Choosing
Quilting Threads
Have you been into a quilt
shop recently and noticed all the different
colors and types of threads?
A new customer came into the
store the other day, and said, “I never knew
there were do many different types of thread in
the world.”
The right Quilting Threads
are essential. To learn how to quilt
required choosing the right threads and
mastering how to quilt with them will make your
quilting easier and you finished product
better.
Take a good look
sometime. Examine the huge variety of
colors, textures, finishes, fiber contents, and
recommended uses. Manufacturers produce
so many different kinds of threads it can
create a dilemma for the unsuspecting
quilter. You might even find yourself
scratching your head puzzling over which thread
to choose for your next project. One
customer just shook her head, and commented, “I
just need ordinary quilting thread.”
My purpose in writing this
short article is to help bring some order out
of the chaos and a bit of help for your
next selection of quilting threads.
First, there are different
purposes for thread.
Second, there are different sizes of
thread.
Third, there are different fiber contents in
thread.
Fourth, there are different finishes of
thread.
Fifth, there are different qualities of
thread.
Different purposes:
Before you set off for your local quilt shop,
decide what kind of sewing or quilting you plan
to do. Upon arrival at the store, find a
store attendant to assist you in locating the
threads designed for your intended purpose.
Your purpose depends on your
project and how to quilt it. If you are
planning to hand quilt a traditional quilt top,
you will want the right thread for the
job. If you intend to do appliqué, you
may need a different kind of thread. If
you are piecing, basting, embellishing,
embroidering, or constructing a quilted garment
or home décor project; you will need the right
thread for the job.
Threads are commonly divided
into four purpose groups: Hand Quilting Thread,
Machine Quilting Thread, Embellishing Threads,
and General Sewing Thread. The key
consideration is how to quilt the
project. Each type is designed for best
performance in the specified application.
Hand Quilting Thread is
commonly very strong and is often coated with a
wax substance to make dragging or pulling
through the fabric repeatedly
easier. Caution: never ever use
hand quilting thread on your sewing
machine. The wax finish of the thread
gradually rubs off on to the tension discs of
your sewing machine making stitch quality
impossible. It can do serious harm to
your sewing machine. It is important to
learn how to quilt using the right threads both
to prevent problems and to achieve the desired
results.
Machine Quilting Thread is
designed to used on a sewing machine. Ask
yourself how to quilt your next step? It
is great for piecing, top sewing, and appliqué
work. Commonly the thread is hidden
away inside the quilt holding quilt pieces
together along quarter inch seams. It
needs to be strong and durable, but it should
not be overlay abrasive.
Embellishment Threads
include a wide range of cording,
decorative threads, and embroidery
threads. It is quite popular to do
appliqué, machine embroidery, and similar
activities to embellish a quit top. Your
local quilt shop staff will be able to guide
you to just the right embellishment threads for
quilting.
General Sewing Threads are
used for many different purposes in
quilting. While primary designed with
home decorating and clothing construction in
mind, general sewing threads are useful
for basting, binding, and other practical
applications.
Different Sizes or
Weights: What size should you
use? It can be confusing, but
threads come in many different sizes or
weights. They will range from 28 to
60. The smaller the thread – the bigger
it is. If you are doing very delicate
sewing, you may want to use a 60 weight
thread. If you are doing embellishment,
you may want to use the bold statement of a 30
weight thread. The most common thread
sizes are 40 and 50 weight. To identify
the size of a thread, just check the spool
label. If you are not sure, ask the quilt
shop attendant for assistance. You might
see a notation like 40/2 which means the thread
is 40 weight and there are two threads woven
together forming 2 plies. Treads often
come in two to three ply.
Different Thread Fiber
Content: You may have heard the saying, “What
goes in is what will come out”.
This is pretty much the case with thread for
quilting. The fibers used in thread are
very similar to those used in fabrics.
There are some natural fibers like cotton and
silk; and many man made fibers such as
polyester, rayon, plastics, and metallics.
Some threads are made with
one fiber in the middle or at the core and
wrapped with a second fiber. This is
quite popular as you may find in Coats And
Clark’s Cotton Covered Polyester thread.
The thread is made much like cotton
candy. Tiny particles of polyester fibers
are spun together to form the core of the
thread. This core is highly abrasive, but
the core is then wrapped with cotton fibers
which are much softer or less abrasive.
While this thread is very popular and sold very
cheaply, it is not recommended for use on your
sewing machine. Why? The cotton
fibers peal off in the tension discs and at the
eye of the needle creating many problems for
the machine.
Better threads are made of
long fibers or staples. The most common
quality quilting threads are made of long
staple polyester or cotton. The
polyester is much stronger than the cotton, but
it can be a bit more abrasive. Polyester
thread has a colorfast, non-shrinkable
finish. If you are quilting with cotton
fabrics, it may be best to use the long fiber
cotton fabric. Cotton thread is often it is
treated or mercerized. This is a process
where the fiber has been made to swell and
straighten out repeatedly, which removes any
tendency towards fuzziness, and makes for a
very high luster thread. Cotton thread is
available in 30 to 60 weight.
The right Quilting Threads
are essential. To learn how to quilt
required choosing the right threads and
mastering how to quilt with them will make your
quilting easier and better.
Other fibers to be found in
threads for quilting include rayon, plastic,
and metallic. These may be used for
embellishment or specialty stitching.
Rayon thread is also highly
lustrous. Metallic threads
may require more advanced techniques to achieve
desired results, and may be best left to more
advanced sewers.
Natural fibers will rot,
mildew, decay, and fade with time.
Exposure to moisture and sunlight can seriously
damage natural fiber threads. A big
mistake is to use up your old thread
first. While this is generally a good
idea, it is never good to use “old”
threads. The thread actually deteriorates
on the spool on the shelf without ever being
noticed. Before you use older thread,
test it first. Pull off some of it
fifteen inches or so, and pull it tight.
Does it break easily? If it breaks in
your hands, it will break in your machine and
in your project. The price of frustration
is not worth the little money you may save
using old thread.
Some manufacturers also
produce special threads for embellishing, and
you can find these at your local quilting
store. If you like to quilt by hand, you
can use embroidery floss, available in a
multitude of color and fiber. Learning
about the different kinds of thread can enhance
your love of the craft of quilting.
Different Finishes:
Threads for quilting come in different
finishes. Some is dull, flat, or
muted. Others are satin finished, waxed,
or have a special sheen. What kind of
finish do you want? It all depends on
your project. If you are piecing, the
thread will not be seen and a flat or dull
finish is fine. If you are embellishing,
you want your threads to “pop” or grab the
attention of the onlooker.
Different Qualities:
Like almost everything in this world, there are
poor, OK, good, better, and best
qualities. Some threads shed lint and
fibers. Some break easily. Some rot
quicker than others. So, how can you tell
quality of threads for quilting?
Ask your local quilting expert, your most
experienced and knowledgeable attendant at the
quilt shop, or another quilter you
respect. Find a quality source for your
thread and stick with it. Some stores
carry only the best threads, while others only
carry discount threads. Always, remember
you get what you pay for. Find a trusted
brand of thread and stick with it.
The more you know about
thread and the other tools of quilting the
better decisions you will be able to make in
choosing your supplies. When you use
quality ingredients, the final product is
always better. Remember the right
Quilting Threads are essential. To learn
how to quilt required choosing the right
threads and mastering how to quilt with them
will make your quilting easier and better.
AUTHOR:
Donna Trumble is a professional designer,
seamstress, author, sewing educator, and sewing
business owner.
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