Question 1

What thread weight should I buy for general sewing?

Accepted Answer

For most garment and home sewing, choose a 40-50 wt all-purpose polyester or cotton-wrapped poly spool — it handles seams on cotton, linen, and blends without bulk. Quilters piece with 50 wt long-staple cotton and topstitch with 40 wt. Remember the scale runs backward: a higher number is a finer thread, so 60 wt is delicate and 30 wt is heavy. A standard spool of 110-300 yards usually costs $3-$9.

Question 2

What is the difference between a spool and a cone?

Accepted Answer

Both hold wound thread, but the format suits different jobs. Small spools (110-300 yards) sit upright on a sewing machine pin and suit everyday sewing and mending. Cones hold 1,000-3,000 yards and feed off the top, made for sergers, coverstitch machines, and high-volume production where you burn through thread fast. Buy spools for a domestic machine, cones at $5-$15 each for serging.

Question 3

Cotton or polyester thread — which is better?

Accepted Answer

Polyester thread has slight stretch and strength, so it suits knits, activewear, and anything that flexes; it resists rot and holds color outdoors. Cotton thread is matte, has no give, and presses flat, which quilters and heirloom sewists prefer for piecing and patchwork. Cotton-wrapped polyester splits the difference for all-purpose use. Match the fiber roughly to your fabric: natural with natural, synthetic with stretch.

Question 4

How much thread is on a spool, and how many do I need?

Accepted Answer

Small spools commonly hold 110, 220, or 300 yards; larger cones run 1,000-3,000 yards. A simple garment uses 100-200 yards, so one 300-yard spool finishes most projects. Sergers thread four cones at once and chew through yardage, so cones are far more economical there. Buy two spools of any color you sew heavily — running out mid-seam is the usual regret.

Question 5

Can I use empty wooden spools for crafts and decor?

Accepted Answer

Yes — empty and vintage wooden spools are a popular craft supply for ornaments, garlands, jewelry, pincushion bases, ribbon organizers, and farmhouse-style displays. Independent makers sell new turned-wood spools in graduated sizes and reclaimed antique reels with faded labels. Expect roughly $1-$3 each for plain new spools and $4-$12 for vintage or hand-stamped ones. Look for the listed height and bore diameter if you plan to thread cord or wire through them.

Question 6

What spool thread do I need for machine embroidery?

Accepted Answer

Machine embroidery uses 40 wt rayon or polyester thread for its sheen and smooth feed, wound on spools or mini-cones of 500-1,100 yards. Polyester embroidery thread is colorfast and bleach-tolerant for kids' and kitchen items; rayon gives a softer, glossier finish. Pair it with a 60 wt bobbin thread so stitches lie flat. Specialty metallic, glow-in-the-dark, and variegated embroidery spools run $8-$20 and ship in 3-7 business days from most makers.

Thread Spools: Cotton, Poly & Wooden Reels

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