Types of Sewing Threads: From Cotton to Heavy Duty
Sewing begins when you thread the machine. Some of us are picky with threads, others are careless – we go with anything that has the right color. But did you know that besides cotton and synthetic threads there are many more types of them? Let’s see how many types you can name yourself and how many were a new knowledge for you!
Button and craft threads are thicker and stronger threads made from various materials, including polyester, nylon, and cotton. They come in different colors and are designed to withstand the stress and strain exerted on buttons during use. Used for sewing buttons, fasteners, and other heavy-duty applications.
Cotton threads are made of natural fiber composition. Come in various thicknesses and are suitable for sewing natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and lightweight materials. They are also commonly used in embroidery and decorative stitching.
Elastic/ Stretch threads are made from a combination of rubber and synthetic fibers, allowing them to stretch and recover repeatedly.
The thread is designed to provide elasticity to garments. It is commonly used in sewing waistbands, cuffs, and areas that require stretchability.
Embroidery is shiny, often thinner than regular general purpose thread, and is usually rayon or polyester. Cotton embroidery thread is also manufactured and sold but it generates a lot of friction for the thread, and a lot of lint. There are many types of embroidery threads (different fibers, different thickness/weight, different brands, cones, and spools can have different shapes and sizes) and this is a very big topic for another article.
Filament Thread: Comparable filament threads are stronger than spun threads. There are three types of filament threads:
(1) Smooth multi-filament threads are made of polyester or nylon. These are very strong threads and find application where high strength is a requirement. Thus, they are suitable for sewing shoes, leather garments, leather bags etc.
(2) Textured Filament thread: It is a polyester thread and finds application in the lopper thread for cover stitches. It cannot be used as needle thread as it increases friction. QQ thread is one of the examples of this item.
(3) Mono-filament thread: a single-strand thread made from a transparent or translucent material, such as nylon or polyester. It is virtually invisible when sewn, making it suitable for applications where seam visibility is undesirable. Monofilament threads are often used for hemming, blind stitching, and attaching trims.
Fusible thread It is made out of nylon and it melts at a relatively low temperature, exactly like the regular fusible interfacing. It has the advantage that it forms a continuous bond between the two pieces of fabric, therefore, preventing puckering or shifting of the material when further processed.
You can use without stitching to hold trims or fabric in place. Just place the thread between two pieces of fabric and press with an iron. The adhesive will melt and the pieces of fabric will be glued to each other.
It can be used to sew zippers in place, attach trims and binding, make pleats, etc.
General purpose thread is most commonly 100% polyester, which makes it strong, durable, and flexible. It’s the thread you’ll use most frequently in your sewing projects, and the one you’ll want to buy in every color.
Heavy duty can be made of cotton, polyester, a combination of the two, or even nylon.
It’s designed to withstand high tension and wear and it’s generally thicker than regular general purpose thread. Depending on its exact destination it may have extra attributes, for example for outdoor use, may have been treated for UV protection, or for water resistance.
Used for thick/heavyweight fabric, outdoor equipment, garments, sports equipment, luggage, bags, curtains, etc.
Invisible thread has two main types – mono and multifilament. Monofilament is more common and resembles an extremely thin fishing line, while multifilament more closely resembles a traditional sewing thread. Both are made from nylon.
Best for adding embellishments to tulle, quilting multicolored fabric, low-profile repairs
Jeans thread is purpose-made for denim projects. It’s a special construction with a polyester core for strength, wrapped in a cotton sheath that has been dyed in tonal shades of blue so that it blends in with denim fabric.
It’s best for sewing with denim or mending holes in denim
Linen thread is made from 100% Linen. This heavyweight thread is a great option for thicker fabrics. In addition to being extremely strong, it’s also resistant to friction so it’s perfect for things that will be under a lot of stress.
Used for attaching bag straps, sewing on buttons, leather accessories like wallets or bags.
Metallic thread is made by wrapping metallic foil around a core thread. Metallic threads are commonly used for decorative stitching, embroidery, and embellishments
Nylon thread is another synthetic thread that offers excellent strength and durability. It has a high resistance to heat, chemicals, and UV radiation, making it suitable for garments exposed to harsh environments or frequent washing.
Nylon threads are commonly used in swimwear, activewear, and lingerie manufacturing.
Polyester thread is a synthetic thread made from polyester fibers. It is known for its strength, durability, and resistance to shrinking.
Polyester threads are suitable for a wide range of fabrics, including synthetic fibers and blends.
They are often used in sportswear, outerwear, and heavy-duty garments due to their ability to withstand high tension and abrasion.
Quilting thread is designed for hand sewing your quilt top to its batting and backing, creating a quilt. It is 100% cotton with a glazed finish for strength and sheen.
Best for hand sewing a quilt, hand sewing buttons, attaching beads to a garment.
Rayon thread is a synthetic thread made from regenerated cellulose fibers. It has a lustrous appearance and a soft feel, resembling silk. Rayon threads are commonly used for decorative stitching, embroidery, and topstitching. They work well with both natural and synthetic fabrics.
Serger thread, also known as overlock thread, is specifically designed for serger machines. It is typically a thinner and lighter-weight thread compared to regular sewing threads. Serger threads are used to create strong and flexible seams on the edges of garments, preventing fraying and providing a professional finish.
Spun thread can be made of either from natural fibre or from synthetic fibre. The most common used spun thread is polyester. Staple or spun thread is made from short length fibres. Cotton, wool, flax etc. are natural staple fibres. Synthetic fibres such as polyester or acrylic can be cut into short length and twisted together to create spun or staple thread. Durable and long lasting seams can be made with staple or spun thread.
Use for creating blouses, children wear, denim/jeans, knitwear, shirts, underwear, jackets.
Upholstery thread is a specialty thread designed to be strong enough to withstand stress and abrasion. It’s usually nylon or polyester, and there are options available for outdoor versions that are weather and UV-resistant.
It’s used for seat cushions and couch covers, BBQ covers and outdoor projects, floor poufs. It can also be used to topstitch these projects, if needed.
Wash-away thread (disappearing thread) a water-soluble thread and may be used wherever a temporary seam is necessary.
To remove the thread, submerge the seam (or the whole item) into water, so it can be used only with fabrics that will not be harmed by water or steam.
It’s good both for machine basting and for hand basting. You can baste hems, pleats, zippers, baste a garment for fitting, baste appliques, pockets, etc.
Wash-away thread (disappearing thread) a water-soluble thread and may be used wherever a temporary seam is necessary.
To remove the thread, submerge the seam (or the whole item) into water, so it can be used only with fabrics that will not be harmed by water or steam.
It’s good both for machine basting and for hand basting. You can baste hems, pleats, zippers, baste a garment for fitting, baste appliques, pockets, etc.
Wool is an animal fiber, it is extremely strong and has a soft texture, but not practical for most sewing projects.
Wool thread is good for heavy fabrics such as wool or canvas. It is most often used in embroidery and for making blankets.
