It's almost tax day.

And boy will we be glad that is all over with for this year.  It's always so stressful - although I am glad that there are tax professionals who are able to handle such things for us.  Once the 15th passes I'm sure we can all breathe a sigh of relief and really welcome spring with open arms!

Perhaps you have already welcomed spring with open arms in the form of bright colors from your stash or maybe you have even had a chance to get out to your local quilt shops to see what luscious offerings they have available with new spring lines. 

Having a quilt tip each week sounds like a good idea.  After all, this hobby of quilting seems to change so fast.  There are always new ways of doing things.  Some work well for us and some don't but there is always something new to try.

This week's tip is about piecing thread.  Sometimes we see thread on sale and pick it up because, it's just thread.  However, just like in fabric quality can make a big difference in our finished product.  Have you noticed that often times a pattern will call for a scant quarter inch?  That's because our thread takes up space in our seams.  If we are using a thicker thread it will take up more space.  It may not seem like much, but this will add up considering this would be every seam in out entire quilt top.  What does that mean?  It means you might to think about what thread you are using when it's time to buy a new cone or spool.  Is there any one thread that is better than another?  Sure, there are some brands that are better than others, but there are lots of good ones so it comes down to a matter of personal preference.  If you are concerned about that quarter inch seam, you will want to think about the weight of the thread you are using - thread is gauged like wire.  The larger the number, the thinner it is.  Do I have a personal preference?  Of course I do.  Mine is for Superior brand thread in either Masterpiece (which is a 50 weight thread) or Bottom Line (which is a 60 weight thread).  For me, they both work wonderfully.  Of course you will have your own favorite, and I don't want to tell you that it is not a good one.  Only to suggest that thread isn't just thread.  It is something that can have a big impact on your finished quilt.