Pick The Perfect Thread For Your Next Project

Invisible Thread

This is a 100% nylon monofilament thread that is translucent and very fine. Known for its strength, stretch and invisible nature. It is available in 2 colors for use with different fabric colors. As the thread is translucent, it reflects some light making it important to have both colors. I use clear for my white or pastel fabrics and smoke for medium to dark fabrics.

I've had people ask over the years about whether nylon thread will melt, presumably because of how it feels & looks. Know that nylon threads melting point is slightly higher than polyester thread, so unless you plan to light your garment on fire, you don't have to worry about this. :)

This is my go-to thread whenever I don't want my stitches to show, or to appear colorless. It's also amazing for couching down trims when you don't want to detract from the trims appearance or the color of the fabric. You'll also catch me using this thread on the bobbin when I do inlayed beading, edge beading on wedding veils, or whenever I don't want the stitches to show on the back of a project.

There are a few things to be mindful of when winding this thread on a bobbin. You'll need to wind this thread slower than normal, or if your machine is incapable of winding the bobbin at a lower speed, only wind it ½ full. The reason for this is, if the thread is pulled through the bobbin winder tension assembly at full speed, it can cause the thread to stretch and tighten around the bobbin. This can make plastic bobbins become stuck on the winder and even make metal bobbins increase in height.

Don't be discouraged by this though, because this threads' ability to stretch is what makes it so great!

You can find the nylon invisible thread here!

Lingerie Thread

This 100% nylon thread is 3-ply and soft to the touch. If you don't know 3-ply means, it's when 3 filaments are twisted and bonded together to form a thread. Doing this creates a thread that is stronger and more durable. This thread is called Lingerie thread because it is typically used by manufacturers when making lingerie and other stretch garments. Overall, it is a strong and soft thread that blends well and is nearly invisible within the seams of stretch fabrics.

I currently offer it in white and black but have been considering adding additional colors because I love it so much. You can use this in the needle for garment construction with your Serger and your garments will be able to withstand more stretching than without.

Great for heirloom sewing, bridal when attaching laces, stronger seams and for sewing beads or sequins onto wedding veils. When you sew lace using this thread, the stitch is nearly invisible, and you can rest assured the stitching will hold up - perhaps even longer than the garment itself. Also, if you've ever wanted to make a t-shirt memory quilt, then this is the ideal thread for that project.

I use this in the bobbin frequently to increase the bobbin tension without having to adjust the bobbin tension screw for better looking embroidery, applique and decorative stitches. One of my secrets for making pintucks rise higher when using a pintuck foot, is using this thread on the bobbin. I also wind fewer bobbins because it is thinner than the average bobbin thread, yet stronger.

Don't forget that like the nylon invisible thread, you'll need to wind the bobbin slower or half full.

You can find the nylon lingerie thread here!

InvisaFil by WonderFil

A silk-like 100% cottonized polyester thread, available in 60 colors, that is ultra-fine and 2-ply for added strength. This is the finest thread we carry at 100 weight or as it is commonly abbreviated 100wt. If you don't know what this means, it refers to how thick a strand of thread is, and the higher the number, the thinner the thread.

If you were wondering what "cottonized" means, it's WonderFil's way of explaining just how cotton-like this is in how it behaves, and how soft it feels. This process also allowed them to create a thread that provides the look and sustainability garment sewers have needed for years, a non-reflective, matte polyester thread!

When learning how to do free-motion quilting, this thread will show up less, making your stitches more subtle and pleasing as you build your skills. I love quilting and stitching in a ditch with this thread in both the needle and bobbin. Remember this thread is ultra-fine so you can wind long-lasting bobbins with this thread!

InvisaFil replaces the need for silk thread and is thin enough for the smallest sewing machine and hand sewing needles. This thread is fantastic for needle-turn or patchwork applique, English paper piecing, fine fabrics and creating texture when micro quilting.

You can find the WonderFil InvisaFil here!

DecoBob by WonderFil

Here we have another 100% cottonized polyester 2-ply thread that is available in 30 colors and is nearly identical to the InvisaFil line except that it is 80 weight. This is still a very fine thread but the added thickness will give a little more bulk to your stitches and make it slightly easier to handle than the InvisaFil.

We carry both spools and pre-wound bobbins of this thread and I love having pre-wounds lying around when I just want to be sewing and not winding bobbins! Remember this thread is very fine, at only 80 weight, so you won't need to change your bobbins as often.

Great for use in the needle and bobbin for less bulk in seam lines when using fine fabrics for sewing garments. Also, when top stitching in place of high-sheen embroidery threads or when the InvisaFil thread doesn't show up enough. 

This threads attributes make it an ideal bobbin thread! I have used DecoBob in my bobbin with all weights of thread in my needle and found the bobbin thread doesn’t conflict with any of them. I have even tested thicker threads, such as upholstery thread, metallic pearled cotton, denim stitching thread and others with a wonderful result!

You can find the WonderFil DecoBob here!

Polyfast by WonderFil

Colors, colors and more colors! The Polyfast line of thread is available in 210 colors! It is a thicker thread at 40 weight and is 100% trilobal polyester giving it a brilliant shimmer and excellent strength.

For all of you wondering, trilobal threads are made using micro filaments shaped like a 3-pointed star. These filaments reflect more light giving your thread that amazing sheen. They then spin these micro filaments together, creating a round thread. The final product now has the appearance of rayon or silk, but the advantages of polyester and it really shows on your project.

A 40wt trilobal thread is widely considered one of the best threads for embroidery as its thickness provides nice bulky stitches along with a beautiful sheen. When you embroider with this thread you don't need as many stitches to fill in an area, greatly reducing the amount of needle strikes through garments.

It's also amazing for quilting, raw edge applique, blanket stitch applique and for stitching out your machine’s decorative stitches. This thread won't shrink when washed or dried and can be ironed over without issues.

You can find the WonderFil Polyfast here!

General Tips

Whenever you sew, I recommend using a thread stand like my Thread Dispenser. It helps to unravel threads smoothly, reducing tension before it's fed to your machine. I never sew without mine! It also allows you to sew with double needles easier and greatly reduces the number of times my thread shreds. It even stores the thread I'm using for my current project. This help keeps me on tract and not looking around for that next thread color.

Do not forget that if you're ever having issues with thread when sewing, that your needle and tension are important things to consider. Some needles aren't straight or true out of the package, when in doubt, throw it out. That's why we carry Schmetz brand needles, they're consistently high performers.

Some other basic tips are: if the stitch looks bad on the top it's usually the bobbin that's the issue and if the stitch looks messy on the bottom, rethread the machine on the needle.

I sure hope this helps you thread the needle with the right thread for your next project and that you enjoy creating your next piece of fiber art!