9 Sewing Thread Types
Hey ghouls and creeps! I don’t know about you, but the thread options when trying to select the best one for your sewing project can be overwhelming! Below I’ll explain fiber contents, properties, and ideal uses for all-purpose, embroidery, jean, quilting, outdoor, upholstery, metallic, and transparent threads! Let’s get started.
1.Elastic Thread: Elastic thread is made up of an elastic core with a polyester coating. Elastic thread is most often used to sew on knits. If you don’t have a spool of elastic thread, no worries! You can also sew a zig-zag stitch or other knit-compatible stitch types with an all-purpose thread. Another use for an elastic thread is to make shirred fabric. This is when you stretch the elastic thread across the back of your woven material in rows and stitch the rows in place. This technique will synch your material and make it appear stretchy.
2. All-Purpose Thread: All-purpose thread has a fiber content of 100% polyester. The polyester core and coating make all-purpose thread strong for its weight. The thread weight for this thread type is in between heavy-duty and embroidery threads. This will be the thread you use the majority of the time. All-purpose thread is great for nearly all fabrics with the exception of sheers and canvas/upholstery fabrics. Any project exposed to consistent sunlight or high heat requires an alternative thread type.
3. Embroidery Thread: The term “embroidery thread” can also be used to identify embroidery floss. We’ll be discussing machine embroidery thread in today’s post! Embroidery threads can be comprised of rayon, polyester, cotton, and silk. Because this thread type is lightweight it’s not used for construction sewing or seaming material together, but rather as an embellishment on a fabric’s surface. Embroidery thread with a rayon fiber content will have a shiny appearance in a variety of vibrant color options. Use rayon, silk, and cotton fiber contents for projects made with light to mediumweight fabrics. Use polyester embroidery thread for heavy fabrics.
4. Jean Thread: Jean thread has a mixed fiber content of polyester and cotton. This thread type is most often used as the topstitching thread or accent thread on jeans! Ever notice the gold thread decoratively stitched on the back pockets of your pants? This would be jean thread! Jean thread is more durable because of its polyester core but has a soft hand thanks to its cotton coating. You’ll notice that the thread weight for jean thread is heavier to withstand constant abrasion.
5. Quilting Thread: Quilting thread can be cotton, polyester, or a blend of the two! You’ll find that many cotton quilting threads are mercerized, meaning they’ve gone through a process that increases the strength and luster of the thread. Mercerization causes the fibers to swell which allows the dye to better penetrate the fibers. If you are hand quilting it’s okay to use machine quilting thread!
6. Outdoor Thread: Outdoor threads are a member of the heavy-duty thread family, and are made of 100% polyester with a wax coating. The polyester fiber content makes this thread type durable and more UV resistant. Although polyester is more UV resistant in comparison to other fiber contents, prolonged direct exposure to sunlight will gradually weaken polyester. The wax coating in addition to the fiber content makes this thread water-resistant. The heavyweight of this thread makes it capable of withstanding high stress and tension.
7. Upholstery Thread: Upholstery threads are made of a variety of fiber contents that include cotton, nylon, polyester, or silk. The general rule of thumb is to match the fiber content of your upholstery material to your thread. So if you have a couch cover made of cotton duck cloth you would want to use an upholstery thread with a cotton fiber content. The weight and how upholstery thread is manufactured makes this thread type durable. This thread category is often treated to reduce abrasion, giving it a smooth surface.
8. Metallic Thread: Metallic thread is often comprised of a polyester core with a tinsel coating. This thread type should strictly be used for decorative stitching and embellishment, and not for construction due to its limited strength. Special accommodations when working with metallic thread are recommended when considering sewing machine needle type and exposure to heat. Look for sewing machine needle packages that specifically say “metallic” on the packaging.
9. Transparent Thread: If you are looking for a thread option that will be mostly invisible and strong, this may be the thread type for you! Transparent Thread is a monofilament made of nylon and resembles fishing line. This thread type can be used on a variety of fabric types, from sheers to upholstery. Use the clear when sewing materials light in color, and the black for materials dark in color.
In this post, I combined my knowledge and experience with sources on the web! These sources include The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Sewing Thread found here: https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/blog/ultimate-thread-reference-guide/ and Sewing Thread Types: Best Thread for your Project found here: https://blog.treasurie.com/sewing-thread-types/.
There it was! Nine sewing thread types explained! As always, I hope you found this post helpful, and feel free to elaborate below in the comments on anything that I may have left out!
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