Show Us Your Stash - Thread!

The ladies at Sew Mama Sew are doing a great giveaway with some of the brand new Amy Butler and Kaffe Fassett threads. The four collections are hand picked by the designers to coordinate with their fabric collections, which provide high quality threads that really take some of the "guess work" out of finding that perfect thread.

Image: Sew Mama Sew

They would like to see personal thread collections and know a little about what influences decisions when choosing and purchasing threads, so I thought that I would share mine. I can't say that my collection is anything out of the ordinary, but it's not hard to tell that color is where my heart is...

How did you select colors for your personal thread collection?
It seems as if I tend to lean towards jewel tones, so I end up having a lot of pinks, purples, greens, and blues, but I do love having a strong accent of orange to make things pop.

Do you always match the color perfectly to your project?
Sometimes, but not always. I believe that when a color is a slight shade lighter or a shade darker it can add some fabulous interest and contrast. I have never been a matchy-matchy kind of girl.

Do you ever use contrasting thread?
Absolutely! Just because it is thread doesn't mean that it can't make a strong statement too. A contrasting thread can add so much to a design.

Do you use the same color in the bobbin as the upper thread?
It depends on the project. If the stitches on the back don't show then I use white thread with a color on the top so as to not use up all my color thread. I often use different color threads for the bobbin and upper thread when I am sewing purses because I like to use a contrasting color lining rather than matching the exterior fabric.

What if a fabric has big areas of very different colors?
I usually pick the color that comes across the strongest... squinting your eyes can really help.

Do you have any tips or suggestions about choosing thread?
Don't waste time running from store to store to fine the EXACT match. You will often never find it. As long as it is in the same color family, you would be surprised what can work.

Do you ever buy thread because you fall in love with the color (without a particular project in mind)?
I actually buy all kinds of things with no particular project in mind. Sometimes I might sit on it for a year and then suddenly it jumps out almost as if to say... "this is the project I was made for!"

Do you “invest” in thread?
I'm not sure if avoiding cheap thread would be considered "investing", but I do like to sew with a good quality thread.

What types of thread do you have? (elastic, quilting, all-purpose, wool, etc.)
Mostly all purpose, but I do have a few multi-colored and metallic threads that I like to use as accent and decorative threads. I do have a few "vintage" threads that I inherited from my mom's stash of threads. I like seeing the worn labels and I find it hard to use up that last little bit... it's so hard letting go.

For some reason, I've held onto a few of my "finished" spools of thread. I guess it is because I feel a certain sense of accomplishment having actually made that many stitches. Don't worry Mom, they'll make it to the trash can one day!

Do you collect thread too?