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The Machine Quilting Adventure The thread you use can make a big difference in your machine quilting. Learn the right types of thread to use from a machine quilting expert. |
Quilters are artists. Their canvas is fabric, and their paint is thread. But that is only part of the picture. Thread holds the canvas (quilt) together, and using the wrong thread can cause frustration, aggravation and even a quilt destroyed before its time.
There are three basic types of thread:
• Natural Fibers – wool, silk, cotton, flax, jute
• Regenerated – rayon, acetate
• Man-Made – polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastic, polypropylene,
glass, metallic
Natural Fibers
High quality 100% cotton thread is easy to sew with and it shrinks
at about the same rate as the fabric in quilts. There are hundreds
(maybe even thousands) of colors available. And with our global
economy, some of the variegated threads are made from high quality
Egyptian cotton or silk.
Natural fiber threads are usually made from short or staple fibers that are spun into a single yarn and then twisted together to make the thread. The longer the staple, the better and stronger the thread.
"Ply" indicates the number of yarns that are twisted together to make a thread. Two ply thread means that two strands of yarn are twisted together and three ply means that three strands are twisted together.
Silk thread is stronger than cotton because it is a continuous filament, unlike the short spun fibers of cotton. Silk also has more stretch than cotton. Many quilters use silk for appliqué and other hand work. The thread glides through the fabric more easily than cotton thread, and it is finer (thinner), making it easier to hide the stitches. And it is less prone to fraying, so you can use a longer length of thread to start your stitching.
Cotton-Wrapped Polyester
When synthetics were developed, it was natural that the manufacturers
would attempt to replicate the process for making thread with natural
fibers. To get the strength of polyester along with the feel of
cotton, cotton-covered polyester was developed.
Regenerated
These threads are made from natural products that are processed
and converted into thread fibers. For example, rayon begins as tree
pulp (pure cellulose). During the manufacturing process, the pulp
is turned into liquid and then extruded into endless strands of
fibers.
The quality of the raw materials, then, affects the quality of the thread. Generally regenerated threads are stronger than cotton and virtually lint-free (unlike cotton).
Rayon thread is frequently used for embroidery and machine quilting because it has a beautiful luster and lays flat on the fabric surface. Due to its strength, it may not be the best choice for piecing patchwork, though.
Man-Made
These are threads that are made completely from man-created products.
Polyester offers strength (which may be a downside, since the thread
may be stronger than the fabric and cause the fabric to tear), and
color-fastness. That means that the color of the thread will not
bleed into the fabric (some cotton thread will do that).
Metallic threads offer some fun and interesting options. There are two ways that metallic threads are made. One is with a round polyester or nylon core, wrapped with metallic foil and colored. The other method is with sheets of polyester film which is cut into thin, flat strands and then metallized with an aluminum layer.
One of the challenges of sewing with metallic thread is that it may break easily – both with machine use and with hand stitching. Changing your sewing machine needle may help prevent this. In hand sewing, using shorter lengths of thread helps. In addition, the flat metallic thread tends to be somewhat stronger.
Choosing the right thread
Choosing the right thread for your project can be a challenge. You'll want to keep in mind the use of your quilt or wall hanging and the fabric you are using.
Make sure that the thread in your quilt is strong enough to last a long time, but not so strong that as the quilt is moved and handled, it will cut through the fibers of your fabric.
If you want the stitching to show, a thicker or contrasting thread is a great choice. Metallic threads are fun, or you can use a variegated cotton thread.
For more detailed information about thread, Bob Purcell, President of Superior Threads visited with us in our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation. A CD copy of his interview is included with The Machine Quilting Adventure or you can get a copy of the interview separately by visiting: Interview with Bob Purcell.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
Master Quilter
