Blogs

Notes on thread, colour & making

Practical guides on choosing thread, matching colour and getting a clean finish — from the STI Ideal workroom.

Hands guiding a threaded sewing needle through fabric during a hand-sewing repair

26 July 2026

How to Thread a Sewing Needle by Hand: Simple Guide

Learn how to thread a sewing needle by hand, stop frayed ends and tangles, and choose practical thread colours for repairs and everyday sewing with confidence.

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Hands guiding thread through the needle area of a sewing machine

18 July 2026

How to Thread a Sewing Machine: a Simple 9-Step Guide

Learn how to thread a sewing machine in nine clear steps, from the spool and take-up lever to the bobbin thread, test stitching and common fixes for beginners.

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A pile of colourful sewing thread spools in soft pink, cream and warm tones

10 July 2026

Spool of Thread: How to Choose the Right One for Sewing

Learn what a spool of thread is, how to read labels, choose useful sewing colours, avoid weak old spools, and build a practical thread kit for real projects.

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Hands threading the upper thread on a sewing machine near the needle and tension area

6 July 2026

Sewing Machine Thread Tension: Simple Fixes That Work

Fix sewing machine thread tension with a calm checklist for loops, puckering, bobbin issues, needle choice, smoother test stitches, and fewer false starts.

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A person guiding fabric through a domestic sewing machine

4 July 2026

How to Choose Thread for a Sewing Machine

Learn how to choose sewing machine thread by fabric, weight, colour, needle size, bobbin use, and project type without overthinking it.

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Colourful sewing thread spools arranged together, ready to choose a 10-spool box

28 June 2026

How to Build a Useful 10-Spool Thread Box

A practical guide to choosing the 10 sewing thread colours that belong in a custom thread box, from neutrals to project shades.

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Close-up of colourful sewing thread wound on spools

17 June 2026

Polyester vs Cotton Thread: Which Should You Choose?

A practical comparison of polyester thread and cotton thread, including when to use each and when a speciality thread may be better.

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Sewing machine needle stitching fabric with thread

17 June 2026

Choosing the Right Thread for Your Project

A practical guide to choosing sewing thread by project type, colour, thread weight, fabric and sewing machine use.

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Close-up of fine sewing thread wound on spools

17 June 2026

Thread Weights Explained: What 40/2 Polyester Really Means

A clear guide to 40/2 polyester sewing thread, thread weight, ply, spool yardage and choosing thread for everyday sewing.

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Rows of assorted coloured sewing thread spools for choosing a shade to match fabric

17 June 2026

How to Match Thread Colour to Your Fabric

A practical guide to matching sewing thread to fabric, including solids, prints, natural light checks, darker shade rules, and fabric photo matching.

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