Thread is the foundational tool of any sewing project. Most of us head for our thread stash or the store display and grab a spool in the right color. Thread is thread. Right? Years ago, thread selection was limited but today, there are many different weights, fiber, and color considerations for your sewing project. Choosing the right thread will make your stitching project go smoothly.
First, a couple of terms to understand when looking at thread. One is the ply. This refers to the number of yarns/strands that are woven together to create the thread. Weight refers to the thickness of the thread. A larger number means a finer thread, small number means a thicker thread. Fifty weight is the usual for general sewing thread. These numbers are often written on thread spools at 50/3 or 50/2.
All-purpose thread can be an all-polyester thread or a polyester/cotton thread and can be found in 2-ply and 3-ply versions. 50 weight is generally the best to use although some brands may use a 40 weight for their all-purpose. Always buy the best quality you can for your projects. Cheap thread can often cause skipped stitches, thread breakage, or poor stitch quality.
Machine piecing thread is used to piece quilt tops. We recommend using 100% cotton thread for this, especially if using 100% cotton fabrics in your quilt top. There are several brands available but we like Aurifil 50 weight-2-ply thread. This is a finer thread than most other cottons on the market and also is lower in lint. This can also be used for machine-quilting your top. It will “sink” more into the project so that your design shows up more than the thread.
Machine quilting thread is similar to the piecing thread but a slightly heavier weight. 40/2 is thicker and will show up more on the quilt top. The cotton 40 weight is also good for long-arm quilt machines. DO NOT use hand-quilting thread for machine work as it has a glaze to help with the hand-stitching but can damage your machine tensions.
Serger thread is designed to be used with the serger but also works well for regular sewing and long-arm quilting. Serger thread is generally 100% polyester 2-ply. This thread will come on cones with more yardage than thread spools. It’s designed work with the high stitch speed of the serger and long-arm quilting machines.
Monofilament thread is a single filament nylon thread either clear or smoke-colored. If you need “invisible” stitching, this is the thread to use. Use this in the needle only with a 40 or 50 weight bobbin thread. Use this thread sparingly as prolonged use can damage the tension mechanism of your machine. There are different thicknesses of nylon thread. .004 is a good weight for general sewing projects.
Bonded nylon thread is a monofilament that is coated to provide greater strength. This is a thicker thread used for stitching upholstery, heavy vinyl and leather fabrics. This can also be used on outdoor fabrics such as cushion covers in lawn furniture and boats. It is available in a limited range of colors.
Machine embroidery thread is designed for creating all those wonderful designs and initials to decorate garments and other fabric items. Rayon and polyester threads are the most used, as both have a wonderful sheen that enhances the stitched designs. Of the two, the rayon is the weaker thread and the colors may fade over time, especially if any bleach-type products are used in laundering. Polyester threads are more commonly used due to their strength, colorfastness, and wide range of colors. Machine embroidery threads are usually a 40 weight, although you may occasionally find a brand with a 30 weight. These threads are also sold on cones rather than spools due to the amount of thread used in most embroidery designs.
There are a number of different thread brands available to choose from. We carry Mettler all-purpose sewing threads and Mettler Seracor serger threads. For machine embroidery, we have Simplicity by Brother, Isacord, and Floriani brands. Our quilting thread is the Aurifil 50 weight. Always choose the best quality thread you can for your projects… your machine will “thank you” with a smooth stitch!
-submitted by The Sewing & Vacuum Center
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