Thread Types

Cotton
Cotton threads are made from twisting the fine staples (fibers) from a cotton bowl to create
a thread. There are many degrees of cotton quality. Superior's cotton threads are made
from Egytpitan-grown extra-long-staple cotton fibers. The advantages of cotton threads
are: its strength, medium sheen, and the natural fibers help grab the fabric to create a tight
seam. The disadvantages of cotton threads are: difficult to tell low-quality from high-
quality (purchasing thread from a reputable company helps alleviate this risk), low-to-high
lint depending on the staple length and processing, and quality cotton threads can be more
expensive.

Corespun Polyester (also called poly-wrapped poly core)

Filament Polyester
Filament polyester threads are made from long, thin strands of polyester fibers that are
twisted together. The advantages of filament polyester threads are: excellent elongation
(the fibers can stretch and recover), smooth presence with no lint and can be finished as a
thick or thin thread. The disadvantages of filament polyester threads are: not as strong as
corespun (when comparing the same size of thread) and finer filament threads may require
tension adjustments.

Monofilament Polyester
Monofilament polyester threads are a single strand of polyester fiber, similar to fishing line.
The advantages of monofilament polyester threads are: it's usually a very fine thread that
blends very well and can be ironed on medium heat. The disadvantages of monofilament
polyester threads are: tension adjustments are usually required when quilting.

Spun Polyester
Spun polyester threads are made from the twisting of small polyester staple fibers together
to create a long thread (very similar to how cotton threads are created from cotton
staples). The advantages of spun polyester threads are: spun polyester threads are less
expensive to produce and are usually priced lower than any other type of polyester thread.
The disadvantages of spun polyester threads are: moderate-to-high levels of lint when
sewing and not as strong as filament or corespun polyester threads.

Rayon
Rayon is created by pressing cellulose acetate (usually made from wood pulp) through
small holes and solidifying it in the form of filaments (sound like fun!). The advantages of
rayon threads are: its high-sheen colors, its soft touch, and it's an inexpensive thread. The
disadvantages of rayon threads are: it's often not colorfast (the dye can bleed onto fabric
when exposed to strong detergent, UV light, or bleach), it's not as strong as trilobal
polyester, and the fiber itself is not as durable as polyester.

Nylon
Nylon threads are synthetic threads (polyester threads are synthetic as well) often used in
the form of a monofilament clear thread or as a textured fuzzy (woollie-like) thread. The
negatives far outweigh the positives of nylon. We do not recommend sewing or quilting
with nylon threads, as there are better versions for the same application in polyester
threads. The only type of Nylon thread we use and recommend is Bonded Nylon for
upholstery and heavy-duty sewing. Bonded Nylon is made from a different type of material
than nylon sewing thread. We don't use nylon for quilting or embroidery.

Metallic
Metallic threads are created from multiple layers of materials wrapped and twisted
together. The quality of metallic threads range from very high to very low. A good metallic
thread does not require a lubricant. Superior's metallic threads have a strong nylon core, a
thin layer of rice paper and a special outer coating that keeps the silver foil from rubbing
against the needle. The advantages of Superior's metallic thread is: beautiful sheen and
excellent stitch quality when embroidered, quilted, or sewn. The disadvantages of metallic
thread is: tension adjustments are required and stitching speed may need to be decreased.

Glitter or Mylar
Mylar threads are created by bonding thin layers of flat mylar material. The advantages of
Glitter thread is: holographic effect and can be embroidered, quilted, or sewn. The
disadvantages of Glitter thread is: tension adjustments are required and stitching speed
may need to be decreased.
Thread Processing
All sewing and quilting thread undergo some of the same processing, such as twisting,
lubricating, winding, etc. Cotton threads however, can have additional processing to
enhance the stitching experience.

Mercerized
Mercerization is the process of immersing the cotton fibers in a caustic solution which
causes the fibers to swell. This allows the dye to better penetrate the fibers and increases
the luster of the thread. Mercerizing also increases the strength of the cotton thread. Nearly
all cotton threads made for sewing all mercerized, whether the label states Mercerized or
not.

Gassed
Thread that has been gassed is smoother, has lower lint, and a brighter sheen. The thread is
passed through a flame at high speed to burn off the longest pieces of lint, resulting in a less
fuzzy thread. Gassing is also called silk finish or polished cotton. You can tell the difference
between a gassed and ungassed thread if you compare the amount of fuzz (lint) between
the two threads. Our King Tut and MasterPiece cotton threads are gassed and have very
low lint.

Glazed or Coated
Glazed thread is treated with a coat of wax, resin, or starch and then polished to create a
nice luster. The thread is very strong due to the glaze and is recommended for hand
quilting. Glazed cotton threads are not recommended for machine sewing or machine
quilting because the coating can rub off in the tension discs and contact points and collect
lint, fuzz, dust, and cause a buildup to obstruct the thread path.