If the topstitch thread color you need isn’t available, extra strong thread can be used as topstitch thread. General purpose threads are usually polyester, but polyester takes many forms. This thread is manufactured differently to have a smooth, shiny finish to be used for decorative applications. Photo credit: Kat Waters When should I use it? Silk is a beautiful option for special projects, and is particularly prized for hand sewing and embroidery because of its smooth texture, lustrous sheen, and ability to take on gorgeous, vibrant colors. Although you can sew with silk thread in your machine, it’s most frequently used in hand sewing. Photo credit: Kat Waters When should I use it?

If the form is not as pliable, like it might be if you’re using a dense foam, set the free end of the pillow on the edge of a table and push down on the top of the pillow to allow it to accordion against the flat surface of the table.Hand sewn buttonholes and machine sewn buttonholes both serve the same purpose, but they differ quite a bit in how they are done and how they look. When using a sewing machine to sew a buttonhole, you sew the buttonhole stitches on the fabric first, and then make a cut in the middle of the frame you’ve created. The tight zigzag stitches that make up the buttonhole prevent the fraying that occurs at the cut edge from traveling too far into the rest of your fabric. In contrast, when you’re hand sewing a buttonhole, you make the cut that will form your buttonhole first, and embroider stitches around it. As you’re wrapping the thread around the cut edge, the raw edges are completely enclosed within your stitching. This makes for a sturdier and more finished looking end product.

Do you know of other efficient ways on how to sew a button? Share yours in the comments section below! There are two techniques you can use to prepare the area where the buttonhole will go before you move on to the actual buttonhole stitching. One of them involves sewing a tiny rectangular frame around the hole (or around your markings before you’ve cut into the fabric) by hand or by using your sewing machine, about 2-33 mm (⅛”) away from the center line. The other involves overcasting the cut edges by hand to keep all the layers together and minimize the fraying of the materials. A thin, sharp needle in a small size will work for most fabrics and projects. I’d recommend starting with a size 8 Sharps hand sewing needle.If you’re interested in natural fibers, it can be tempting to choose cotton instead of polyester thread for a sewing project, but cotton is not as strong as polyester, and lighter weights won’t stand up to the stress of wear over time. If your project isn’t going to be under stress, it’s a perfect natural option. Photo credit: Kat Waters When should I use it? Wooly nylon is a multifilament thread – it’s made of multiple thin threads held together. The threads are crimped so they expand and contract, providing elasticity, softness and seam coverage. Photo credit: Kat Waters When should I use it? A double-button bolster is a classic decorator pillow, but many people avoid the look because they can’t figure out how to get the tufted effect to work on something so long. The process for tufting a bolster isn’t vastly different than either of the techniques shown above. The key is to use an extra long needle and work that needle through the pillow slowly and carefully. Dritz® has us covered with the extra long needles! This specialty thread is purpose-made for denim projects. It’s a special construction with a polyester core for strength, wrapped in a cotton sheath that has been dyed in tonal shades of blue so that it blends in with denim fabric. When should I use it? This thread isn’t designed to be permanent. It shouldn’t be used for construction, as it’s designed to break easily to make removing basting stitches more efficient.