Overlock Threads: Types and Tips for Choosing

The basics of sewing on a sewing machine are taught at school, this process is time-consuming, but interesting, because many girls, having grown up, continue to sew on their own. Any seamstress, professional or self-taught, understands that it is impossible to sew quality products without an overlock. In order for the process to go smoothly and the result to satisfy everyone, it is important to be able to choose the right threads for the overlock, and you can’t do without knowing their basic characteristics.

Sewing on a sewing machine involves not only connecting one part of the fabric to another, but also additional measures that help make the product more beautiful, and its operation is longer. Not all fabrics have good wear resistance, not all can withstand wear, without processing the edges of the seams.

Called overlock specialized sewing equipment with which you can sew seams. Without the use of such processing, the edges of the fabric will stretch, dishevele and begin to move with arrows, violating the integrity and visual beauty of the thing. You can not do without an overlock when working with cotton, stretch and other materials, the edges of which cannot maintain integrity on their own.

To correctly and efficiently process the material with an overlock, you need to configure the device and fill in a suitable thread. It is the threads that are the most important criterion in working on an overlock, without the right option, it will not be possible to properly overcast the product, and the work will be done in vain.

The threads for the overlock must be special, normal in this case are not suitable. The best option for this equipment is considered to be textured threads, which can have different thicknesses and colors, chosen as necessary. Such a thread is used when working with role seams, and it is refilled only in loops; for a needle, it is recommended to use a normal thread.

Overlock threads are distinguished by special characteristics.

• Overlock thread has much stronger indicators of elasticity and flexibility than a simple one, which is associated with its structure. Specialized threads for overlocks consist of individual threads that do not twist together, which allows them to be thinner and less noticeable, this plays an important role in the elegant appearance of the finished sewn thing.
• Good strength and durability which is especially important when sewing things from elastic materials. Thanks to the flexibility of the overlock thread, it is possible to cope even with the most unpleasant and problematic fabrics.
• Special thread structure allows them to be as smooth as possible, which helps with high-speed sewing.

Overlock yarns can be sold both in small reels and in large reels. The second option is more profitable, since it significantly saves the budget and the cost of sewing any thing. During overcasting of the product with an overlock, up to five threads are simultaneously used to protect the seam from any deformation, therefore the use of ordinary threads in this case is unacceptable, since the seam from them will turn out to be coarse and thick.

The selection of threads for an overlock is based on the thickness and other characteristics of the material itself. The thread size range may vary. from 50 to 120, for thin materials it is better to use the thinnest thread, for thick ones it is thicker, otherwise the integrity of the seam may be violated, since the threads will fray against the dense material and its rough edge.

When selecting threads, you need to evaluate them visually, try them for strength and check the manufacturer. If the product makes an unpleasant impression, tears when pulled, and when passing with your fingers gathers in a lump, it is better to refuse such a purchase. In order not to purchase a low-quality product, it is worth paying attention only to the tested products of well-known brands, which include:

• Madeira - made of reinforced polyester, best suited for thin materials and overcasting seams;

• Gutermann - made of polyester, are considered universal, suitable for any seams and materials;

• Amann mettler - offers an assortment of translucent and transparent yarns, in addition, there is also a universal product that is equally well used both in the sewing machine and in overlock (the product also has textured yarns that are best suited to work with knitwear, due to its soft and delicate structure);

• "Gamma" - for three-strand overlock, used for fabrics having average density indices;

• "Ideal" - are used for a three-thread overlock.

Foreign manufacturers specialize in the manufacture of the highest quality overlock threads used by professional seamstresses. If you need a simpler option, then the products of a domestic manufacturer provide reliable and good threads, who will cope with the task, but will have a smaller set of positive qualities and their service life may be shorter.

When flashing some material, you need to use threads of appropriate shades so that the finish is not too noticeable, and the processing of the edges looks as natural as possible. In addition to color preferences, it is important to observe the unity of structure and thickness, otherwise there are problems with tension, and the seam comes out uneven and ugly.

There are several varieties of threads for overlock.

• For carpet - the overlock makes it possible to strengthen the edges of the carpet or carpet, preventing it from shedding and opening of the edges. In this case, a special loop stitch is used, and unnecessary edges are cut off during processing. Carpet overlocks have good power indicators and the processing speed can reach more than 3 thousand stitches per minute. The threads in this case are used polypropylene, in some cases it is allowed to use kapron varieties.

• For processing the edges of dense fabrics threads with a thicker structure are selected.

• For work with thin and stretch materials the finest overlock threads are used.

To choose the right thread for an overlock, you need to consider such factors:

• type of material to be processed;
• the option of the needle to be used in the work;
• scope of proposed work;
• budget laid down for tailoring the product.

In order for the entire process of overcasting to go smoothly and the product to be of high quality, you need to know what threads can not be used when working on overlock:

• ordinary cotton threads designed for sewing on a sewing machine;
• reinforced samples on which there are marks LL and LH;
• industrial version intended for single-operation overlock;
• Threads that have too much flexibility.

The choice of any of these varieties will lead to overlock wear, as well as a short service life of products stitched with the wrong threads.

In order to make the overlock seam uniform, even and beautiful, it is necessary to use not only threads of the same thickness and composition, it is recommended to select products of the same quality, density and one manufacturer. To protect yourself from unexpected surprises while working on an overlock, it is important to pay attention not only to the threads, but also to the mechanism itself. With timely care, lubrication and cleaning of equipment, it will work clearly and smoothly.

See what is the next video for the best threads to sew on the overlock.