My preferences for a particular thread come from my own experiences in using many of them. I don't especially like when threads break, unravel or knot.  I've learned to avoid metallics or cotton covered polyester, and many 100% cottons. Such cotton threads  are made from  lessor quality fibers,  have an inadequate twist or finish.

YLI Hand Quilting Thread has been my favorite since I began using it.  I love the colors and especially how it does not knot or break when I'm quilting.  Below is an excerpt from an article I wrote about threads. You can find the complete article by clicking on the NEQ Media Center box on the front page of  www.NancyEllenQuilts.com

Oruvs Soap by Proctor and Gamble

An extremely gentle detergent used to clean quilts and horses. Non-irritating and will not discolor dyes. Orvus paste from Proctor and Gamble is a favorite for the discerning quilter and the proud horse owner. This soap is solid in cooler temps. and liquid when warm. A little goes a long way!!
Directions for quilts & cotton fabrics:
In liquid form, stir before each use or scoop as a solid. Fill washer with water, add only one tablespoon of highly concentrated Orvus Paste. Agitate water to blend in Paste . Gently place quilt around in washer. Wash quilt on a short, gentle cycle . Rinse quilt twice to remove all the Orvus Paste. If quilt is heavily soiled, wash twice. Do not presoak the quilt. For delicate or heirloom quilts wash without agitation, lay flat to dry.
Directions for horses:
Add two tablespoons to a bucket of warm water. Mix to make sudsy. Use the sponge/washer of your choice to scrub and clean your horse. Rinse your horse very well. He/she will be squeaky clean.

 Precaution: Orvus WA Paste may be irritating to skin or eyes. Eye contact with the product or its aqueous solution may cause mild transient irritation. Eye Contact: flush with water thoroughly for 15 minutes. Skin Irritation: discontinue use, apply cold compress to relieve irritation.

Ingredients: Sodium lauryl sulfate, lauryl alcohol, sodium sulfate, water.

This is an a topic of ongoing debate, but I can't understand why? I know the fabric right off the bolt is so perfect looking, and very tempting to begin cutting. It's pressed so flat with no frayed ends. So hard to resist beginning your project.  But I always do. Straight home from a quilt show weekend, where I usually stock up, my newly purchased yardage goes directly to the laundry room to be washed, dried and ironed, and  I encourage all my students to do the same. 

Why wash? For two very important reasons. Fabric production is not standardized. Therefore manufacturers produce fabrics with a variety of weave counts. Some may have a count of, for example, 55 x 65 and another may have a count of 70 x 77.  When you sew them together  via, piecing, applique or whole cloth quilting and then you wash the completed project the fabric will shrink at different rates cause distortion.  This reminds me to let you know to never use bed sheets. They are too densely woven to comfortably needle through for hand quilting. Also, you want to dry your fabrics in a nice warm dryer to get all the shrinkage out and iron.

The second reason for washing, especially the hand dyed fabrics is to reduce the amount of potential or actual bleeding. I use many hand dyed because they are so beautiful, but I  wash them, several times in a wash tub of hot water and Retayne, a commercial color fixative. You can see that item on my store under, Quilting Accessories.  This is especially true of reds and all darks.

Quilters love quilting but I know that we also love baking too. So I have added the recipe I used to make the sugar cookies I brought in-in September. So many of the class enjoyed them! They are great for a basting party. What makes them so special is that they stay soft. Recipe: 4 cups flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 cup butter, softened; 1 1/2 cups sugar; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla; 1/2 cup sour cream. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla and sour cream until well blended. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients. Wrap dough with plastic wrap and chill overnight( I chilled for 1 hour) Preheat oven to 375. On a lightly floured board, roll the dought to 1/4" thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2" apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 8 - 10 min.