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What Types of Thread to Use: A Sewing Guide

How do you choose the types of sewing thread to use for each project? Find out here!

What Types of Thread to Use

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, What Types of Thread to Use: A Sewing Guide is here to give you the low down on sewing thread and where it goes. Along with our tips, we even have a handy infographic for you to download.

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PLUS! As an added lesson, scroll down to take a look at the video tutorial at the bottom of this page. Our friend Angel Peterson provides lots of helpful information about choosing fabric for sewing. With a fabric and thread guide, you will be all set to sew.
 

Sewing Thread Information: General Rules

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.

Here are some tips:

  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.
     
  3. The thickness and weight of your thread is important to keep in mind, as well.
Also, for more information about What Thread to Use for Quilting specifically, be sure to check out the article from our sister site, FaveQuilts.
 

Sewing Thread Information

Types of Thread: Fabric Guide

We made a handy little chart for you about when to use each popular type of thread. When should you use cotton thread? How about polyester? When should you use the smooth and strong silk thread you bought?

Check out the chart below and click here to download the sewing infographic.
 

Types of Thread to Use (Free Printable)

BONUS! Types of Fabric

Take a look at our Sewing 101: Working with Different Types of Fabrics video below to learn more about fabric. We also have a Sewing for Beginners: Types of Fabric page that will provide you with even more information.
 

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I have been sewing for decades and have always worried more about color matching the thread than whether it's the correct TYPE of thread for the fabric! So this post is of particular interest to me as, I'm sure, it will be to others too. I have already printed out the info and put it up at my worktable. Thank you!

This is very helpful and the bonus infographic comes in handy for those who want a reminder pinned somewhere close by. You can print it out and pin it on a board or share it with someone who's new to sewing.

Useful guide! I'm always curious about what thread to use for certain projects.

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