Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Thread Tips for Quilters

Just thinking about the variety of threads available can give me a headache. The choices are endless. Thousands of thread color choices are just the beginning, and possibly the easiest aspect of choosing thread. Beyond that, you'll find threads designed specifically for quilting - hand or machine, piecing, embellishing, applique. And if that isn't enough thread is made from cotton, silk, wool, and polyester!

Cotton thread is created by spinning cotton fibers together, and then pulling and twisting a narrow strand of yarn away from the mass. Individual strands of the narrow yarn, each called a ply, can twisted together to create a stronger thread.

Polyester, a synthetic product, can be spun together in a similar way to create threads that look like cotton, but have more stretch. Polyester can also be drawn out into long, continuous-filament threads.

Another type of thread is made with a polyester core encased in cotton, resulting in a slightly stretchy thread, but with a traditional look and feel.
Rayon is derived from cellulose, but is not classified as a natural fiber because the transformation requires quite a bit of manipulation. Colorful rayon threads are very popular with quilters, and are typically used for machine embroidery and other decorative work. Rayon thread is not for piecing.

Nylon is a synthetic product used to make transparent monofilament thread (one ply), which becomes fairly invisible when used for machine quilting. A very fine transparent polyester thread is a more durable choice.

Metallic threads are typically made from a core of nylon or polyester that's covered with a decorative product. Quality metallic threads also have an outer coating to help protect the delicate metallic layer.

More Threads

You'll encounter threads made from other natural materials, including wool and silk.
  • Wool threads are typically thicker than other threads, and sometimes used to embellish a Folk Art quilt or project with a homespun look.
  • Silk threads are sometimes used for applique -- they are fine and make stitches that seem to disappear. Silk threads are also a good choice when beads are added to fabric.
Water soluble threads dissolve when a project is washed. They are used for basting, or for any task where temporary stitches are needed.

Fusible threads are used to sew a typical seam, but when pressed they stick the sewn fabrics together. Binding and applique are two possible uses for fusible threads.

You'll find other specialty threads when you explore thread manufacturer web sites.

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