What are the different types of sewing thread?

Different Types of Sewing Thread

Selecting the best sewing thread for your project can depend on many things.

It could depend on the weight, fabric type, brand, versatility, thickness, sheen, durability, and others. So how do you select which one is suitable?

Like with any other product you first need to understand the details. What is the composition? What is it good for? What is the variety? In this post, I will tackle the different fibre types of sewing thread. Nearest Fabric Store

In another post I will dive deep into the different thread weights and explain why you should use different weights for different projects.

Thread fiber

The thread fiber sets the texture and appearance of your project. Below are the types of fiber you may encounter:

Cotton thread

Cotton thread will be soft to the touch and will have a flat appearance. However, it is a strong and versatile fiber. You can see this in most cotton garments because it can adjust to fabric changes like coloring or shrinkage. There are subtypes of cotton thread as well.

Polyester thread

Polyester thread is a synthetic fiber alternate to cotton.

It has a strong stretch and tends to have more sheen. The reason why it is a common alternative to cotton is that it does not shrink nor fade no matter how often it gets washed. It also does not cost too much.

Silk thread

Silk thread is naturally very strong, so it usually is widely used in the clothing industry. It tends to be more on the expensive side, however it will last much longer than other threads, so sometimes spending the extra money upfront is definitely worth it.

Nylon thread

Nylon thread is a stronger material than polyester. However, it melts when exposed to direct heat. So ironing clothes will not yield a good result.

This synthetic thread is ideal when transparency is needed. It can stretch extensively and is mostly sewn with knitted fabrics.

Linen thread

Linen thread is one of the earliest threads used in the industry. For a time, linen thread was the primary thread seen on the market and used for garment sewing.

Compared to other threads, linen thread may not have enough strength to last. However, you can still sometimes see linen thread used in bedsheets and lace.

Viscose thread

Viscose thread is usually seen in bright colors and is an absolute all-rounder.

It probably falls into the mid range when it comes to strength. And because of its flexibility and color tone, it can work well with intricate designs but is also much better suited to dense fabrics than polyester thread.

Sewing machines can easily process viscose threads because it does not cause much friction and does not leave residues.

Metallic thread

Metallic thread is made from a very thin strip of metal like aluminum, gold, or silver. This fine metal strip is glued between the layers of synthetic fibre to solidify the sheen. This type of thread can be seen as an embellishment or part of embroidery as it can add noticeable decor and appeal to the sewn project.

Many providers employ various techniques to produce metallic thread but they generally come out the same.

Rayon thread

Rayon thread is a lightweight, semi-synthetic thread that has its advantages and disadvantages.

It is produced in bright colors, has a high sheen but it is not as strong as polyester. Because of its natural finish like silk, it makes it ideal for embroidery.

What’s good about rayon thread is that it is stronger than silk and also less expensive.

Variegated thread

Variegated thread is not necessarily a specific fibre of thread but it has its own character that attracts many.

These threads are known for having multiple colored patterns throughout the spool. It could either be a toned blend or contrast. The toned blend has multiple shades of 1 color. And the contrasting blend is a mix of tone and its contrast color. When this thread is in use, it will show a gradient effect. Fabric Bundles for Sewing

Thread tension

Thread tension can be measured by putting pressure on one side of the spring where the thread passes through the tension disks.

When you expose the thread to this, you can mechanically adjust the tension.

If you put too much tension on the thread, you can damage it and the thread can break.

If the tension is too loose, the thread will not adhere properly to the fabric and it will just create loops. So when you change threads, you also need to consider the necessary adjustments of pressure.

Thread brands

The market certainly offers a wide variety of threads. And below I’ll only mention a few of the most popular ones. I currently carry Gutermann and Rasant thread in my store and am waiting on my first delivery of Aurifil, which I will list in the shop this week.

Please let me know if you would like to see any other brands, such as Mettler for instance.

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