Your Guide to Choosing Thread—Free PDF
Designed by Aileen Leitzke, written by Roxanne Nickolie—Nancy’s Notions Guest Bloggers
Choosing a new project to work on is relatively easy—a wave of inspiration will guide your way. Picking fabrics is similarly simple—strolling through aisles with bolts upon bolts of gorgeous prints, textures, and colors. When it comes to thread, however, things can get a little tricky. What’s the best thread for the job? How do you know which thread is best for your project? Which weight should you use for this project? And what does “mercerized” mean?
In case you didn’t know, Madeira thread is the primary thread Nancy uses on her show and in her personal sewing. Sewists around the world hold a preference for this thread because of its luster and strength. While the huge selection of Madeira thread can be great, sorting it all out can be a little daunting! So, we’ve compiled this reference for at-a-glance thread selection, customized for specific projects. Share it with your friends, print it as a reference, wrap your Christmas gifts in it! This will become your go-to guide to perfect stitching and happy projects.
To download the PDF simply click the image.
Need thread? Madeira is on sale for the month of October!
Thank you Aileen and Roxanne for this month’s guest blog.
Bye for now,
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Audrey White
Thank you for the thread guide. I have started my own alterations business from my home. This will speed up the process. I love your program and products
Diana Grindel
Thanks !! It helps to make sense of all the threads out there !
Teresa
Although the thread guide is helpful. The smiley faces are awful and I can’t even look at it for reference, it’s like a bad joke. Whomever put it together wanted focus on the stupid artwork, not the Guide itself, it is very unprofessional and comical. In order to print it, and place it in my sewing binder, I will have to use a grey scale print, which creates a page that is not quite clear and filled with primarily smiley faces, not useful information that I can clearly see. If I printed it in color, it would use up ALL my printer ink. What a waste of useful information that could of had a much better presentation.
Shea
What a handy chart! I used Madeira thread for machine embroidering but didn’t know about their other kinds. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Mildred Harris
Thank you for this chart. I am finding I can no longer pick up a spool of thread and start sewing! I will be keeping this chart with my machine and hand sewing!
Teresa
Although the thread guide is helpful. The smiley faces are awful and I can’t even look at it for reference, it’s like a bad joke. Whomever put it together wanted focus on the stupid artwork, not the Guide itself, it is very unprofessional and comical. In order to print it, and place it in my sewing binder, I will have to use a grey scale print, which creates a page that is not quite clear and filled with primarily smiley faces, not useful information that I can clearly see. If I printed it in color, it would use up ALL my printer ink. What a waste of useful information that could of had a much better presentation. – See more at: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/sewing-2/your-guide-to-choosing-thread-free-pdf/#sthash.NLZQXmz3.dpuf
Teresa
wow, my comment has not been approved because it was a negative review. that’s not right.
Nancy Zieman
Teresa, most of our comments must be manually okayed. Due to a significant number of spam emails, the filter on our web site is set to a sensitive mode.We check the comments three to four times per day. It is our policy to approve all comments whether positive or not. Thank you for your opinion. It helps us for future blogs.
Dolores Verwoewrt
Thank You, for the needed thread dictionary. I remember when you started your program and have been a faithful viewer since and got my Mother viewing also. I use your top of the line products with much satisfaction. Now I have found your programs on my computer bye bye DVR, sewing world is better than ever. Thank You for making your projects so understandable and sharing your tips. Dee Verwoert 9-30-2014
Connie
Thank you for the information and the handy chart. My sewing needs look for a very durable and strong thread for my projects, and also a thread that is decorative and colorful enhancing my projects. The chart is a great help to bring with me when selecting threads at my local fabric stores.
Ellen
I thought your presentation for the different threads was very clever. I have printed a copy for future reference. Although Teresa did not care for it; we all know not everything appeals to all. Love your site. Keep up the good work. Blessings!!!!!!!!!
Sue
I love the chart! It would be great for a classroom. I could see Teresa’s issue and perhaps making a chart with just the text info would be helpful since the very creative “Thread People” can be a little distracting and all the color makes the print hard to read. I downloaded it to my iPad and can zoom into the thread type I want to read so it works for me. Thanks for your creative inspiration!
Jan Simpson
Any way you can skip the picture and put this info in a worded page? I don’t need the pictures. When I tried to print this, I got only part of the top of the page. I would have to print out many pages to get the whole thing.That way I can take it with me when I shop. I will keep the colorful page in my email files. Thx
Cindy
Thank you for breaking down the threads in the Madeira line. This will help me sort out my huge selection of threads and leave me with no more going over all the different spools before I start a project. I like to keep info next to the source-and my only con with this great idea is that a regular copy-sized printout on two pages vs. breaking up the categories from the fantastic work the girls have done when putting this guide together would have been ideal. Thanks for all you do to keep us organized Nancy and Team!
P.S. I am all for brightening up life with the artwork. Kudos!
Karen Grant
Thank you for the Madeira Thread Chart. In the past I have found thread weights confusing now with this handy chart it will no longer be a problem. This is good education for me and I appreciate you Nancy!
cheryl
I agree with other responders who would like to have the text information without the cartoons. Thread has always been a mystery to me. Thanks for sharing . . .
Karen Christensen
I personally like the chart. The bright colors will help it stand out in my studio. For those having problems printing, choose fit to page on your print preferences and it will print on one page. Thanks, Nancy and staff, for all of your helpful hints and informative shows and classes.
Linda Bridges
thanks for the chart. would like to see a project using the smocking thread. Is it on your website somewhere that I have missed?
Nancy Zieman
Linda, I don’t believe we have a project sheet for the stocking thread. It is something to think about!
Debbie
Thank you for the handy thread guide, It is a fun and useful item to have.
Erin M
Thank you very much for sharing this thread chart. We are always in need of guidance when choosing fabric types, threads, stabilizers, etc. I have been using Madeira threads for many years, primarily in machine embroidery. Thanks again!
Eener
Oh my gosh. I am absolutely a rookie seamstress and this chart is absolutely right on for me. It targets one of the things I find very confusing. Thank you so much.
Now – can you help me with a chart on needles? It seems there are so many sizes out there and I am never sure what the difference is..
Again thanks so much for the beautiful chart. I love the art and the script! It motivates me to get sewing!