Notions: How to Select the Right Thread
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 
We carry the full range of Gutermann threads, which means we often get asked, "Which one is for what?" We have a few good rules to follow:
1. For piecing quilts, you want to stick to cotton thread. Cotton is less strong than polyester, which means that if your quilt gets tugged at it will be more likely to break on the seam than to tear in the fabric. If the seam breaks, you can easily stitch it back together. If the fabric tears, you've got a problem on your hands.
2. For making clothes, the opposite holds true. The thread in your clothing is what keeps you dressed during the day, and you definitely don't want those seams to break. Use polyester thread for clothing to ensure longevity.
3. For hand-binding, nothing (and we mean nothing) beats silk. It's like sewing with buttah. Grab neutral or silver colored silk and your ladder stitches (heck, even your whip stitches) will practically disappear. Silk thread will change your hand-binding life.
4. Waxed quilting thread is for hand-quilting only. Don't try it out on your machine; you'll be a very unhappy camper. If you're a hand-quilter, we hope you're already using the waxed quilting thread. If you'd like to try out hand-quilting, start with this.
As always, if you have questions about what to use for which project, don't hesitate to ask! You might be surprised by the little tips and tricks we have to help make your sewing life just a little bit easier (have we mentioned silk thread?).
Reader Comments (4)
what thread do youo recommend for making accessories like bags and clutches/
Guttermann Polyester for strength
I was in the shop today buying supplies to handquilt my block-of -the-month-quilt, remembering this post. I didn't see any silk thread with the other spools. Unfortunately, by the time I got my fabric cut, my mind was somewhere completely different, and I totally forgot to ask!
Do you sell silk thread for handquilting?
If so, where is it??
thanks!
It's there with the rest of the thread in the notions corner. Marie is in love with this stuff and will be thrilled to point it out next time you're in the shop.