Glide vs Bottom Line Thread — Which Superior Thread Is Right for You?
Glide vs Bottom Line Thread — Which Superior Thread Is Right for You?
Glide and Bottom Line are both Superior Threads products beloved by longarm quilters — but they’re different products for different purposes. Here’s the direct comparison.
Linda’s Electric Quilters Expert Thread Comparison
Glide vs Bottom Line
| Feature | Glide (40wt Trilobal Poly) | Bottom Line (60wt Poly) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 40wt — standard quilting weight Glide | 60wt — very fine Bottom Line |
| Primary use | Top thread for machine quilting Glide | Bobbin thread — designed for that purpose Bottom Line |
| Can be used in bobbin? | Yes — works as both top and bobbin | Primarily bobbin; can be used on top for invisible work |
| Sheen | Beautiful trilobal sheen — catches light Glide | Matte finish — nearly invisible |
| Color range | Extensive color range Glide | Neutral range for bobbin use Bottom Line |
| Thread capacity | 5,500 yards per cone | 1,300m (bobbin size) to large cones |
▶ Our Verdict Use Glide as your primary top thread — its sheen and color range make it one of the most beautiful longarm threads available. Use Bottom Line in the bobbin — it’s specifically engineered for that application. The Glide + Bottom Line combination is one of the most popular longarm thread pairings used by professional quilters.
What tension settings work best for Glide thread?
Glide’s trilobal polyester runs smoothly with slightly lower tension than standard cotton thread. Most longarm operators start with their standard setting and lower top tension 1–2 numbers. The thread flows beautifully at higher speeds — many quilters find they can run faster with Glide than with cotton threads.