Monofilament threads have come a long way. Invisible threads sold today are thin, soft, and will blend splendidly into the fabric colors of your quilt top. They are your best option when you don’t want thread to show on your quilt. When it comes to stitching in the ditch monofilament threads are a great choice because they won’t draw the eye to mistakes if you stitches slip out of the lines. Additionally, they are a fantastic way to give dimension to your applique when used around the outline of your design.
Monofilament threads because they are hard to see should be avoided on baby quilts. If by chance your stitches come loose they could wrap around babies fingers and toes and cut off circulation.
Monofilament thread comes in two types of fiber:
Nylon Monofilament
PROS – Nylon thread is incredibly thin and therefore does not catch the light and can be an attractive choice for quilters who want to sculpt around applique because it won’t draw the eye to the stitching and take away from your design. The nylon thread I like the most is Wonder in either clear or smoke.
CONS – Caution should be exercised to keep quilts that use this type of thread from exposure to an iron or other heat sources because of the low melting point of nylon. You should shield quilts with nylon thread from the sun because as the quilt ages the thread can yellow and become brittle.
Polyester Monofilament
PROS – Polyester thread is the most durable thread available and will stand up well to years of being thrown in the dryer or air drying in the sun. Like nylon, polyester monofilament comes in smoke or clear. Smoke is best suited for dark fabric, and you should use clear if your fabric colors are light. My choice when using polyester monofilament is MonoPoly with the advantage that you can also get prewound bobbins.
CONS – Polyester thread tends to catch the light more, so it is not the best choice if you want the most invisible stitches possible
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