12 Best Thread For Sewing Machines

Have you ever experienced the feeling of stepping into a fabric store or browsing for thread online, only to be inundated with countless choices? 

Fear not, for today, we are here to assist you in mastering the art of selecting the best thread for sewing machines. By the end of this guide, you’ll feel confident and well-informed, ready to navigate the world of threads with ease.

Whether you bought a brand new machine or were gifted a sewing machine from a relative, you will more than likely need to have some thread before you start your first project. 

Speaking of the first sewing project, we have a sewing class library with easy projects to get you started. Join the sewing class library and get access to all the patterns.

After you find the best thread for sewing machines, you can do your first project.

Sewing Essentials

We have a few favorite things that help make sewing easier after you find the best thread for sewing machines. Here is our list and you can download the sewing essentials list.

Magnetic Seam guide:  This is a seam guide that you can attach to your sewing plate. It serves as a helpful tool to aid you in sewing straight lines with ease and precision.

By aligning your fabric against the seam guide, you can maintain a consistent seam allowance and create neat, straight stitches throughout your sewing project.

This simple yet effective attachment can be a valuable addition to your sewing arsenal, ensuring professional-looking results in every straight-line stitching endeavor.

Sewing Practice Sheets: practice on paper before doing your first project. You will do this after figuring out the best thread for sewing machines.

Fabric scissors: Your sewing scissors should only be used on fabric and thread, not paper

Seam Ripper: Accidents happen and sometimes you need to remove your stitching

Fabric Marking pen: Helps you mark measurements and erases with heat from your iron or being washed

Rotary Cutter: Helps you cut precise lines and through multiple layers of fabric

Sewing Pins and Sewing Clips: An essential tool you must have to keep your fabric securely in place while sewing your seams is a set of pins.

Sewing Pins and sewing clips hold the layers of fabric together, ensuring they stay aligned and prevent any shifting during the sewing process.

With the help of these trusty pins, you can achieve neat and accurate seams, resulting in a professional-looking finished project.

Needle Threader: If your sewing machine lacks an automatic threader and you find it challenging to thread the tiny needle, here’s a helpful tip that can save you time and frustration. Using a needle threader can be a game-changer in this situation.

A needle threader is a small tool that assists you in guiding the thread through the needle’s eye effortlessly. With this handy tool, threading the needle becomes a breeze, making your sewing experience much more enjoyable and efficient.

Best Thread For Sewing Machines

Let’s delve into the world of threads and unravel the mysteries of their types and weights. We’ll explore what these weights signify and help you determine which thread is the best fit for your projects.

By the end of our exploration, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge you need to confidently make the right thread purchase.

Types of Sewing Thread

The best Thread for sewing machines are composed of fibers, which can be categorized into two main types: natural fibers and synthetic fibers.

Examples of natural fibers include cotton thread, wool thread, silk thread, and linen, while synthetic fibers comprise polyester, rayon thread, and nylon thread. Additionally, there are blends where natural and synthetic fibers are combined, such as the cotton-polyester blend. 

Threads also come in various weights, which affect their thickness and strength. We will talk about thread weight in just a moment. Some common types of thread you might use include:

1. Elastic thread: Used for gathering fabric.

2. Heavy-duty thread: Designed for sewing thick and durable materials.

3. All-purpose thread: Versatile and suitable for a wide range of sewing projects.

4. Polyester thread: Known for its strength and resistance to stretching and shrinking.

5. Clear thread: Virtually invisible and perfect for transparent or sheer fabrics.

6. Embroidery floss: A glossy thread ideal for decorative stitching and embroidery work. Specifically for your embroidery machine.

7. Metallic thread: Adds a shiny and metallic finish to sewing projects.

8. Serger thread: Specifically designed for serger machines and overlock stitching. Perfect for high speed sewing and cotton fabric

9. Quilting thread: Strong and durable, ideal for quilting projects.

10. Upholstery thread: Heavy-duty thicker threads used for upholstery and furniture projects.

11. Variegated thread: Features multiple colors in one strand, creating unique patterns when sewn.

12. Cotton Thread: This thread does well with high temperatures. We used it in our pot holder, microwave potato bag and DIY tortilla warmer. 

These are just a few examples, as there are numerous other different threads such as special thread available for various sewing applications. Each type of thread serves a specific purpose, allowing you to choose the right thread choice for your sewing needs and projects.

Thread Weight

Honestly, I’ve never really paid attention to the different weights of the thread when deciding which one to buy for my projects.

I checked my sewing room to see what different thread weights I had, and I only found the weight listed on two of them. I’ve been sewing for over 60 years and never thought about the different kind of thread weight I needed, but I did do some research.

However, after doing some research, I learned about the different thread weights, and here’s what I found: When you see the thread weight on a spool, it may appear as “No 40” or “50/3”.

The higher the thread weight number, the thinner the thread. If the weight number is written as a fraction like “50/3”, it means it has a weight of 50 and is three-ply. 50 wt is a common thread weight.

For instance, 40 weight thread is usually used for embroidery projects. Even if you don’t have an embroidery machine, you can use it for decorative stitches and applique techniques.

Serger thread typically has a weight of 40 and is made of polyester. It has a special coating that allows it to withstand high speeds giving you the best results and also keeping your thread from breaking. 

Surprisingly, I’ve also used serger thread in my sewing machine, and it performs quite well. So, even if you don’t have a serger machine, you can still benefit from using this thread type in your regular sewing projects. 

Now it does depend on the type of fabric. The hobo bag needed a heavier thread because of the jeans we recycled and a different needle because I did break the needle because I was being lazy and didn’t feel like changing them out.

Sewing Machine Thread

The thread I find myself using the most is the all-purpose thread. You can easily find a good selection of this type of thread at your local crafting store.

Personally, I used to prefer Gutermann thread as it offers excellent quality and a wide range of beautiful colors. This all-purpose thread is versatile and performs exceptionally well on most of my sewing projects.  It’s really one of the best thread for sewing machines.

Recently, I switched to using cones of polyester thread. Sergers and cover stitches consume a considerable amount of thread, and the cones are more practical for these machines.

Polyester thread is fantastic for a variety of sewing projects, making it my go-to choice across all my machines now. I really believe it’s the best sewing thread.

It’s important to note that when working with lightweight or heavy-weight fabrics for special projects, using an all-purpose thread might not be the best option.

Instead, you should opt for a thread that matches the specific requirements of your project.

By using the appropriate thread for your lightweight or heavy-weight projects, you ensure better results and longevity in the finished piece.

How Much Thread Do I Need?

Thread spools are available in various sizes, and you can easily find information about the number of yards on each spool.

Checking the thread spool label will aid you in purchasing the right amount of thread for your specific project.

Typically, one spool contains a substantial amount of thread that lasts for an extended period.

However, for more extensive projects like sewing large quilts, you may find that you’ll go through a significant amount of thread.

In such cases, it’s essential to have enough thread on hand to avoid running out in the middle of your project.

Properly estimating the required amount of thread ensures a smooth and uninterrupted sewing experience.

I personally like using my Serger spools on my sewing machine. Here’s a video on how I do that. I also have more spools of white thread as that is the largest amount of thread I use.

Another rule of thumb in my sewing room is that I keep more bobbins so I have a ton of bobbin thread so I don’t run out while sewing. 

Here are my favorite sewing thread choices for sewing projects and quilting. Some of the best thread for sewing machines in my opinion.

I definitely recommend you have plenty of white and black thread but you may also want different colors to match your sewing project.

We have included regular thread in White, Black and various colors. This will definitely last you a long time. 

Best Thread For Sewing

Gutermann Thread: White or Black

Introducing the Jumbo Spool, a 100% Long Staple Polyester thread, ideal for both hand sewing and machine sewing purposes.

This versatile thread is well-suited for use on a wide range of fabrics, including natural and synthetic fibers.

Whether you’re working with cotton, wool, silk, or any other material, this all-purpose thread is the perfect companion for your sewing endeavors.

With its large spool size, you’ll have an ample supply to tackle any project with ease and confidence. Say goodbye to frequent thread changes and embrace the convenience of the Jumbo Spool for your sewing needs.

Gutermann Thread: Multiple Colors

20 spools with a variety of colors. Perfect for everyday sewing projects or quilts. It can be washed and dried and ironed and even dry-cleaned. 

Choosing a high-quality thread is essential for your sewing projects. Whether you are doing delicate fabrics or thicker fabrics or simply using cotton quilting fabric.

The first thing you want to do is figure out what is the best thread for sewing machines you are using, and then look at the weight. 

The right sewing thread will help your project go smoothly and keep you from cussing or having to use your seam ripper.

If you have any questions, you can email me or leave a comment below, and I will make sure and answer your questions.