Don't worry, I'm not talking about your own physical weight, I'm talking about thread where it actually matters!
What is thread weight?
It's a system of classifying how thick the thread is and the number or weight of it is determined by how many metres it takes to weigh 1kg.
So if 28 metres of thread weighs 1kg, it is 28wt and if it takes 50 metres of thread then it's a 50wt thread - basically the thicker the thread the less is required to weigh 1kg, so the lower the weight of that thread.
It's the most commonly used system and thread weights range from 12 - 100, so with such a variety available how do you know which one is perfect for your projects? A lot of it comes down to personal preference and the look you want to achieve or amount/type of texture you want to create - like I keep telling you, there are no quilt police here! But if you want to make a more informed decision and reach your ideal weight then keep reading.
As I said before the thread weight system is commonly used so will apply regardless of which brand you use, my personal preference is Aurifil Thread so this blog post and the information in it is based on those threads.
Aurifil Thread is made from 100% Egyptian Cotton and is Oeko-Tex certified, this means that it is completely safe for people to use as it's certified free of harmful chemicals and other nasties! The thread is long staple which makes it high quality, strong and it produces virtually no lint, oh and let's not forget the absolute rainbow variety of colours - 270 to be exact!!
Aurifloss
6ply stranded floss
super fine thread
18 yards per spool
available in 270 colours
ideal for Hand Embroidery, Hand Quilting, Needlepoint, Appliqué, Cross Stitch
you can even separate the strands to achieve desired floss thickness and coverage
12wt
comes in small spools, large spools and cones
available in 270 colours
creates great definition and texture across the surface of a project, especially if using a longer stitch length
ideal for Hand Quilting, Big Stitch Quilting, Appliqué, Hand Embroidery, Cross Stitch, Machine Embroidery, Sashiko, Longarm Quilting
28wt
comes in small spools, large spools and cones
available in 270 colours
creates great texture on a longarm machine
ideal for Cross Stitch, Appliqué, Hand Piecing, Hand Quilting, Machine Quilting, Machine Embroidery, Longarm Quilting
40wt
comes in small spools, large spools and cones
available in 270 colours
the go to for Machine Embroidery and Thread Painting
perfect for precise work on fine fabrics and where more defined topstitching or quilting is desired
ideal for Machine Quilting, Appliqué, Embroidery, Hand Piecing, Longarm Quilting, Doll/ Soft Toy Making, Bag Making
50wt
comes in small spools, large spools and cones
available in 270 colours
in my opinion the most popular choice for quilting making because it just sinks into the fabric so beautifully - my seams are perfect and the texture created from quilting is the best
one of the most versatile threads
ideal for Machine Piecing, Hand Piecing, Machine Appliqué, Needle Turn Appliqué, Foundation Paper Piecing, English Paper Piecing, Thread Painting, Bobbin Lace Making, Machine Embroidery
80wt
300 yards per spool
available in 88 colours
the fine thread makes it an absolute winner for English Paper Piecing
can also be used for Hand Appliqué, Machine Embroidery, Machine Appliqué, Free Motion Quilting
A couple of extra things I love about this thread is that it's widely stocked, you can buy each colour and weight individually or in beautifully curated thread boxes/sets and due to the versatility of the colours and range you can literally use for everything! There is also a range for Longarm Quilting - Forty3 which I will tackle in another post.
So there you have it, my thread round up of some truly gorgeous threads - do you have an ideal weight? Or a favourite colour? Where is your go to place for buying thread? I love to hear from you so please pop a comment below if you're feeling inspired.
Happy Quilting