available in the two most popular bobbin sizes for home machines: Class 15 and L style. Additionally, our cotton prewound bobbins are wound with precision machinery, resulting in a tight, uniform wind that can hold up to 70% more thread than a self-wound bobbin. Dream Seam prewounds are offered in ten of our most popular neutral and primary colors.


The Best Cotton Threads Are:

  • Mercerized

  • gas flame icon

    Gassed

  • 100% Egyptian-grown Cotton

  • extra-long staple cotton icon

    Extra-long Staple

  • strong arm icon

    Tightly Twisted

The Hierarchy of Cotton Thread Quality

Are all cotton quilting threads the same?

Not all cotton threads are created equal. The secret lies in the length of individual cotton staples. Longer staples result in threads that are smoother, stronger, and more durable. These qualities are what quilters and sewists rely on for enjoyable experiences and long-lasting quilts and sewn projects.

What makes Egyptian-cotton so special?

Egyptian-grown cotton is considered the finest in the world for good reason. It is renowned for its premium extra-long staple cotton crop and exceptional fiber uniformity. The warm climate and nutrient-rich soil of the Nile Delta create ideal growing conditions that produce cotton with outstanding strength and softness.

In the latest global cotton report, Egypt accounted for only 0.27% of the world’s cotton production. Not 27%, zero point two seven percent. Of this small share, just 12% qualifies as extra-long staple cotton. This tiny fraction represents some of the highest quality cotton available.

What makes extra-long staple cotton stronger than short or long staple cotton?

Extra-long staple cotton features longer, more uniform fibers that create threads with a silky feel, exceptional durability, and significantly less lint. These qualities enable stitches to blend beautifully into fabrics and prevent lint from accumulating in your home or longarm machine. For quilters, this means threads that stitch evenly through layers without breaking, making your creative experience that much more delightful.

I’ve heard about extra-long staple cotton, but don’t understand what it means. Please simplify it for me.

Cotton staples are classified into three lengths: short staple, long staple, and extra-long staple.

Short staple fibers, measuring less than 1 1/8 inches, create threads that tend to produce more lint and break more easily. If a cotton thread does not explicitly state long staple or extra-long staple on its label or branded materials, you can assume it is a short staple cotton thread. Long staple fibers, which range from 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 inches, offer a smoother, stronger thread that produces less lint than short staple threads.

For those seeking the ultimate performance and minimal lint, extra-long staple cotton is the top choice. These fibers can measure up to 2 inches, creating threads that feel soft, can handle higher tension settings, and minimize lint buildup in your machine.

Customer Testimonials

I highly recommend Dream Seam. It's smooth, strong and doesn't leave me cleaning up lint after sewing a few seams.The selection of neutral tones is wonderful too. Thanks YLI I am back to happy sewing.

white spool of dream seam cotton thread on home sewing machine

Suzanne H

Verified Customer

I love Majestic's variegated colors!

Sandra G.

Verified Customer

I love your hand quilting thread above all others. It doesn’t tangle easily.

Denise S.

Verified Customer