Hi Bestie,
Get to know Glide King.
Glide by Fil-Tec is a 40 wt. trilobal polyester thread, and a King spool holds 5,500 yards of creative possibilities. Glide's sheen adds definition to quilting and embroidery. Beautiful stitches start with a little setup, so before starting your project, take a few minutes to find the setup your machine likes.
What "trilobal" means for your stitches
Most polyester thread fibers are round. Trilobal fibers have three flat faces, like a tiny prism. Those flat faces catch and reflect light, which is why Glide has a gentle glow where a matte thread like OMNI simply disappears. Choose Glide when you want the quilting to be part of the design. Choose a matte thread when you want the piecing to be the star. Both are 40 wt., so the needle and tension advice below is the same. If you're unsure what weight you're holding, Thread Weight vs. Tex explains the numbers.
1. Choose your color
Lay a strand across your fabric. A close match blends in; a contrasting shade makes your quilting stand out. Check it in your project's lighting, because a sheen thread can read lighter in daylight than under a lamp. Cool Grey 3 is one of the most forgiving neutrals we carry.
2. Give the cone room
Use a compatible cone stand or your machine's cone holder. Let thread feed freely through the guide above the cone, then follow your machine's threading path. King spools are cross-wound, so the thread should come straight up off the top, not off the side.
3. Start with a fresh needle
Use the needle system and size recommended for your machine, 40 wt. polyester thread, and fabric layers. Longarm and domestic needles are not interchangeable. What Do Those Needle Numbers Actually Mean? explains the sizing.
4. Set up your bobbin
Use a bobbin and thread compatible with your machine. Load it in the correct direction and follow your manual for bobbin tension.
5. Test before you quilt
Make a small sandwich with your project's fabric and batting. Stitch lines and curves at your usual pace. Check the top AND the back. Adjust tension in small steps, one setting at a time, until the stitches balance within the layers. Stop Fighting Your Thread Tension shows what balanced actually looks like.
6. Keep your rhythm
Use a comfortable, steady speed. Retest after changing thread, needle, fabric or batting. Keep a note of settings that work for your machine.
A little troubleshooting goes a long way
Thread breaking? Rethread, check for snags, and try a fresh compatible needle.
Loops or uneven stitches? Check threading and bobbin seating before adjusting tension.
Always follow your machine's manual. And if your stitches are skipping rather than breaking, Skipped Stitches Start Right Here.
One cone. So many possibilities.
Try all-over quilting, decorative stitching, or machine embroidery with designs suited to 40 wt. thread. Your next project starts with the right thread. Choose what you need. Create at your pace.
Happy Quilting!
From Corey.
Browse Glide King 5,500-yard spools. Wondering whether a sheen thread suits your quilt? Not Loving How Your Quilting Looks? covers the thread-and-design choices that change the finished look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Glide thread?
Glide by Fil-Tec is a 40 wt. trilobal polyester thread with a soft sheen that adds definition to quilting and machine embroidery. Glide King spools hold 5,500 yards. The trilobal (three-sided) fiber is what reflects light and gives Glide its signature glow. Read the Glide White guide or the Glide polyester thread overview.
What needle should I use with Glide thread?
Use the needle system and size recommended for your machine, 40 wt. polyester thread and your fabric layers. On a domestic machine that is typically a Topstitch 90/14; on a longarm, a size 16 or 18 in the system your machine maker specifies. Longarm and domestic needles are not interchangeable. Titanium-coated Topstitch needles last longer with polyester thread.
Can I use Glide in the bobbin?
Yes, Glide works in the bobbin, and Fil-Tec also makes pre-wound Magna-Glide bobbins in matching colors. Whatever you choose, use a bobbin compatible with your machine, load it in the correct direction and follow your manual for bobbin tension. Browse Glide King spools.
Why is my Glide thread shredding or breaking?
Rethread the whole path, check for snags or burrs, and try a fresh compatible needle; a needle with an eye too small for 40 wt. thread shreds the fibers. Make sure the spool can unwind freely with the thread rising straight up off the top. Before You Rethread Your Machine walks through the checklist.
Is Glide good for machine embroidery as well as quilting?
Yes. Glide's sheen and consistent 40 wt. thickness make it a popular embroidery thread, and because it is polyester it resists fading and bleach better than rayon. Use designs digitized for 40 wt. thread and the same fresh-needle rule you use for quilting.
