4 Ideas for Choosing Thread Types for Commercial Products

Just as you would use certain tools or spices for different building or cooking applications, different types of thread have their own uses. Most people don’t think about quality thread, or the many different types of thread, aside from its basic uses such as keeping their clothes together.

When it comes to designing commercial products, a quality thread can add visual appeal and durability. Unfortunately, it can also be hard to determine what a good quality thread actually is, or what type of thread would look best for your applications. Here are four ideas to help you choose the best thread type for your commercial products:

1. Threads for Garments

Clothing is made using thread from a single type of fiber. Common examples include cotton, nylon, or polyester. Although combination-type threads, such as cotton/polyester, can be used in making clothing, the most common thread type is cotton.

As you may have guessed, the reason plain cotton is so frequently used is because it has many advantages. Most notably, it’s durable, flexible without being stretchy, and makes a tight seam because it can grab the fibers used in clothing efficiently.

2. Embroidery Threads

Embroidery threads have a subtle sheen and come in a variety of colors. They are thick and often made of multiple strands, allowing them to easily show up when used on the tops of various fabrics. Embroidery threads are not well suited for holding together seams, but look beautiful when used to embellish fabric with unique designs or to add logos.

3. Upholstery Thread

Stronger than the previous threads on this list, upholstery thread is most frequently used, as the name suggests, to upholster furniture. However, it works well with most heavy-weight fabrics or to hold together the seams in bags and totes. Jackets made of heavy canvas or twill fabrics are another potential application. Because it’s meant to endure outdoor conditions and frequent usage, upholstery threads are not suitable for light clothing and are heavier and more rigid than garment threads.

4. Metallic Threads

If you want to add a bit of shine and glimmer to a product, metallic threads are an eye-catching choice. They come in many colors and tend to have a similar appearance to tinsel in terms of rigidity and texture but with the thickness and applicability of a garment thread.

They are probably the most delicate and difficult to work with of all the threads on this list, because of how easily they fray. In the hands of an experienced textile worker or professional tailor, however, they look beautiful and are most commonly used on trims, embellishments, and small sections of topstitching.

A quality thread will give your commercial product a professional and aesthetically pleasing look, regardless of what you’re designing or how it will be used. This list will hopefully give you some ideas on what type of thread would work best for your unique project, and what applications each type of thread is best used for. Do your research so you can find the ideal thread type for your specific commercial product.