Say goodbye to knots, tangles, frayed ends, and linty cotton thread. YLI's Hand Quilting Thread glides smoothly through fabric and batting, resists knots and tangles, and blends into your quilt with a subtle, soft matte finish.
When your needle slips effortlessly through three layers of a quilt sandwich and each stitch glides without snagging or knotting, you know it will stay secure through years of love. Each 500-yard spool is wound with 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton and finished with a thin glazed coating that improves strength and glide.
Our 40 wt. Hand Quilting Thread has been the most trusted and loved thread for hand quilters for over 20 years. It strikes a perfect balance between firmness and flexibility, giving you excellent control and stitch definition without sacrificing the smooth glide every quilter desires.
Made from high-quality, 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple cotton and finished with our signature glaze coating, it resists knots and tangles, and is lint-free. As a medium-weight thread (the standard 40 wt. for hand quilting), it maintains consistent tension with all types of hand stitches, from running stitches to bold, chunky cross stitches. Available in 500-yard spools in 15 colors.
I love your hand quilting thread above all others. It doesn't tangle easily. Glides through fabric so easily. My joy of quilting is back!
Denise S., Verified Customer
Every spool begins with cotton fibers grown in Egypt's Nile Delta. Warm sunshine and rich soil yield a cotton crop that produces individual staples up to 2" in length. Longer staples mean fewer fiber ends per twist and a silkier surface with far less lint.
We apply our proprietary glaze coating, which locks in strength and creates a smooth, lint-free finish. This coating helps your thread resist knots and tangles, maintaining a steady rhythm from the first stitch to the last. Because we never use dye lots, your color remains consistent whether you restock today or next year.
Cotton threads are classified by the length of their individual fibers, called staples. These fall into three distinct categories:
Under 1⅛" fiber length
Short staple cotton is the lowest-quality cotton. Threads made from short staple cotton are known to be linty and prone to breakage. If a thread label doesn't specify long or extra-long staple, it's likely made from short staple cotton.
1⅛" to 1¼" fiber length
Long staple cotton can produce higher-quality thread. It is noticeably less linty than short staple cotton threads.
Up to 2" fiber length
Extra-long staple cotton produces threads that feel soft, have greater tensile strength (breaking strength), and produce much less lint than short or long staple cotton threads. Only 0.03% of the global cotton crop qualifies as 100% Egyptian-grown extra-long staple. That rarity is what makes YLI's cotton hand quilting thread so special.
I really like it. Excellent quality thread that glides through fabric smoothly. Strong and doesn't break.
Margaret T., Verified Customer
When you settle into your quilting frame or hoop, you want thread that responds to every technique and stitch type. With YLI's Hand Quilting Thread, each stitch transforms into pure enjoyment.
Most popular light neutral colors
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Warm neutral tones
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Shop NowWhy is YLI's Hand Quilting Thread glazed?
The thin glaze coating serves multiple purposes: it increases thread strength, creates a smooth surface that glides through fabric without catching, and helps resist knots and tangles. This coating is what makes hand quilting feel effortless rather than frustrating.
Can I use Hand Quilting Thread in my sewing machine?
No. Glazed threads are designed for hand stitching only. The glaze coating can rub off on your machine's tension discs and clog the thread path. For machine quilting or piecing, use Dream Seam (50 wt.) or Majestic (40 wt.) instead.
What makes Egyptian extra-long staple cotton special?
Extra-long staple cotton fibers measure up to 2" in length, compared to under 1⅛" for short staple cotton. Longer fibers mean fewer fiber ends per twist, resulting in thread that is stronger, smoother, and produces far less lint. Only 0.03% of the world's cotton qualifies as Egyptian-grown extra-long staple.
Do I need to worry about dye lots?
No. YLI's Hand Quilting Thread colors are dyed consistently without dye lots. Your color remains the same whether you restock today or next year, so you never need to match lots or worry about color shifts mid-project.
What needle should I use with Hand Quilting Thread?
Use a betweens needle (quilting needle) in size 8, 9, or 10. Size 10 is the finest and creates the smallest holes. The glazed coating helps the thread pass easily through even the smallest needle eyes.
