How to Choose Thread for Your Sewing Project, Thread Tips

There are so many kinds of thread available on the market, so the choices can be overwhelming. But here are
some of the most common thread types and recommendations for their use:

Polyester thread

Polyester thread is strong and durable, colorfast, and has some degree of stretch to it.

It’s a good all-

purpose thread suitable for most fabrics and uses.

Cotton thread

Cotton thread has less strength to it, so use it where little or no strength is needed, like

topstitching.

It also has

little stretch to it, so don’t use it for knit fabrics or you may end

up with broken seams. It

also tends to produce

more lint than polyester thread. Use it

for light to medium weight, natural fiber

fabrics.

Cotton-wrapped polyester thread

This thread has the look of cotton and the strength and stretch of polyester. It’s a good

all-purpose

thread

appropriate for most fabrics and uses.

Silk thread

This is a strong, smooth thread that has some stretch to it. Use finer silk thread for

delicate fabrics,

medium for silk

and wool, and heavier silk thread for topstitching. It’s

also a good thread for knits.

Nylon thread

This is a very strong thread appropriate for light to medium weight synthetic fabrics. It’s

not very

heat

resistant,

so be careful when pressing it.

What does the term

"mercerized"

mean?

Mercerization is a finishing process applied to cotton and cotton-wrapped polyester

thread to make it

smoother,

give it luster, reduce lint, and to help it take dye better.

Thread size

Threads are available in different thicknesses. Some, but not all, threads are labeled with

numbers to

indicate size. The

lower the number, the thicker the thread.

For general sewing, look for size 50

thread, which is a medium thickness. Choose thicker thread

when you

need more

durability, such as

when sewing vinyl or upholstery, or when doing

topstitching. Use finer thread

for lighter weight

fabrics.

A few words about cheap thread…

Just in case you’re wondering, “Why should I spend $2.00 or more for a single spool of thread

when I

can

get a pack of

five spools for $1.00?”

Because cheap thread tends to be fuzzy. It will produce excessive lint that can build up in your

sewing

machine, causing

wear and tear. And cheap thread tends to be nubby and weak,

making it

more prone to

breakage – both in your sewing

machine and in your finished item. So

don’t skimp on

thread quality to save

a few cents. You’ll likely experience more

problems in the

long run.

So how exactly

you tell thread quality? Unwind a strand and hold it up to the light. A good

quality

thread will have

very little fuzz. Next, run the strand through your fingers. It should feel

smooth

without

any nubs. You may even want to

buy one of those cheap spools of thread to

compare, just so

you can see

the difference.

And seriously consider discarding your old thread. Thread can deteriorate over time. For

instance,

cotton

thread can

become dry and brittle with age.

Storing Thread

To extend the life of your thread, store it out of the light (UV rays can cause thread to

deteriorate)

and protected

from dust.

Matching the color

To match the color of your thread to your fabric, unroll a strand and lay it against your fabric –

preferably in

natural light.

If you can’t find an exact match to your fabric color, choose one

shade

darker. It will appear

slightly lighter once it’s sewn

into your fabric. For a print fabric,

match the

dominant color.

More tips

Generally speaking, use the same type of thread for both your upper and bobbin threads.

Using

different

threads can

lead to stitch problems.

Before starting your project, test your thread first on a scrap of your fabric. Sew various

stitches,

changing

your tension

settings, stitch lengths, presser foot types, and pressure foot

pressure. See if

you like the

way the thread looks and

make note of the machine settings you

like best.

Sewing Information, Advice, How-to

How to Choose Thread