FIBER CONTENT
Sewing thread is made by twisting yarns of the same thickness together to form a circular cross section. Home sewing thread allows ease of movement through sewing machines when tension is applied and the thread goes through the needle.
Quality thread is smooth, resists friction during sewing, and has enough stretch to keep from breaking or making seams pucker. Thread needs to be strong enough to hold seams together with regular wear and laundering.
Thread is made from natural fibers (think cotton, wool, linen) or synthetic fibers (think polyester, nylon, rayon).
Cotton thread works well with fabrics made from cotton and linen, because they all shrink the same way. It’s not recommended for sewing synthetic fabrics for the same reason; the cotton thread will shrink when the fabric doesn’t and that will make the seam pucker.
100% Cotton thread is also widely available, though usually labeled as quilting thread. I didn’t think there was a big difference between quilting thread, until I bought some by accident. The quilting thread was WAY too thick to fit through the eye of my needle! Low quality cotton thread can shrink when washed. And just like 100% cotton fabric, cotton thread produces lint.
Polyester makes a strong durable thread suitable for all types of sewing. Polyester thread doesn’t shrink or fade when washed. And polyester thread doesn’t produce a lot of lint, which helps keep you machine clean. Most of the “all purpose” thread at fabric and craft stores is 100% polyester.
Consider the pros and cons of fiber content and choose the best one for your sewing project. Personally, I use polyester thread for low lint and durability in the wash.
