Tips and Tricks Tuesday: What Thread to Use?

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Happy Tuesday, sewists! Today we have another Tips and Tricks Tuesday brought to you by Kaylee Pope, editor of AllFreeSewing.com. It’s one thing to just thread your needle or machine and start stitching, but how can you tell if you’re using the right thread for your fabric? Kaylee has the scoop! Whether you’re just learning how to sew or you’re just looking for a refresher, there are bound to be tips here for you to use in your future sewing projects.

Just like finding the right fabric and the right needle for your patterns, finding out what thread to use is an important step to moving from amateur sewist to smart seamstress. When you truly know your materials well, you can begin to master the art. When it comes to the art of sewing that means knowing your fabric and knowing the types of thread you should be using as you begin to explore more and more sewing projects is going to save you from creating projects to rip or fall apart. Knit or stretchy fabrics, for example, need to be paired with a type of thread that has some give to it or else hems or edges may bunch up or the thread will rip. Luckily, this guide is here to give you the low down on sewing thread and where it goes.

The difference between figuring out what type of thread to use and what type of fabric to use really comes down to picking one before the other. If you know what fabric to use, it is actually pretty easy to pair your types of thread with your fabric. Cotton thread, for example, works well with cotton fabric. That’s easy enough to remember. Knowing what thread is what, however, is difficult as it is so thin and hard to really pin down on its own. This means it is very important to organize your thread once you’ve removed it from the packaging.

What Types of Thread to Use: General Rules

1. When you are sewing something that is going to need a stretch (knits, spandex) or is a very durable fabric (leather, polyester), a polyester thread is going to be your best bet.
2. Cotton pairs best with cotton thread, but keep in mind that thinner cotton threads can break easily and do not come equipped with much stretch. Silk pairs best with silk thread.
3. The thickness and weight of your thread is important to keep in mind, as well.

Love these tips? Check out more in our free eBook, Sewing for Beginners: Learn How to Sew with 8 Sewing Tutorials!

What’s your favorite type of thread to work with? Let us know below in the comments!

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Seams and Scissors

Seams and Scissors is a place where sewing and quilting are celebrated every day. It is a creative resource for those who both cherish these skills and those who want to acquire them. On Seams and Scissors the curious creator will find full sewing and quilting tutorials, project collections, tips and tricks, as well as endless inspiration.

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