Yes, polyester thread is excellent for most sewing, acting as a versatile, all-purpose choice due to its strength, durability, elasticity, and resistance to shrinking, fading, and abrasion, making it perfect for garment construction, home décor, quilting, and outdoor items. It's strong enough for heavy use but can also be spun fine for delicate fabrics, offering superior performance for a wide range of projects.
Understanding Thread Types and Weight
Cotton thread also produces some lint while sewing, while polyester thread does not. In general, cotton thread is great for piecing, while polyester is better used for quilting. Cotton will also shrink, while polyester will not.
The main cons of 100% polyester are its poor breathability (trapping heat and sweat), tendency to build up static electricity, retention of odors, and negative environmental impact (microplastic pollution, reliance on fossil fuels). It can also feel less natural and soft than natural fibers, potentially causing skin irritation for some, and it doesn't absorb moisture well, making it feel damp during heavy sweating.
It is strong and durable so can be used on projects that will receive a great deal of wear and tear. It is generally available in the largest colour range. I personally work with Gutermann Sew All 100% Polyester thread for the majority of projects.
Polyester, compared to cotton, is more durable, but cotton is more skin-friendly.
It depends on your needs. Cotton fabric is soft, breathable, and ideal for sensitive skin, while polyester fibers are durable, wrinkle-resistant, and dry quickly. For performance and low maintenance care, polyester clothing is a strong choice. For comfort and a natural feel, cotton wins.
A 60/40 blend could be your sweet spot. Think about the weather too. Higher cotton blends breathe better in heat. Higher polyester ones wick moisture and dry fast, which is nice for activewear or cooler days.
At its core, polyester is a material derived from fossil fuels, making it incredibly unsustainable and harmful. Not only does polyester require fossil fuels in its direct production, but the factories where it is made contaminate the local air with pollutants and emit greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
Whether you need a general all-purpose sewing thread or a more specialized sewing thread, there's a Gutermann Thread for you. For all-purpose sewing, try our best-selling Gutermann Mara, a 100% Polyester Thread suitable for most fabrics and general sewing purposes.
Polyester thread is smooth, strong, absolutely regular, and requires no special skills. It works in all home sewing machines. Also, it holds up to years of wearing and washing without shrinking. You can sew any kind of fabric with polyester thread, including silk.
Polyester is neither hypoallergenic nor breathable, meaning it can contribute to a whole host of skin problems. So while fabric breathability properties may not necessarily impact whether polyester is toxic, it does present a health issue.
Polyester is synthetic, not breathable, repels water, and isn't sustainable.
The unhealthiest fabrics to wear are often synthetics like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex, due to petroleum origins, toxic chemical processing (like antimony or formaldehyde), and potential for releasing microplastics or causing skin irritation from poor breathability. Semi-synthetics like conventional rayon/viscose are also problematic due to harsh chemicals, while conventional cotton uses heavy pesticides.
High Tensile Strength: Polyester thread is less likely to break under tension, making it ideal for projects that require strong seams.
Kevlar Thread. Kevlar(TM) thread is one of the strongest and most fire retardant commercially available threads. It is about 2.5 times stronger than nylon or polyester, has almost no stretch, does not melt, and decomposes at 800F.
In this case, the 40 wt thread is slightly thicker (heavier) than the 50 wt thread. Note bene: you can tell at a glance which weight you're grabbing from your collection: 40 wt is always on a green spool while 50 wt is always on an orange one.
In conclusion, the 90/10 cotton-polyester blend offers an ideal combination of comfort, durability, and versatility. Whether for clothing, workwear, activewear, or home textiles, this blend provides exceptional performance and easy maintenance.
Gütermann Sew-all Thread is a universal sewing thread made from 100% polyester and Oeko-Tex Certified nontoxic.
If there is no label, you can tell by burning the thread in a safe, well ventilated area. Nylon thread (left) burns cleanly and leaves a gray ash. Polyester thread (right) burns brighter, has a foul odor that should not be breathed, and leaves a gooey plastic-like ball.
The main cons of 100% polyester are its poor breathability (trapping heat and sweat), tendency to build up static electricity, retention of odors, and negative environmental impact (microplastic pollution, reliance on fossil fuels). It can also feel less natural and soft than natural fibers, potentially causing skin irritation for some, and it doesn't absorb moisture well, making it feel damp during heavy sweating.
Polyester is classed as a 'primary microplastic' due to the rate at which it sheds microfibres when worn, touched or washed.
Because polyester is cheap, scalable, durable, and incredibly versatile—it outperforms natural fibers in cost efficiency, wrinkle resistance, drying time, and blend compatibility. These advantages make it the most widely adopted textile solution for both budget-conscious brands and performance-driven fashion.
50/50 blends are ideal for indoor situations which may call for extra durability, longevity or unusually high amounts of laundering. The 50/50 blend is also less likely to shrink/wrinkle than 100% cotton and feels lighter on the wearer.
This one may seem obvious, but always separate dark colored clothes from lightly colored and white garments. "Dark colored clothes should be washed together to prevent darkening lighter colors in the wash," says LaLonde. "Purple, blue, brown, and black fabrics can typically be grouped together."
Yes. An 80% cotton and 20% polyester blend is an excellent fabric for apparel. It combines the breathable softness of cotton with the durability and wrinkle resistance of polyester. The high 80% proportion of cotton lends breathability, softness and airflow when woven into fabrics.