Thread weights - am I just dense?
 

I am trying to learn about proper thread weight for the application, but I do not see where the brands advertise this. If 40 is regular, inexpensive thread, and 50 is finer, how do I know what I am buying when it doesn't say? And does not show on the spool end of any I have?

Can't help, looked all over for weight and couldn't find it. I don't know when they stopped putting that on the spool ends.

Some brands seem to have the weight listed at the end of the spool and others don't have it anywhere. From what I see on my spools.

A few good articles here with information that might help.

https://www.superiorthreads.com/reference-guides

What brand is the thread? Check the vendor web site for your threads. There may be info there too.

I don't agree about the correlation about weight and expense though. I use EMB poly thread (40 wt) all the time for piecing, bobbins and/or quilting.

when it comes to cotton thread i have yet to find 60 wt to be consistently more expensive than 50wt.

what seems really odd to me is that 40wt poly embroidery thread seems so much thinner than either 50wt or 60wt cotton thread. it must be my imagination, but it sure looks and feels that way. go figure.

Exactly my observations. Very frustrating sometimes! I recently bought thread just on my guess. I knew it was thinner than 40, but still don't know if it's 50 or 60 weight. I was wanting a 50 wt.

Here is an excellent article from Superior threads about thread weights. I wish he got a little more into the plies as that can also impact the appearance of the thread. Very good point in the article in the composition section about comparing a 50 wt cotton to a 50wt poly is like comparing apples and oranges.

https://www.superiorthreads.com/educ...d-measurements

No, you're not dense. The only way I usually know is when I purchase thread and it says what weight it is. Hard to tell from the spool.

That's one of the reasons I like Aurifil. The colors of the spools tell you the weight.

quality of the thread is not determined by the price or weight. Quality is determined primarily by strength and durability. You can get different weights of thread in different types whether poly, cotton, or rayon. Bob from Superior is the best to learn from.