Thread holds it together and embellishes too.

Mary Ray, contributor

There is a whole range of quilting threads to choose from.  Matching up the right thread type to your project can make your sewing much easier.

Mary Ray

Your quilting thread choice is important whether it will be used invisibly to hold seams together or in visible decorative stitches.

Mary Ray

Thread color choice plays a part when you wish to emphasize your quilting lines.

Mary Ray

There is a whole range of quilting threads to choose from.  Matching up the right thread type to your project can make your sewing much easier.

Photo: Mary Ray

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Thread is essential. It could be the most boring part of any sewing project, but it doesn’t have to be because there are so many threads out there to choose from nowadays. Thread can give your quilt that “wow” factor—from adding subtle impact to infusing an explosion of color and texture. I think it’s important to choose thread carefully, regardless of whether it will be hidden in the seams for piecing or exposed in quilting stitches, decorative stitches, and other embellishing. You not only want the thread to look good, but you also want it to be easy to work with and to last.

Some of my favorite brands are Mettler and Gütermann (I like their general sewing thread as well as decorative threads), Superior (especially the King Tut variegated), Sulky (the Blendables and rayon embroidery thread), Aurifil (a beautiful cotton thread in various weights), Isacord (polyester embroidery), Tire (silk thread) and YLI (decorative threads).

Below, I've listed some things to consider when choosing thread.

Thread Quality: Always use good-quality thread. Bargain-bin thread is never a bargain because it can knot, break, and cause all sorts of problems. Stay away from using thread you might find in a trunk in the attic or in an antique store because thread has a shelf life, and age and exposure can cause it to weaken.

Fiber Content: Thread comes in a variety of fibers just like fabric. For piecing, 100% cotton or polyester threads are best. Cotton thread is recommended when using a hot iron for pressing, but I’ve used polyester thread forever and have never had it melt—even though my iron is almost always at the hottest setting. Decorative threads are mostly made of rayon, cotton, and polyester fibers. Cotton threads can have a soft sheen, whereas rayon and poly threads are quite shiny. Metallic threads (usually made with a polyester core wrapped in metallic foil) will really add sparkle to your project.

Size: Thread has size, although that’s not always indicated on the spool. Most all-purpose sewing thread, for example, does not show a size; however, decorative threads usually do. Keep in mind: the higher the number, the finer the thread.

Strength: Consider the strength that is needed for your project, as some fibers are stronger than others. Although cotton thread is not especially strong by itself, it becomes stronger when sewn. Polyester, nylon, and silk threads are the strongest.

Color: It is important to consider the color as you’ll find solid colors, thread with variegated colors, and threads with two colors twisted together. Although you can piece a quilt with a neutral color such as cream or gray, it’s best to choose a color that closely matches your fabric so that the stitches truly blend. But when it comes to choosing a thread for quilting, consider how much you want to emphasis the lines. You may want to choose different colors for different areas of your quilt, bringing out some parts more than others. Or choose the variegated (sometimes called blendable) threads that spread different colors throughout the quilt when you straight stitch and almost look like striped piping when you use them in a machine satin stitch.

Stash: I highly recommend that you keep a selection of colors, fibers, and types on hand so you can experiment. It’s always a good idea to stitch out a sample on your fabric to see whether it's really the look you’re going for and to test how the thread reacts with your fabric and your sewing machine. And, just having a bunch of colorful spools on a shelf near your sewing machine or work table is inspiring and can add decor to your space as well.

Tip: FYI, don’t use quilting thread designed for hand quilting in your sewing machine. It has a wax coating that makes it glide easily when hand sewing but can gum up the tension discs on your machine.

For some more good in-depth information, check out an article by Carol Laflin Ahles in Threads magazine, issue 114, August/September 2004, pp. 57-63. Or go to superiorthreads.com – a great resource where you can learn more about thread in general.

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