All About Polyester | Learn About This Amazing Substance

Imagine a product so versatile that it is in plastic soft drink and water bottles, clothing, carpets, curtains, sheets, wall coverings, upholstery, hoses, power belts, ropes, thread, tire cord, sails, floppy disk liners, filling for pillows and furniture, and it is also used to replace or reinforce damaged body tissue. Such is the convenience of polyester.

Polyesters can be in the form of plastics and fibers. Polyesters are the polymers that make the shatterproof plastic bottles that hold bottled water and soft drinks. And you know those fancy balloons with the cute messages imprinted on them? They are also made of polyester, more specifically, a sandwich composed of Mylar and aluminum foil. Our Glitter thread is similar to this.

The most common polyester for fiber purposes is ethylene terephthalate, or simply PET. This is also the same substance used for many soft drink bottles. Polyester fibers are created by extrusion, a process of forcing a thick, sticky liquid (about the consistency of cold honey) through the tiny holes of a spinneret, a device that looks like a shower head, to form continuous filaments of semi-solid polymer. Depending on the number of holes, monofilaments (one hole) or multifilaments (several holes) are produced. These fibers can be extruded in different cross-sectional shapes (round, Trilobal, pentagonal, octagonal, and others), resulting in different types of threads.

1. Spun polyester threads are made by spinning or twisting together shorter lengths of polyester fibers. This is similar to the way cotton threads are made. These are then twisted together to produce a thread of the desired size. Spun polyester threads give the look of a cotton thread, but provide superior strength and durability. Our Poly Quilter is this type of thread.

2. Filament poly is a continuous fiber thread. Some hear the word filament and incorrectly assume it is monofilament. Monofilament, which looks like fishing line, is just one type of filament thread. It is a single strand thread. Other filament threads are multiple filaments, which consist of two or three strands twisted together. This is the largest category of filament polyester. Multi-filament strands are smooth and lint free but are not transparent. The advantage of a lint-free thread is a cleaner machine and less maintenance. The Bottom Line, So Fine, Brytes, and LAVA are examples of this type.

3. Trilobal poly is a multiple filament, twisted, high-sheen continuous fiber thread. It has the bright appearance of rayon or silk. Triangular shaped fibers reflect more light and give an attractive sparkle to textiles. Our Rainbows, Highlights, Nature Colors, Super Brights, Art Studio Colors, and Living Colors threads are this type of polyester.

Polyester fibers recover quickly after extension and absorb very little moisture. Polyester is heat resistant (dryer and iron safe), with a melting temperature of 510 degrees F (in comparison, nylon melts at 350 degrees F). Polyester is colorfast, resistant to chemicals, and can be washed or dry-cleaned with most common cleaning solvents.

Characteristics of Polyester Thread:
Strong
Resistant to stretching and shrinking
Resistant to most chemicals
Quick drying
Crisp and resilient when wet or dry
Wrinkle resistant
Mildew resistant
Abrasion resistant
Retains heat-set pleats and crease
Easily washed

Is it OK to use polyester thread in a quilt? We have all heard the stories about polyester cutting the fabric. The stories we hear are mostly myths handed down from earlier generations. Back in Grandma's time, most of the available thread was cotton and the quilting was usually done along the pieced seams, or "stitch in the ditch." Times have changed and machine quilting has opened up a new world. No longer is quilting done only along the seams. Machine stitching can enhance the beauty of the quilt by adding intricate and complementary designs throughout the entire quilt. Machine quilting does not add stress to the quilt. The stress points remain in the piecing. Some say that polyester thread is too strong and will tear the fabric. If the fabric ever tears as a result of heavy use, most likely it will tear at the seams. The seams are the true stress points of a quilt, not the machine quilted areas.

The solution is to piece with cotton thread, thereby matching the nature of the fabric fibers with the thread fibers. This equalizes the stress points of the quilt. Piecing with cotton also makes it safer to use irons on high heat. Then, use other threads such as metallics, polyester, and cotton to decorate and enhance the quilt by creative quilting. If a polyester thread is used in decorative quilting, it will not tear the fabric under normal or even heavy use because there is minimal stress away from the seams. Here's the rule: Piece with cotton and quilt with any threads,(as long as it's Superior Threads :).

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