How to Choose Your Overlocking Thread

How to Choose Your Overlocking Thread
When it comes to achieving professional-looking seams, your choice of overlocking thread is just as important as the overlocker itself. While many sewers focus on fabric, needles, and machine settings, the thread you use can have a significant impact on stitch quality, machine performance, and the durability of your finished project.
Why Thread Quality Matters
An overlocker operates at high speeds and uses multiple threads simultaneously to create strong, flexible seams. Poor-quality thread can lead to frequent thread breaks, tension issues, excessive lint build-up, and uneven stitching. Choosing a quality thread helps ensure smooth operation and consistent results.
What to Look for in an Overlocking Thread
Consistent Thickness
A quality overlocking thread should have a uniform thickness throughout the spool. Inconsistent thread can cause tension fluctuations, skipped stitches, and uneven seam appearance.
Reliable Tension Performance
Good thread maintains consistent tension as it feeds through the machine. This helps produce balanced stitches and reduces the need for constant tension adjustments.
Strength Without Bulk
The best overlocking threads are fine enough to create smooth, neat seams while remaining strong enough to withstand everyday wear and washing. A strong thread reduces the risk of seam failure and thread breakage during sewing.
Smooth Running
Quality thread should feed smoothly through guides, tension discs, and loopers. Smooth-running thread helps your overlocker perform efficiently, even at high speeds.
Low Lint Production
Excessive lint can accumulate inside your machine, leading to maintenance issues and reduced performance. High-quality threads produce less lint and help keep your overlocker cleaner.
Colourfastness
Choose thread that retains its colour after repeated washing and exposure to light. Colourfast thread helps maintain a professional finish throughout the life of the garment.
Shrink Resistance
A good polyester overlocking thread will resist shrinkage, helping seams remain smooth and stable after laundering.
Choosing the Right Thread for Your Fabric
Different fabrics have different requirements:
Woven Fabrics: Require a strong, reliable thread that produces neat, durable seams.
Knits and Stretch Fabrics: Benefit from smooth thread that allows the seam to stretch without breaking.
Dressmaking: Calls for fine, consistent thread that creates professional-looking finishes.
Patchwork and Craft Projects: Need dependable thread that performs well across various fabric weights.
Understanding Thread Size
Thread size affects seam appearance, strength, and bulk. For many general-purpose overlocking applications, a quality spun polyester thread such as 45/3 (Tex 120) provides an excellent balance of strength, consistency, and performance.
Why Polyester is the Preferred Choice
High-quality spun polyester thread offers several advantages:
Excellent strength
Consistent stitch formation
Colourfast performance
Shrink resistance
Smooth machine operation
Suitable for a wide variety of fabrics and sewing projects
The Tailors Choice Difference
Tailors Choice Overlocker Thread is manufactured from high-quality spun polyester and is designed to deliver professional results every time. With consistent thickness, reliable tension performance, exceptional strength, colourfast properties, and smooth feeding characteristics, it provides the confidence and assurance needed for trouble-free overlocking.
If your current overlocking thread isn't delivering the performance you expect, it may be time to experience the Tailors Choice difference. Quality thread doesn't just improve your sewing, it improves your confidence in every stitch.
Tailors Choice Thread works well with all the following brands
Tailors Choice Overlocker Thread is suitable for use in most domestic overlockers, including Brother, Janome, Elna, Bernina, Bernette, Baby Lock, Singer, Juki, Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff, Toyota, Riccar, New Home, Silver, and Sewmate machines. Its smooth feeding characteristics and consistent performance make it an ideal choice for a wide range of sewing applications.

Addi
Adjustoform
Amanda Murphy Design
Arbee
Batik Australia
Bernette
Bernina
Birch
Bohin
Bowtique
Boye
Brother
Camelot Fabric
Carioca
Celebrate
Classic Knit
Clover
COSMO
Country Threads by Fiona Jude
Craft for Kids by BMS
Create Handmade
DARUMA
Daylight Lamps
Deborah Louie
Derwent
Diamond Dotz
Dimensions Needlecraft
Disney
DMC
Elna
Fiskars
Grace Company
Gutermann
Habee Savers
Handi Quilter
Heirloom
Helmar
Hemline
Hobbysew
Horn
Husqvarna
Janome
Juki
Kaffe Fassett
Kennard & Kennard
Ladybird Designs
Madeira
MAKE IT
Mary Ellen
McCall's
Moda
Mont Marte
Newey
Nurge
OESD
Olfa
Oliso
OttLite
Papercraft
Pieced Tree Patterns
Pony
Presencia
QA
Rasant
Riley Blake Designs
Rit
Robert Kaufman
Roxanne
Ruby Star Society
Sakura
Sashiko
Schmetz
SevenBerry
Sew Easy
Sew Tasty
Sewline
Singer
Sullivans
Superior Threads
Tailormade
Tailors Choice
TeeBond
Thermoweb
Tilda
Trimits
Triple S
Triumph
TrueCut
Tsukineko
Tula Pink
Uni-Trim
Vilene
Vliesofix
Yarn Valet
YKK
Zweigart