You need to have the right materials when quilting, and you need to be able to trust the materials you are using. One of these materials used when quilting is invisible thread. It is used for quilting tops that have a wide range of colors, textures, and visuals.
Invisible threading helps to camouflage quilting stitches and works to create texture from quilting itself, all using the same spool. However, you need to ensure you use a good quality invisible thread for quilting.
Which is the best invisible thread for quilting? The best invisible thread to use for quilting is Singer Invisible Nylon Thread. Singer is a trusted name in the sewing and quilting market, and the nylon thread is high strength while being low on stretch, making it a good option for both hand and machine quilting.
There are some other good options to choose from when it comes to an invisible thread for quilting, so we have rounded them all up to help you decide!
What Is Invisible Thread?
Invisible thread is also known as monofilament. A while back, it had a bad reputation among quilters and sewers as it was similar to fishing line, stiff and wiry, and wreaked havoc with the tension on sewing machines. The ends of the threads were also quite prickly and would irritate sensitive skin.
However, today, there are some incredible monofilament threads available, which are softer, and lighter, with some the same size as a human hair.
The newer versions of invisible thread are a pleasure to work with and do turn stitches invisible, matching all the colors on your quilt together without having to attempt to match a wide range of colors.
How To Choose A Quality Thread
Choosing a quality thread ensures that your quilting project will hold together well and that you have a stress-free quilting experience.
Here are some tips on how to choose a quality invisible thread:
- Choose brand names when shopping online. The above-listed brand names are all trusted in the quilting community, and you know you will be purchasing a quality thread with years of experience in its creation.
- Quality invisible threads should be very fine, around 0.04mm, unless you are wanting to use the thread for a hardier project.
- The thread should feel soft and pliable, almost like a strand of your hair. Soft and clear threads work to create quilting stitches that blend into the quilt top.
- The thread should break easily when needed. You don’t want a thread that has the potential to cut into the fibers at the top of your quilt, so it should not feel like a fishing line.
Nylon Vs Polyester
The range of invisible threads include nylon and polyester, and these are the two most common threads you will come across. There is an argument for either side of both, and it does come down to personal choice and ease of use when using the invisible thread.
Polyester – Even though it’s not as heat-sensitive as nylon is, the thread will not turn yellow or become brittle.
Nylon – Feels softer than polyester, less visible on quilts, and is easy to use in the sewing machine.
Clear Vs Smoked Colored Thread
You will notice that you can use either clear or smoke color or tinted invisible thread.
For most quilting purposes, a clear invisible thread is suitable and will serve its purpose well. However, if your quilt includes quite a lot of toned colors or faded fabrics, you should try to use both the smoke and clear and decide which one is least visible in your quilt.
If you can, have both a clear and smoke-tinted invisible thread on hand, and use a sample of your quilt’s fabric with a stitch of either color to see which one is less visible.
The Best Invisible Thread for Quilting
Below are our recommended invisible threads for quilting.
| Product | Review | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Singer 260 Clear Invisible Nylon Thread | High-strength, low-stretch, great for multi-colored fabrics |
| 2. | Sulky Premium Invisible Thread | Pliable and useful for machine quilting |
| 3. | Coats & Clark Transparent Polyester Thread | The most invisible thread on our list |
| 4. | WonderFil Speciality Thread InvisaFil | Surprisingly strong and low stretch, almost silk-like |
| 5. | Sulky of America Invisible Thread | Easy to use, doesn't fray or shrink, a good choice for any project |
| 6. | Chengyida Clear Nylon Sewing Thread | Best for heavy materials, looks more white than clear |
| 7. | Aurifil Invisible Monofilament Thread | Super smooth, great for hand stitching |
1. Singer 260 Clear Invisible Nylon Thread
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Singer is a trusted name between sewers and quilters alike, so there is no doubt that their nylon thread would be one of the best available.
Each spool of the Singer Nylon Thread has 135 yards of clear thread that can be used for machine quilting, as well as crafting, home decoration, and even for making jewelry.
The clear thread is great to use for multi-colored fabrics, or for colors that are hard to match and leaves no obvious traces of stitching once done.
Being high-strength and low-stretch, the clear nylon thread is reliable to use on your most hard-wearing projects.
2. Sulky Premium Invisible Thread
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Sulky has this premium invisible thread on offer in a darker color, but it is available in either clear or smoke.
With 440 yards of the invisible thread, the spool will last for quite some time. The thread itself is very fine, measuring 0.004mm, and is made from 100% polyester.
Even though it is a fine thread, it is strong, and still soft and smooth. It is perfectly pliable and easy to work with and offers invisible results when used for machine quilting.
3. Coats & Clark Transparent Polyester Thread
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This 3-pack set of transparent thread from Coats & Clark is a great option to use for machine quilting.
The transparent thread is made from 100% polyester and was designed for the sole purpose of invisible stitching.
It can be used in many different applications, such as machine quilting, home décor, and some crafting.
The thread size is 0.004mm, and the spool length measures 400 yards, which is a substantial amount.
All the threads in the 3 pack bundle come from the same dye lot, so there will be no variation if you need to change the spool while quilting.
4. WonderFil Speciality Thread InvisaFil
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This fine specialty thread is the finest thread from WonderFil, it is a silk-like, 100wt, 2-ply cottonized polyester.
The thread allows your stitches to be invisible, as the ultra-fine thread creates super low bulk stitches that virtually disappear.
While the thread is super fine, it is surprisingly strong and has negligible stretch, due to its cotton-like structure.
There are different colors to choose from in the range, but the stitches are virtually invisible when the clear or silk white is used.
5. Sulky of America Invisible Thread
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The 0.004mm thread from Sulky is great for hand and machine sewing for quilting, as it does not fuzz, fray, or shrink.
The smart spools are great for most projects, but there are also larger spools for projects with more colors and work.
It can be used on a quilt with different colors from front to back, with no visible stitching to be seen anywhere.
It is really easy to use and makes the stitching part of quilting projects really quite enjoyable!
6. Chengyida Clear Nylon Sewing Thread
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The clear nylon sewing thread from Chengyida is suitable for both machine quilting and invisible machine applique. It is made from 100% nylon monofilament and is a clear white thread.
Each spool has a 4380-yard length, which is a good amount for extended sewing and quilting.
It is suitable to be used on heavy material, as it has a 0.1mm size. It is both thin and strong and is a reliable invisible thread to use for many different applications at home.
7. Aurifil Invisible Monofilament Thread
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The Aurifil Invisible Monofilament Thread is one of the best choices for absolutely invisible stitching. It was designed to be used when choosing the right thread color becomes challenging.
The invisible thread can be used as a top thread for quilting applications such as stitch-in-the-ditch, outlining, invisible machine applique, shaping, outlining and many more.
Art quilters will really enjoy and appreciate the camouflage effect the invisible thread offers, and the smoothness of the thread also means it can be used for needle turn applique or joining parts of open seams that need some hand stitching.
Related Questions
Does invisible thread melt?
Invisible thread does not melt. The melting point for monofilament thread is higher than fabric, so your thread will only melt if your fabric is already scorched.
Which thread is used for quilting?
The most common, and the best thread, for quilting is a 40-weight cotton thread. The 40-weight cotton thread is heavier than the 50-weight cotton thread which is finer, so it allows for the stitches to show up easily on the quilt.
However, if you are using fabric with different tones or colors, you should look into using invisible thread to hide the stitches and to prevent you from changing your thread often.
The Best Invisible Thread
Choosing the right invisible thread is your best bet to hiding stitches on a colorful or toned quilt, as well as helping you quilt with ease, not having to worry about fraying, fuzzing or breaking thread.
Above are the 7 best invisible threads to use for quilting, and all are great options to use to hide stitches without having to worry about changing colors often throughout the quilting process.
Invisible thread has come a long way from its previous bad reputation, and now the right thread can be a pleasure to work with!
Up Next: The Best Transparent Thread For Sewing Machines.
