Connecting Threads Alternative: How Linda's Electric Quilters Compares

Connecting Threads has built a loyal following on one promise: quilting on a budget. Their house-brand fabric and thread deliver real value, especially for piecing. But value-focused and longarm-focused are different missions — and if you quilt on a machine, the differences matter. Here's an honest comparison.

Short version: Connecting Threads wins on house-brand value for everyday piecing supplies. Linda's Electric Quilters wins when you need brand-name longarm thread, batting by the roll, and equipment expertise behind the products.

Connecting Threads vs. Linda's Electric Quilters at a Glance

What you need Connecting Threads Linda's Electric Quilters
Budget house-brand thread & fabric Their core strength — exclusive lines at value pricing We carry established brands rather than house labels
Brand-name longarm thread House-brand thread is the focus Superior, Glide, So Fine!, Omni, King Tut — the cones longarmers spec by name
Batting by the roll Batting geared to packaged sizes Full rolls from Hobbs, Quilters Dream, Pellon, The Batting Company — up to 124" wide
Longarm machines, parts & expertise Not focused on machines or machine support Longarm specialists with machines, parts, and staff who quilt daily
Kits & exclusive fabric collections Strong exclusive designs and kit programs Yardage, wideback, and Cuddle selection — kits aren't our focus
Free shipping threshold Varies — check their site for the current offer Free economy shipping on orders $125+ (exclusions apply)

Where Connecting Threads Wins

If your priority is stretching a piecing budget, Connecting Threads' house-brand model is genuinely hard to beat — their exclusive fabric collections and house-brand thread lines offer strong value for everyday sewing.

Where Linda's Electric Quilters Wins

Thread behaves differently at longarm speeds, and batting behaves differently at quilt scale. Linda's carries the specific brands longarmers ask for by name — Glide for sheen and tension forgiveness, So Fine! for low-lint blending, Omni for workhorse economy — plus batting in the roll formats that cost less per quilt than packaged sizes. Add machine sales, parts, and staff who longarm daily, and you get a supplier built around the finishing side of quilting.

Can you shop both? Absolutely.

Many quilters piece with Connecting Threads supplies and finish with Linda's batting and thread. Buy value where value wins, and buy specialization where specialization wins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Linda's Electric Quilters a good alternative to Connecting Threads?
For longarm and machine-quilting supplies, yes — Linda's carries brand-name thread lines and batting rolls that fall outside Connecting Threads' house-brand model. For budget piecing fabric and thread, Connecting Threads remains a strong value choice.
Does Linda's carry brand-name quilting thread?
Yes — Superior Threads, Glide by Fil-Tec, So Fine!, Omni, and King Tut, in the cone sizes longarm and domestic machine quilters use.
Why buy batting by the roll instead of packaged?
Rolls cost less per quilt, eliminate package creases, and let you cut exactly the size each quilt needs — which is why longarmers and frequent quilters buy roll format.
Does Linda's offer free shipping?
Yes — free economy shipping on orders of $125 or more, with some exclusions for oversized items like batting rolls and machines.

Related Reading

Shop: Omni Cones · So Fine! Thread · Quilt Batting Rolls