Why Thread Matters

Published on by Tracy @ It's a T-Sweets Day!

It’s Hand Quilt Along time and I have finally been back to stitching in the evenings. Yea! I am happy to report that I have stitched together 10 more blocks for my Quatro Color Quilt.

I am hand stitching all of these little pieces with the English Paper Piecing method of folding the fabric around a paper and then stitching them together. You can read about it here.

I have been using a wonderful smoke colored thread called “Invisifil” by Wonderfil. It is specifically for hand embroidery.

This is a 100 weight thread. That is VERY thin! The higher the number of the weight of thread the smaller and lighter the thickness. It seems backwards, but it’s true.

This little thread is smooth, strong and practically invisible. Can you see the thread here as I stitch?

It’s there, but really it’s basically invisible! The thread seems too light to be strong enough to pull tight, but it is quite strong as well. It makes for such beautiful stitching:)

The only time it shows at all is on a very dark piece like this dark blue.

I didn’t like that too much, so I thought I would just go to my collection of sewing thread and use a black that I use on my sewing machine.

I don’t know the brand or the exact weight, but it is a cotton blend about a 60 weight. I had to use a larger needle for the thread to fit in the eye.

The thread matched much better, but ugh! It was a tangled mess!

I had to hold the thread as I pulled it through, and I had to pull quite slowly. It did look nice in the end though.

Now I know why they use a wax to apply to the thread first for hand sewing! Lol:). I think I am just going to buy a darker Invisifil because it is easier to pull through and very rarely knots.

Ah! The satisfaction of a bunch of beautiful blocks all lined up, neat and tidy:)

Thank you so very much for stopping by today. If you have a moment or two, why don’t you join me to see what the other hand quilters are stitching up?


Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, 
Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi,  Bella, Daisy and Connie

35 thoughts on “Why Thread Matters”

  1. Hi Tracy! Oh yes, the right thread really makes a HUGE difference. I would use a marker or something similar to cover up the lighter thread on the dark fabric. It’s just a dot and no one will be the wiser. I recently learned that thread has a true shelf life – and not a set amount of time either. You should take a good tug on some old ones that you suspect may be near the end of its life and if it breaks, get rid of it. It will break often in your machine as well. How about that for an early Sunday morning! ~smile~ Roseanne

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    1. Good Morning Roseanne! These are some wonderful ideas! I think the little dot of black will fix those thread pinpricks beautifully. And you are so right about checking the age of the thread. I have a few spools that need a good tug and check! Thank you for the tips!!❤️❤️❤️

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  2. Thread matters so much!! Whether we are doing hand work, sewing or quilting on a longarm, thread can make our lives miserable if it is the wrong thread for the job. Your Quatro blocks are looking wonderful! How long does it take to sew one together?

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    1. You are so right!! Thread makes a huge difference especially on a long arm. My long arm needs a 30-40 weight otherwise it breaks and breaks. As far as sewing time— I haven’t really timed them, but I can get about two done in an evening so I guess an hour or so…. I will time them and post about it next time. Great question!! 😊❤️❤️

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    1. Hi Margaret!! Isn’t it funny how one light and one dark will work on almost all projects?:). I haven’t tried Guterman. I will have to try it out. I’m glad you like the colors. They are definitely bright bright bright! Thank you for stopping by:). Have a wonderful Sunday!😊❤️

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  6. I love the bright, fun, happy colors you have chosen for these blocks! I have just been using regular sewing thread from the cheap bin at JoAnns (EEEK!!). After reading all of this, I’m going to try a nicer thread and see how that feels and works.

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  10. Very nice little review. I am tempted to try some hand quilting, but I’m not sure where to begin, or if I should start yet another project. Now that I’m back, I’ll have to go back over some of your posts to see what I’ve missed, I find so many of them helpful!

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    1. I have been thinking of you Kate! I’m so glad you are back:)❤️❤️❤️. I find a nice piece of hand work in the evenings to be so relaxing. I wouldn’t start another project though UNLESS you have quiet time in the day or evening where you have free hands. Then absolutely give a block with embroidery or an English Pieced block a try. You will love it! Oh— I’m so glad you are back!!!!😞❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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      1. I honk I’m going to keep it on the back burner until I’ve finished a project or two. I have given myself a deadline on a cross-stitch project
        I started just before my 25th birthday…I have just over a year to complete it by my 50th. I figure 25 years is long enough.

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  12. If you use a lower quality thread, which end of the thread you knot makes a difference to how it twists and knots as you sew. Today’s threads by quality companies such as Superior and Aurifil, it does not make a difference, according to Superior Thread. If you are getting good results that make you happy with the Wonderfil threads, then buying a darker color will definitely be the way to go. =) These are beautiful blocks, and a nice number of them finished already!

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    1. Wow! I didn’t know that about which end to knot! I’m going to have to play around with some thread and try it out. You are always so smart Susan! I’m glad you like the blocks. I’m excited to start putting them together:)😊❤️❤️

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      1. Not so much smart – just quilted for over 50 years! LOL Something has to stick in the brain in all that time!

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  13. I agree, you should invest in threads that work well for you. Like Margaret, I use Gütermann pure cotton for all piecing and hand stitching, and Gütermann waxed cotton quilting threads for hand quilting. It’s not especially cheap, but it is good quality. I do actually have some vintage cotton thread I inherited from my mother’s sewing box, and you know, it’s still good, a great colour and still strong. Old enough to have come on a wooden reel, too! It just shows that quality lasts, and it’s worth paying for. I use a mid grey for piecing, too, but I make a point of taking only a very few threads with each stitch on darker fabrics so it shows less.

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    1. Good points Kate! I probably should have talked a little about the point of the needle as well. The sharper the little point of the needle really helps with picking up just a thread or two. Don’t you just love vintage thread? I’m not afraid to use it, I just can’t seem to use up the memory or past. I tend to decorate with the wooden spool threads from my grandma:). —And last But not least, I’m so glad you stopped by today, you always makes me smile. I hope you are safe and smoke free where 𝗬ou are in Australia❤️❤️❤️

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  14. Well, I will bring up the rear! I use Robison Anton in my long arm – 50 wt
    For My embroidery I love Presencia thread – 8 or 12
    For my sewing machines I use only Aurifil 50 wt
    Hand Applique – I love silk threads! Kinkame, or Clover – Size 50 100m
    All my sewing machines love Aurifil and I do applique with the 50 wt! Been using it since 2003!
    Love your quilt! Very bright and airy! The nail polish is very pretty! Have a great week!

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  16. That’s a gorgeous project! I was often told to use an off white/ivory thread for handsewn projects in various colours – I do and mostly it works – though actually your black looks perfect there.

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    1. Thank you Tina! I do believe that the Smoky thread works on all but the very dark colors. I think adding a very dark thread is a going to be addition to my sewing armory. Maybe it will be good for yours too? It never hurts to try:). Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comment. I hope you have a wonderful day!!😊❤️

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