Hello,
Learned the hard way......you get what you pay for!
Firm believer in good thread for embroidering but slacked off one day and used Coats and Clark rayon thread for an extensive damask design for a pool-side chaise lounge cover. I watched with mouth dropped open the minute the cover got wet....I saw the thread color (red) slowly streak down the fabric (white) in every area of the design. I figured what the heck, the cover will be used outside................... Since I made it from terry cloth, it is now reduced to a dog bath towel!
I use Madeira mostly since I have the chest; but also use Hemmingworth, Sulky and Guetermann. I use Robinson-Anton thread (cotton) for quilting.
There are sales on these threads from time to time on various sites and stores. I keep a list at all times and wait until a sale hits.
Joan