Recently I received a comment on my blog, asking me to give advice on which type of thread a beginner should use. The answer I gave is the subject of today’s blog post, but if you have an opinion, please feel free to leave it in the comments at the bottom of today’s post!

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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 own 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.

One last thread-related piece of advice… When a person is just learning to sew, I encourage them to use thread that contrasts with the fabric they’re using. Have a look at the image below, and maybe you’ll understand why.

Using thread in a contrasting color may sound counter-intuitive to those of us who’ve been sewing for a long time, but by choosing a contrasting color, the beginner sewist can look back at what they’ve sewn and see where mistakes have happened.

It helps them see what may need to be unpicked (seam-ripped) and re-sewn, and in addition, they will be able to improve their stitching by setting goals for straighter seams in the future.

Now it’s your turn! What brands of thread do you prefer to use and why? Please leave your tips and tricks having to do with threads in the comments section.

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Chelly Wood and the ChellyWood.com website are not affiliated with any of the doll or toy companies mentioned in this blog post, but Chelly enjoys designing her doll clothes to fit a variety of dolls. To learn more about the doll companies mentioned in today’s post, please visit the doll or toy company’s website.