Use upholstery thread for topstitching (2951 Views)

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When I was making my first pair of jeans, I had some massive troubles in the beginning with my topstitching thread. Who would've thought that Gutterman's Topstitching Thread is actually not suited for topstitching? After 45 minutes of thread snarls, tears, and a whole lotta swearing, I went online and discovered that everyone else has the same problem with their topstitching thread being too thick for home machines, and that Gutterman's Upholstery Thread (aka "Extra Strong", in the light grey spool) is much better suited to machine topstitching. So I bought some, and I was then able to continue on with no further problems.

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VioletbyWil Ï Posted 15 April 2008 at 12:55 PM

After a lot of early battles I have begun to have pretty consistent success using the Gutermann top-stitching thread. I haven't been able to find the extra strong and Coats & Clark "heavy" thread doesn't look right to me, not thick enough.

I use regular thread in the bobbin And Gutermann top-stitching thread in the top. I use Schmetz size 90/14 Microtex Sharp needles, they tend to give straighter lines. I take my stitch length out almost to a basting length, this makes not so straight stitching a lot less obvious. And I increase my top tension to about 3/4 as far as my machine will go to. To secure the threads I pull the bobbin thread ends from the wrong side to bring my top thread tail through to the wrong side then tie the two off.

Hope this helps
EmilyKate Ï Posted 8 May 2008 at 1:34 AM
very pleased with the Janome.

I'll have to try this- the Gutermann topstitching thread seems just that little bit too thick, it sits on top of the fabric rather than forming a lockstitch in the middle of the fabric so it never looks quite right- it pulls the bobbim thread up onto the top too.