Here at Calico Laine, we sell a large number of cotton reels from different brands, and often we are asked for advice on which is the best to use for projects that our customers are working on. In this blog update we’ll discuss our different cotton reels, and hopefully give you a better idea of which one is right for you. Sandelon Threads – We recommend our Sandelon threads for small projects, hand-sewing and lightweight fabrics. Each reel contains 100 metres of thread. Extra Strong Overlocking Threads – These threads come in reels of 500 metres, and we recommend them for heavy-duty projects such as tents, carpets and working with leather. Not recommended for lightweight fabrics such as our cationic chiffon, chiffon and georgette. Gold Rush Decorative Threads – A thicker thread, these are best for hand embroidery. They are perfect for adding a little sparkle to a project, such as a cushion cover, a bag or a child’s dress. Gutermann All Cotton Threads – Made specifically for sewing 100% cotton fabrics, we recommend these threads for our craft cottons and cotton plains. Like other Gutermann-brand reels, they are available in a number of colours and sizes Gutermann Hand Quilting Threads – If you’re making a quilt by hand, these reels contain the right thread for your project. They are sturdy enough to use for hand-sewing, and contain 200 metres of thread per reel. Gutermann Sulky Threads – These come in several different kinds and sizes, but all are good to use for small embroidery patterns, both by hand and by machine. Not recommended for dressmaking. Gutermann Sew-All Threads – Perhaps our most popular type of thread, these reels are almost always what we recommend for our customers. Available in a whole host of colours and sizes, they are fantastic to use and readily available in our store. Gutermann Top Stitch Threads – A thicker version of the Sew-All thread, these are what we recommend for sewing on buttons, or for projects where a stronger thread is required (for example, when using heavy-duty fabrics such as our furnishing fabrics). These threads cannot be broken by hand. Moon Threads – A general all-purpose thread, these come in reels of 1000 metres and are great to use for any dressmaking project. We also sell Moon Overlocking Threads, which contain the same thread as our smaller reels but contain 5000 metres instead. Overlocking Threads – These are what we usually recommend for our customers who use overlocking machines or those that require much more thread than what is on a regular reel. These are good for dressmaking and each contain 5000 yards. As you can see we offer a wide and varied range of different Threads. Don’t forget to share your photographs of your projects on our Facebook page and Twitter pages, Until next time, Calico Laine