Readers Respond: Do You Use Coats and Clark Products?

Responses: 32

By Debbie Colgrove, About.com Guide

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very unhappy with the new threads, they tangle constantly costing me time and money.
—Guest sandi

The shop where I bought my Bernina told me not to use polyester thread on my machine because it "gums up" the machine! Cotton wrapped polyester was fine--which C&C USED to have. I would think that a thread company would know that kind of thing. I'll not buy any more C&C thread until they bring back the orininal kind!
—Guest Joyce

So glad I looked here. My Dual dutyXP is constantly balling up and shredding while using it on the sewing machine. Never had trouble with the old thread. What else can we use. I am constantly rethreading and changing my needle. At least now I know it's not just me. We all need to write to Coats & Clarks to complain.
—Guest Anne

I bought my quilting thread right before I started the quilt I'm working on now-Lousy stuff! Every length frays down to the core. Don't buy it!
—sherrylangfitt

I don't like the new 100% polyester thread. It's fine on the sewing machine, but a real pain in the neck for handwork. The old kind, a blend, was really all-purpose thread; the new product is not. The new spools are great though. A customer can see one strand without unrolling the whole spool, leaving threads dangling all over the place.
—Guest carol mireles

I have used Coats and Clark Dual Duty thread for years - I'm 67 years old and have been sewing since Junior High School. I miss the "old dual duty". The new product is 100 percent polyester. I do a lot of quilting, and rule #1 is to NOt use polyester thread on cotton because it is too hard and may break the cotton fibers. I used to be able to find it in one store in the Minneapolis area, but the informed me today that the company no longer makes it. Please bring it back!! You have lost a 50+ year customer. I can't believe that I'm the only one who is dissatisfied with the new thread!
—Guest Marlene Moore

Their thread used to be really good, but not lately. It balls up when hand sewing, shreds easily, has no strength. A good company gone cheap.
—Lemon.Tea

They are reliable and strong. It's the only one I ever use and I have been sewing for 50 years.
—suzysewer

The new thread coming from Mexico is on smaller spools and constantly tangles and curls up which thread on the larger spools doesn't. I've tried wetting the thread and stretching it but when it dries the curling continues..I have a short fuse!
—Guest doolittle

I too, have used C & C for many years. I have both old, very old and newer threads. I find that if the quilting thread breaks, run it through a beeswax holder and it seems to give it extra strength and is easier to put in the needle. You can find these at JoAnns or any other craft store. If you want a Heavy Duty thread,try Craft & Buttonhole. Hope this helps.
—Guest Lynn

I have used Coats and Clark thread for 20 years, but the batches within the past year or two have been no good. The thread breaks CONSTANTLY. I have spools from 5 years ago that are just fine, but anything I've bought within the past 2 years has been total crap. Very unfortunate, since my mom and grandmom and great grandmom all always used Coats and Clark.... it's been a family tradition... but I can't stand it any longer. I've tried different needles on the sewing machine, too, thinking it was a sharp edge on the eye. Nope. This last spool breaks with just my hand lightly pulling on it. Dual Duty XP is slightly better, but for the price of it, you can buy a quality thread that doesn't break every time you try to use it!
—Guest RealMcCoy

I've used c and c thread since I began sewing as a young girl in 4-H. Until recently,I have had lots of difficulty with the quilting thread fraying after pulling it through my fabric 5 to 10 times. I recently purchased 3 spools of hand quilting thread, and, a friend of mine just gave me two spools of 750yds of hand quilting thread, and, they all fray. I'm puzzled! I have always threaded my needle with the end of thread that comes from the spool. I'm interested in finding out why this is happening. I have an older spool that reads extra strong and that works good. My question is why are the hand quilting threads different? Thanks. I hope I hear from you.
—Guest mary alice sperry

I've sewn for 60 years ALWAYS used this brand till recently but not any more! all it does is break,very annoying plus is mars the item you're sewing . I use fresh bought for what it's worth and if old stock is in store then C&C neeeds a system in place to replace it so consumers don't keep buying it.I've bought the new style reels , no better < surely they aren't already old >and I personaly find the new reels very hard to get started .. hard to find 'the end'It's worth paying a bit more for other brands and not get so frustrated sewing. it's a wonder they stay inthe thread business to me,my theory is for many it's the only thing available so they use it
—Guest nettie

I just recently purchased large spools of both red and blue embroidery thread for a project on my new Elissimo. This thread kept shredding and had to be re-threaded many times. I won't use C & C embroidery thread again!!!
—Guest Linda

I am a garment sewer and a beginner quilter. I love coats and clark and HAVE never had an issue with breakage. I absolutely love the colors and quality attached to the history. I know alot of Gutt**** users, and Met*** and Medi**** but I love C & C. My instructor is amped on having me discontinue it, but for me, I know my grandmother used it and my dad used it. I trust it always.
—Guest Jo-Sette

I make quilts in my spare time i am working on a quilt for my great grandson. I bought this coats&clark thread about 3 months ago.The therad keeps breaking.I am not a HAPPY camper right now.
—Guest granny

A while back I thought Coats & Clark thread was terrible... until I realized my thread was very old. New Coats & Clark thread works wonderfully. I advise anyone to consider how old their thread is before they judge the company. Your Coats & Clark thread hanging out in your sewing box, could be very old because the company has been around SO long.
—absewing

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