12 Best Sewing Thread Reviews

Whether you sew for you and your family or you have a small business, you know that a good sewing thread will impact the result of your work on every level.

There are so many types and brands in the market that you may be confused as to which to choose. Before you choose one that isn’t the right one for what you intend, let me guide you through the maze of brands.

So, how can you choose the best sewing thread for your purposes? Read this article to find out all you need to know about sewing threads.

What’s a Sewing Thread?

Sewing threads are threads made mostly of cotton or polyester that you use for sewing with a needle, sewing, or embroidery machine.

Each purpose will determine your best product. They also vary as to material and thickness. Here I’ll list the best ones to use with your sewing machine.

The best threads are the ones that won’t damage your craftwork, won’t let your sewing down, and won’t force you to redo your work because they are too weak or too easy to break or jam.

Choosing the best sewing thread for your purpose will save your time and will present you with a flawless finishing worth submitting to an exhibition.

What Can I Use Sewing Threads For?

Sewing threads are threads used for several sewing tasks:

• Sewing machine
• Embroidery machine
• Quilting
• Topstitching
• Seaming

Whatever your purpose, I’ll list the best types and brands so you can make an informed decision about which suits you most.

Some threads can even sew harder materials like jeans or leather. And if you intend to use it for making jewelry, you’ll also find a few options here.

Quick Answer: The Best Sewing Threads on The Market

Overall, the best sewing thread is the Gutermann for general purposes, hand or sewing machine work. But if you’re looking for affordable prices, varied colors, and huge spools, New Brothreads suits you perfectly.

Apart from those, I put together a list of threads for you to choose from.

• Best Overall: Gutermann 1094 Yards Sew-All Thread
  All-purpose polyester thread, suitable for most sewing work, plain colors, for hand or machine sewing, strong, durable with an elegant finish.
• Best Budget: New Brothreads Polyester Spool 5000M
  Assorted colors, durable polyester fit for sewing and embroidering, hand or machine. Comes in 5500 yards spools.
• Best General Purpose: Coats XP All Purpose Thread Kit 50 Spool Box Assorted
  Assorted colors, general-purpose polyester thread, sews all fibers, knits, and woven.
• Best for Quilting: Connecting Threads 1200 Yard Spools 100% Cotton Thread Sets
  All-purpose sewing, quilting, and topstitching. Assorted colors, good quality, reasonable price.
• Best Heavy-Duty: COATS & CLARK 125-Yards Spools Dual Duty XP Heavy Thread
  Heavy-duty polyester thread, excellent for topstitching, cording, and buttonholes. Strong, easy to use. Basic colors.
• Best in Upholstery: Coats & Clark Inc. 150-Yard Spool Extra Strong & Upholstery
  Nylon thread, strong. For heavy-duty upholstery, neutral colors.
• Best for Outdoor Projects: Coats Outdoor Living 200-Yard-Spool Thread
  Excellent for canvas, outdoor furniture, and awnings. Polyester, UV-resistant, fast color.
• Best for Jeans: COATS & CLARK Dual Duty Plus 125-Yard-Spool Denim Thread
  Cotton-covered, polyester thread. Excellent for construction and repair. Sturdy. Jeans color.
• Best for Leather: Dow 284-Yard-Spool White Leather Sewing Waxed Thread
  Excellent for hand leather stitching, jewelry-making. Strong, durable, waxed thread, white color.
• Best for Serger: ilauke Overlock 1500M-Spool Sewing Thread
  Excellent for serging and overlocking sewing machines. Assorted colors, polyester.
• Best Colors: Simthread 80 Brother Colors Polyester 550Y Each Spool
  Polyester, excellent for embroidery and sewing machines. Good for embroidery, topstitching, and buttonholes. Assorted 80 bright colors.
• Best for Singer: Keimix Sewing Thread 550 Yard-Spool Polyester
  Assorted colors, polyester thread. Great for general sewing. Excellent for Singer sewing machines.

Best Sewing Thread Comparison Chart

To make it easier for you to compare the threads, I made this chart with the essential information.

Top 12 Best Sewing Thread Reviews

Now that you could overview and compare the best sewing threads, I’ll give you the basics on the ten best ones. The details I outline here will give you the chance to choose the best for your purpose.

Gutermann 1094 Yards Sew-All Thread

(Best Overall)

Your best overall tops the list because of its versatility. Whatever you’re sewing, you can turn to Gutermann Sew-All as your thread. If you’re a versatile craftsperson in search of a thread that will stand by your side at every project, you’ve found your partner.

Its versatility couples with its sturdiness, meaning it is breakage-free and jam-free. You can use it in a variety of materials, from the thinnest to the thickest, without worry.

If that isn’t enough, you can use it on your machine or handmade work with no second thoughts. Besides presenting high stitch safety, it’s low-lint, giving you a great finish for your work.

Even if you’ll find plain colors, you can choose one that matches your project.

Key features

• All-purpose thread
• Polyester
• 1094 yards per spool
• 50 weight

Product Specifications

Material	Polyester
Brand	Gutermann
Color	Plain colors
Item Weight	0.02 Pounds
Length	1094 yards per spool

Check this for a test of the thread:

New Brothreads Polyester Spool 5000M

(Best Budget)

Though the product description says it’s fit for embroidery machines, this thread pretty much serves several purposes.

The main advantage is that it comes in 5500 yards spools, an economy pack that will last you a long time. This thread is made from polyester and it will run fine on your embroidery or sewing machines and even be used in hand stitches.

It’s sturdy, with a lustrous finish that will make your work eye-catching. It’ll fit any machine from home use to semi-industrial to industrial with impressive performance.

Key features

• Assorted colors
• Durable polyester
• Sewing and embroidering
• Hand or machine
• Comes in 5500 yards spools

Product Specifications

Material	Polyester
Brand	New brothread
Color	1-Basic Color
Item Weight	0.88 Pounds
Length	5000M

Coats XP All Purpose Thread Kit 50 Spool Box Assorted

(Best General Purpose)

If you use your threads for several projects, you’ll be happy to know that there’s one specially made for you. Exactly for being all-purpose, Coats XP gives you a wide range of colors to choose from.

Better still, they’ll sew all fibers, knits, and woven. This means you can sew just about any fabric under the sun with the same quality as if the thread were for a specific purpose.

This thread will present you with an improved seam appearance. With a smooth and strong thread, it will work well with all types of machines, old or new.

Being polyester-wrapped core-spun, this thread will give you a flawless seam finish and gift you with trouble-free sewing.

Key features

• Assorted colors will match your creativity
• You can use for general-purpose
• Polyester thread, more durable
• For all fibers, knits, and woven

Product Specifications

Material	Polyester
Brand	Coats
Color	Assorted
Item Weight	0.5 Pounds
Size	50 pieces

Watch out for more details here:

Connecting Threads 1200 Yard Spools 100% Cotton Thread Sets

(Best for Quilting)

If you’re into quilting, you’ve just found your favorite quilting sewing thread. It’ll do all-purpose sewing, but quilting and topstitching are its specialty. Besides, it comes in assorted colors and at a reasonable price.

In 100% cotton with an extra-long staple, it presents you with a smooth thread that has a satin finish.

It’s totally craft-friendly since its spools fit any machine. This thread is ideal for every type of quilting, from beginners to small-business levels. In short, a complete hassle-free choice.

Key features

• Cotton
• Assorted colors
• All-purpose quilting and topstitching

Product Specifications

Material	Cotton
Brand	Connecting Threads
Color	Assorted
Length	1200-yards-spool

Learn amazing quilting techniques here:

COATS & CLARK 125-Yards Spools Dual Duty XP Heavy Thread

(Best Heavy-Duty)

This thread is a winner on the heavy-duty front. Made from polyester, it’s excellent for topstitching, cords, and buttonholes.

Since it’s heavy-duty, this thread is strong and easy to use. It’ll work magnificently on sheer fabrics like lingerie, chiffon, or organza because it’ll not deform the fabric.

It’ll also award you with stitching free of friction, meaning that it won’t damage the delicate fabrics you use it on.

If you intend to use this thread for repairs, it’ll do the job splendidly. You won’t be disappointed even if the stitches will be apparent on the fabric.

Key features

• Polyester
• Basic colors
• Heavy-duty, topstitching, cording, and buttonholes

Product Specifications

Material	Fabric
Brand	Coats & Clark Inc.
Color	Basic colors
Item Weight	0.02 Pounds
Length	125-yard-spool

How to Sew with Heavy Duty Thread. Let’s watch this video:

Coats & Clark Inc. 150-Yard Spool Extra Strong & Upholstery

(Best in Upholstery)

Here’s another thread for specific use. You’ll find it works supremely with upholstery. Made from nylon, it is heavy-duty and resistant. It’ll suit you if you use a machine or prefer to sew your project by hand.

It’s so strong that you can use it to sew cloth, canvas, jeans, and even synthetic leather. You could try it even for dance pointe shoes. The thread comes in neutral colors as different pigments may weaken the thread.

Key features

• Nylon
• Neutral colors
• Heavy-duty upholstery

Product Specifications

Material	Nylon
Brand	Coats & Clark Inc.
Color	Neutral colors
Item Weight	0.7 Ounces
Length	150-yard-spool

This is what this thread looks like:

Coats Outdoor Living 200-Yard-Spool Thread

(Best for Outdoor Projects)

If your passion of choice is outdoor living crafts, you found your companion. This thread won’t let you down while making gear meant for open air.

The thread works fabulously with canvas, outdoor furniture, and awning. Made from polyester, it has the added advantage of being UV-resistant. It’ll withstand your summer pursuits.

Your heavy-duty project will benefit from this thread as it’s also easy to use.

Key features

• Polyester
• Fast color, UV-resistant
• Heavy-duty canvas, outdoor furniture, and awnings

Product Specifications

Material	Polyester
Brand	Coats
Color	Basic colors
Item Weight	0.05 Pounds
Length	200-yard-spool

Check the thread at work here:

COATS & CLARK Dual Duty Plus 125-Yard-Spool Denim Thread

(Best for Jeans)

Something as essential as jeans had to have its own thread. So here you have the best choice for that.

Its sturdiness comes from the fact it is cotton-covered polyester, making it excellent for construction and repair.

The thread’s purpose also determines its color, jeans-blue. It means that the stitches won’t stand out on the fabric, giving a perfect finish for sky-blue or light wash jeans.

Key features

• Cotton-Covered, Polyester
• Comes in jeans color
• Construction and repair

Product Specifications

Material	Cotton
Brand	Coats & Clark Inc.
Color	Denim Blue
Item Weight	0.7 Ounces
Length	150-yard-spool

Here’s what this thread can do:

Dow 284-Yard-Spool White Leather Sewing Waxed Thread

(Best for Leather)

If you imagined you’d not have a thread for your leather projects, here’s one for you. Being totally reliable, it’s the perfect match for your project as it won’t disappoint.

The thread is strong as befitting the material it’s used on. You can also count on its durability. Its waxed thread will prove useful for making jewelry too.

Unlike its competitors, this thread shows a nice, solid, and uniform size throughout the spool. It doesn’t vary, giving you an elegant finish on your work. It’s also good for hand stitching or to use on a sewing machine.

Key features

• Waxed thread
• Comes in white
• Hand leather stitching
• Good for jewelry
• Sewing machine

Product Specifications

Material	Leather
Brand	Dow
Color	Basic colors
Item Weight	3.2 ounces
Length	284-yard-spool

The thread looks like this:

ilauke Overlock 1500M-Spool Sewing Thread

(Best for Serger)

Those of you who prefer to sew on an overlock machine, or have a small business that uses it, will be happy to learn that there is in fact a thread that caters to your machine.

It passed the test for sergers with flying colors. Your work and small business are in safe hands with this thread. If client satisfaction is your focus, be assured that this thread will make your clothes shine on the quality score.

The good news is that this thread can also be used for the regular sewing machine and even hand-sewing.

Key features

• Polyester
• Assorted colors
• Excellent for serging
• Overlock sewing machine

Product Specifications

Material	Polyester
Brand	Ilauke
Color	Assorted colors
Item Weight	1.63 Pounds
Length	1500M spool

You’ll sew like a pro with these overlock tips:

Simthread 80 Brother Colors Polyester 550Y Each Spool

(Best Colors)

Your cheerful, colorful projects are sure to be a success with this thread. With its bright colors, you’ll give that special touch that will become your signature craft.

Made from polyester, this thread will work great on a sewing machine. But it’s the soul-mate for embroidery. Its superb tensile strength will give you the ideal embroidery stitch.

If you feel adventurous and want to try it on topstitching and buttonholes, the thread won’t disappoint you.

The thread will work fabulously on home embroidery or sewing machines. Whether in doubt about the colors matching your project, don’t worry. It comes with standard color charts, Janome’s colors, and you’ll get it all right.

Key features

• Polyester
• Assorted bright colors
• Embroidery and sewing machines,
• Embroidery
• Topstitching
• Buttonholes

Product Specifications

Material	Polyester
Brand	Simthread
Color	Bright Colors
Item Weight	3 Pounds
Length	550-yard-spool

Here’s your a-z embroidery thread:

Keimix Sewing Thread 550 Yard-Spool Polyester

(Best for Singer)

The top sewing and embroidery machine manufacturer in the world deserved its own best in the test. So here you have the thread that will work perfectly with your Singer machine. Its high-quality polyester means that it won’t fray or break.

Since it’s made with Singer in mind, you’ll make the right choice for other brands too. Singer is the market’s standard, so your sewing machine brand will follow it.

Being specific for sewing machines, the spools come with the bobbins to go directly into them. So, together with the spools, you get several bobbins in the bargain. I’d find that alone a huge advantage.

Key features

• Polyester
• Assorted colors
• Singer sewing machine
• General sewing

Product Specifications

Material	Polyester
Brand	KEIMIX
Color	Assorted Colors
Item Weight	2.23 pounds
Length	550-yard-spool

Quick sewing ideas to make you shine:

My Secret List of the Best Sewing Thread Brands

I’ve been showing you the types of sewing thread and have already mentioned a few brands. Let’s get the brands sorted, then. Keep in mind that certain brands are more suitable for certain machines. The only way of knowing is to experiment with them.

So, here is the list of the top best sewing thread brands.

• Coats and Clark
• Superior Threads
• Gutermann
• Connecting Threads
• Aurifil (better for piecing and appliqué, hand and machine).
• King Tut (Good for quilting)
• Mettler

Of course, there are many other brands, and a few will offer standard quality. I’m sure you don’t want to waste your time with the wrong one that will risk your work. But if you’ve used them before with reasonable success, just go ahead.

Sewing Thread Types Guide

As you saw above, there are several versions of sewing thread to choose from. Some even are suitable for specific projects. But how will you know which is the perfect choice for your project? In this section, I’ll guide you through the thread types to give you more clarity on the matter.

For thirty thousand years, humans have been sewing their clothing and gear. Even with the fast progress of techniques and materials, some of that beginning still influences sewing today. Wool—animal sourced—is an example.

This brings me to the materials used to make the thread. It can come from raw materials such as animal, plant, or synthetic origins. The threads you find in your favorite retailer today are either pure or a mixture of those raw materials.

There are a few forms of spinning that determine the end product.

• A cord is multiple threads twisted together
• A core-spun thread is the combination of a synthetic thread wrapped in cotton or polyester thread.
• A ply is a strand of thread. Threads can be 2-, 3- or 4-ply. It determines its thickness.
• The twist direction, S or Z, shows the side to which it’s twisted. S-threads are more used with a home sewing machine. Z-threads are used for single-needle machines.

From these come the thread you buy from your retailer.

Types of Thread

Here’s the list for the main types of thread.

All-Purpose Thread: As the name says, you’ll use this for most of the needlework, hand or machine, and nearly all fabric, lightweight or heavyweight. It’s made from cotton or polyester. Thinner than the thick heavy-duty thread but thicker than the embroidery thread, you’ll find it’s ideal for a seam or edge stitching, quilting, and any other project involving average sewing.

Clear-Thread: Made usually from nylon, it’s thinner than the all-purpose thread and is ideal for invisible stitches. You’ll see this in many types of stitching like sewing, quilting, or upholstery.

Embroidery Thread: Used in a machine or hand embroidery, it’s made from several materials. The most used are rayon or polyester. Largely, polyester is preferred for its color-fast advantage.

Elastic Thread: Used often for gathering or shirring fabric, this resists well stretching or rebounding of fabric. The result is a more flexible stitch.

Heavy-Duty Thread: It’s designed for projects that demand high stress or tension. There are many types to suit their purposes. The outdoor one is thick and can withstand UV rays. It’s especially used for heavyweight fabrics like canvas. You’ll find it in luggage, sports, and camping gear.

Invisible Thread: As the name says, it’s meant to blend with the fabric, making it look as though it’s stitched by magic. But actually, it’s a thread that’s semi-transparent nylon in clear or smoky hues to blend with lighter or darker fabrics. Mostly used for quilting or applique.

Jeans Thread: It’s special for sewing denim and it is rather thick. It usually comes in denim colors, the blend with the fabric it’s made for.

Quilting Thread: Made from cotton, polyester, or a blend of both, quilting thread meets the quilting need for strength and color durability. It’s generally lint-free and doesn’t damage the fabric.

Serger Thread: Its main use is for an overlock sewing machine as it’s thinner and makes it ideal for construction and seaming. Even thinner, it provides a durable and flexible finish.

Upholstery Thread: Intended for heavyweight fabrics, the upholstery thread is thicker than the all-purpose one and is made from many materials though nylon is the most popular as it’s resistant enough for furniture.

Waxed Thread: It’s coated with wax to repel water. This is the thread of choice for shoemaking or clothing that needs to be waterproof.

There are many other types of thread, but I’ll not list them here because they don’t figure in the best sewing thread list.

Your Ultimate Sewing Thread Buying Guide

Up to this point, you’ve learned about the brands, purposes, and types of threads. So, let’s wrap it all up and get you confident to choose the best thread for your project.

Projects

The first factor you need to consider is the project at hand. Is it small or large? Are you making it for your personal use or selling it? Are you sewing by hand or machine?

If you’re working with the average fabric, the all-purpose thread will serve you well. It has the added advantage of being available in several colors.

Materials

As I showed you above, materials like canvas, denim, or upholstery will require special types of threads to match those materials. It’ll be easier to get solid results.

Decoration and good finishing are factors to consider, too. You’ll want to choose fine threads if your project involves embroidery and topstitching. Beauty and a positive impression are the aims here.

In this case, make sure to choose threads made especially for that purpose because the colors, the textures, and the uniformity will give you the satisfaction you’re looking for.

Many times, I find that products that promise quality and durability fall short of those. So, keep in mind that it’s a crucial factor here.

Choose materials and threads that match each other to make the result really durable and sturdy as you planned. Do you want to make a piece fit for a rainy day, for example? I’d advise you to pick the right fabric and the right thread that won’t get you soaked through.

Lengths

Also, the size of your project will dictate the amount of thread it’ll use. In which case, you’ll wish to buy bigger packs and longer lengths. So, watch out for the deals that offer advantageous packs and prices.

Most of the threads I listed here are suitable for sewing by hand. But the use of a machine will determine the better thread for it.

Sewing machines, embroidery machines, and overlock machines require specific types of thread. So, choose wisely to get the best results.

Cost

Last but not least, remember that price isn’t the only factor to take into consideration. It won’t do for you to buy a thread that doesn’t meet your needs. It might cause you to have to re-do the project. A waste of time, money, and material isn’t on your bucket list, I’m sure.

Whatever your project, you have everything to gain by picking the right thread.

FAQs

If you still have doubts, I’ll write below the most asked questions about thread types and uses to give you more information.

My Top Pick

After looking into these options, I chose the Gutermann 1094 Yards Sew-All Thread as my top sewing thread. Because it’s all-purpose, you can use it for several types of projects. That also goes for the fact that it’s available in assorted colors that’ll match any tone you picked for your sewing.

Also, being in polyester, you’ll get a durable thread with a uniform finish. You can use it for machine or hand stitching, which makes it very versatile. The spool size will afford you to use it for many projects.

My second choice is the New Brothreads Polyester Spool 5000M for its affordable price. Besides coming in assorted colors, it’s suitable for hand stitching or sewing machines.

Not only that, you can use it for sewing or embroidery. The added advantage is that it comes in polyester, giving you a durable and uniform finish. But the best of all is the size, 5000M for a reasonable price. You’ll have a lot of thread for your most varied projects.

Whether it is a prized hobby or the source of your income, the choice of the best sewing thread is clearer now that you’ve borne with me all the way here.

I’d be delighted if you shared what you’ve learned here with friends and colleagues. And if you have already tried any of these threads, please, leave a comment below telling me your experience and your reasons for choosing your best thread

Happy sewing!