So far, on my list of 10 items every doll clothes sewing enthusiast should have, I’ve mentioned hand-stitching needles and a needle threader. But now, coming in at #3 on my list, I can’t go any further without mentioning the thread.
But what brand is best? There are so many!
When my girls started sewing, I bought them each one of these boxes of a variety of threads from Gutermann.
This set of threads from Gutermann provides someone who’s new to sewing with 26 colors of thread to choose from, in a box that keeps all their thread organized in one place.
Yes, it’s more expensive than buying just one or two spools of thread, but if you do decide to invest in a sewing machine later on, Gutermann is the thread company that keeps your sewing machine in good working order. These threads are designed to prevent lint from getting down inside your machine (and lint is known to clog gears and cause mechanical problems).
If you find that you don’t enjoy sewing after all, you can re-sell your used box of Gutermann thread for a reasonable price on eBay — which, by the way, isn’t a bad place to buy yours! But if you do buy your thread on eBay, make sure it’s 100% Polyester.
Cotton seems like the better choice environmentally, but it’s not. Cotton thread is primarily used for embroidery, so stick to polyester, which is less likely to get tangled up, when you’re sewing doll clothes.
Okay, everyone. Now it’s your turn. If you were buying thread for a first-timer’s sewing kit, what brand would you buy and why? Feel free to leave a comment below!
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Yep guterman
Gutermann definitely
I prefer Guterman and Rasant threads. They are excellent quality.
I also used to prefer Guterman. Lately I’ve been buying Sew-ology (made in France) and Sulky (made in Germany) threads. They can be a bit pricey, so I buy them when threads are on sale in JoAnn’s. Sulky has a rayon thread which is a dream to sew with – especially on sheer fabrics, like chiffon. Sometimes my projects require 100% cotton thread. For those, I prefer Connecting Threads (on Amazon). The range of colors for cotton thread is amazing. Some reviewers claim it twists and breaks in their machines, but I suspect they might be using the wrong size needle. I have had no problems with this thread in either machine or hand sewing. Thank you for these “tip” articles. I am loving them!
Thank you for offering detailed feedback and ideas. Glad you’re enjoying the content of my articles!
I got started with Gutermann as a quilter. My favorite too. The biggest hint is this: don’t use Grandma’s old thread or those tiny spools that come in kits.. If you work hard on a project, you want it to stay together. Old and cheap thread will disintegrate and all that hard work will end up tossed. I’ve also found Coats and Clark to be a good brand. Just get new.
I also own some Coats & Clark threads — mostly for hand-stitching projects — and I agree. It’s a good brand!
I used to use Coats and Clark and have a lot of them. When I was costuming for an award winning high school theatre, I started using Maxi-Lock serger thread for everything. It held up with dancing. Never had a problem with the thread. I retired before the pandemic. I bought more Maxi-Lock to make over 3,000 masks. Now that Is what I use most of the time.
Do you live in the US Cora? I live in Idaho (USA), and I’ve never heard of Maxi-Lock. I’ll have to look it up online. I don’t think it’s available at our little JoAnn Fabrics, here in Twin Falls, Idaho. I’ve never seen it in the store anyway.
But hey, thanks for introducing me to a brand I wasn’t familiar with!
Looks like JoAnn’s online has it.
If you were buying thread for a beginner’s sewing kit, would you choose Gutermann polyester for durability, or another brand you trust and why?
Regard Konten Digital
Great question! Do you mind if I make this into a blog post later on?
For an absolute beginner, as long as they were using a sewing machine, I would definitely stick to Gutermann polyester thread. As I understand it, this thread in particular is designed for strength and durability, and it’s less likely than cheaper brands to get tangled up and cause “fluff” in your machine. I learned this from the people at Twin Falls Sewing Center, in Twin Falls, Idaho (the place where I take my machine to be serviced).
Now, if the person was learning to sew by hand, Coats and Clark is a trusted brand for hand stitching, and usually that brand is a lot cheaper.
But with Gutermann thread, it’s sort of like gassing up your car. If it’s a brand new car, and you want to pamper your engine so it lasts longer, you should buy a higher grade of gasoline. The same thing stands to reason with a new sewing machine and thread. A higher grade of thread will give the beginner sewist that extra push to help build their confidence by preventing problems with the machine.
When my daughters began working with a sewing machine, I bought each of them a box of 26 spools in Gutermann’s most popular colors. It gave them a place to keep their thread and a wide variety of colors to start their sewing journey.
But when they were little, their first sewing kit was just a hand-sewing set with Coats and Clark threads, sewing needles, a nice pair of sewing scissors, and a little carry-all basket to keep these things in.
Beginners sometimes pull quite hard when hand-stitching, so I never advise buying used thread. It’s more apt to break. Buy new thread from a trusted company like Coats & Clark or Gutermann.
Thanks again for this great question!