What Is the Best Thread for Sewing Felt? (And How to Stop It From Turning Into a Tangled Nightmare)
Have you ever started a cute little felt project feeling all excited… and then five stitches later your thread turns into a tiny angry knot that refuses to cooperate?
You sit there. Untwisting. Re-threading. Untying microscopic disasters.
And suddenly you realise you are spending more time fixing thread drama than actually sewing.
Fun times. 🙃
How many times has that happened to you? I do not know about you, but I have been there a million times, just sitting and trying to untangle tiny knots instead of actually sewing. If you do not stop and fix it, it only gets worse, and then you spend even more time unpicking. It becomes a vicious circle that never seems to end.
Hi everyone, my name is Alyona. I have been sewing and crafting for as long as I can remember, and I have been especially heavy into felt since I came to the UK. If you are new here, welcome. If not, welcome back.
Also If you have ever wondered why this twisting happens and which thread is actually best for sewing felt, you are absolutely not alone. By the end of this article, you will know exactly what thread I use, what works best for crafting with felt, and when to use each option so you can avoid that endless knotting cycle.
And if you want something simple to practise on while you test your thread choices, you can grab my free pattern – yes, it is a sewing freebie, but it is a nice way to practise neat stitches without overthinking it.
The struggle: Why sewing felt turns into a knot festival
Felt can be a dream to stitch – until the thread starts twisting, looping, and making those tiny knots that stop everything.
Then you are stuck in the same vicious circle:
- Sew 5 stitches
- Thread twists
- You unpick a knot
- You sigh
- Repeat
So instead of blaming your hands (rude), let’s blame the real culprit – the wrong thread for the job.
Your fix: The best thread for sewing felt (the only three I actually use + a bonus one)
1) Rule number one – use polyester thread (not cotton)
This is the boring but important rule.
You only can pick a polyester thread. You cannot use cotton thread because it is not really strong, and if you start to stuff your creation and you push a bit too much, it can snap.
So yes – polyester thread only.
2) Unbranded polyester thread – good for small felt elements only
I use simple unbranded polyester thread, but only when the stitching is short.
Because if you use it with a long thread, believe me, it will twist, it will make knots, and it will be a nightmare.
But you still can use it in only one way.
Use it for small elements where you do not need a long thread from start to finish.
Let’s say you are sewing a dinosaur for example, this thread is fine for tiny bits.
For example:
- Sewing tiny legs
- Decorative stitches around eyes
- Any small piece where it is just a few stitches and you are done
When your thread is not long, it will not twist so badly, and you will not lose your mind.
If you want a solid budget option for this kind of work, you can use Polyester Sewing Thread.
3) Gutermann polyester thread – for big felt pieces and long thread lengths
Now, for big elements – let’s say the body of your felt plushie – you often need a long thread (around 1 – 2 metres).
And if you use simple unbranded thread for that? Oh, you will spend more time unpicking knots and trying to untwist the thread than actually sewing. Very upsetting. Very frustrating. 10 out of 10 drama.
So for big objects, I use only Gutermann Thread.
I do not know how they created this thread, but it really does not twist much at all.
And the colour palette is amazing. Felt – especially Pastel Soft Felt or Skin Tones Felt – can be tricky because you want that tone to tone match. Gutermann has so many shades that you can usually find a thread that matches one to one.
If you want to go deeper into choosing felt itself (because yes, the wrong felt can ruin your vibe), see Best Felt for Crafting: How to Choose the Right Type for Your Project (Beginner’s Guide).
4) Bonus: Fishing line – when you do not want the thread to show at all
Now for the sneaky trick – this is the cherry on top 🍒.
If you are sewing Glitter Felt or Holographic-Mirrored Leather, you usually do not want to see the stitches.
For those projects, forget about thread. My trick is to use fishing line.
But you cannot just pick any fishing line and hope for the best. It needs to be very thin.
The size I recommend and use myself is:
You can go a tiny bit plus or minus, but do not go thick. It needs to be thin fishing line.
It is still strong and difficult to break, but it gives that more seamless, transparent look.
Okay, that’s it – what you actually need to remember.
So those are basically the thread options I use every day when I am making felt plushies:
- Unbranded polyester thread (only for small elements)
- Gutermann polyester thread (for big elements and long sewing)
- Fishing line (bonus for glitter felt and mirrored faux leather)
And if you are the type of person who is searching for supplies before you even start sewing (yep, I was that person too 🙈😂), I have a good news for you 👇.
Here is my free pattern to try. It is not AI built ☝️. I built it myself, tested it myself, and I hope you will like it.
Also, if you are gathering supplies, do not forget the basics like Stuffing/Filling – because if you are making plushies, you will need it.
And if you want to see my full everyday supply list (including the fancy bits like glitter, mirrored accents and more), read: The Ultimate Felt-Craft Supplies Checklist You Need Right Now!.
I will see you there. Bye 👋.
