Though it is all too often left as a late thought, the thread you choose for your sewing project is crucial to the end product quality. An unsuitable thread will prove challenging to work with, potentially fraying while you sew or breaking quickly once the product is finished. Different types of thread suit different projects, and you want to be sure that the thread you buy suits your needs before you get started.
What do you need to consider when you're choosing your sewing thread? You've got to think about more than simply the price you're paying. The colour, thickness, and material of your thread will all impact your project's final look and the durability of your work. Here is a simple guide detailing how to choose the correct sewing thread.
Examine Your Fabric
Choosing a suitable thread is reliant on the type of fabric that you're using for your project. The more you understand your fabric's properties, the better educated your decision on the thread will be.
Consider The Colour
If you want your sewing to blend into your project and remain pretty invisible, your thread's colour needs to match your material closely. Take a patch of your fabric with you to any crafting store and test reels of thread against it to determine a colour match. Even better, try and buy fabric and thread from the same manufacturer with the same colour names so the dye used will perfectly match.
Should you want your thread work to be clear and obvious, choose a contrasting colour of thread on the colour wheel. You could take the same approach and test a patch of your fabric against different reels of thread in the shop, or you could stick with white and black threads depending on the brightness of your material.
Match The Material
Most sewists recommend matching your thread content to your fabric content, so a cotton thread for natural fibres and a polyester thread for synthetic blend materials. Thick threads such as nylon can be too bulky for delicate materials such as silk, and recognising this early on will guarantee you won't waste time and money working with unsuitable equipment.
An all-purpose polyester thread is a simple route to head down if you're unsure about matching your thread to your material. All-purpose threads are suitable for most projects and available in a wide variety of colours to suit any style. Just remember that you don't have to commit to any thread right away! You can buy individual reels of any thread colour or material that you'd like to trial and give them a go on a scrap of your chosen fabric.
Check The Cost
You get what you pay for. The same applies to your thread! A cheap or discounted thread is more than likely going to look and act like a cheap thread. When you're pouring your heart and soul into creating your sewing project, you want your thread to be durable so that your product lasts! Just as a cheap fabric is obvious, any cheap thread is easy to spot from a mile off.
Set aside as much budget as you can manage for a quality thread! While quality fabric seems most important, a quality thread is equally so. All components of your project need to be as durable as possible for the best performance!
Mix Where Necessary
Finally, you don't only need to use one type of thread for your project! You can mix and match where appropriate, which is smart when using both a machine and hand sewing for one project. Your machine will function better with a smooth and nub free thread, while you can achieve manual embroidery with a more decorative and textured thread.
For an incredible range of sewing materials to explore, visit our accessories category at Singer Outlet. We have endless reels of thread for you to choose from, with colours for every occasion!