Did you know that pale grey thread blends with tons of colors? I first learned this from my mom; I think it's some sort of top secret quilting knowledge. I put it to use recently in my lingerie sewing. With my slip pattern, there's contrast lace trim all over the place. It can be annoying to try to match thread colors, because you have to keep switching from your main to your contrast color depending on if you're sewing the fabric or lace.
Enter grey thread! It seems like magic, but it blends seamlessly with both bright white lace and lavender fabric. Here it is on the lace side--there's a large zigzag on both the top and bottom of the lace, but you can't see it at all.
And here it is from the back.
It's like a chameleon! I'm using
Mettler Meterosene color 0854, also called "Saturn."
Grey thread works for all sorts of lighter-colored fabrics. Give it a try!
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Also medium grey for medium projects, and dark grey for dark projects. It's an emergency go-to when you run out of thread, but you can happily spend your entire sewing career using nothing but grey threads.
ReplyDeleteThis amazing. So going to do this in the future. thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip! I have to try it! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tip. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, if you ever get a minute, take one of the quilting classes at Craftsy. I learned so many little things like this, that apply to garment sewing just as well.
ReplyDeleteI know you just have tons of free time for more hobbies, right?
Oh ...I did not know that!!!! Love it ! Thanks...:)
ReplyDeleteGood idea Gertie - thanks!
ReplyDeletePat.
Great tip! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the official "permission" to do this. You are such an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
ReplyDeleteNot too long ago I've started using a medium grey in my serger after I got tired of changing the colors for each project and also found that it matched most of my projects :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tip! Thank you for sharing that. It will save some money, too.
ReplyDeleteMy fav neutral go to color is ecru,tan,stuff like that. It's totally invisible.Hardly ever haveto change my serger...:-)
ReplyDeleteGood to know!
ReplyDeleteI worked years in RTW mens suit manufacturing and we used grey thread(bouth light and dark) on automated pocket machines. It really does blend grat with other colours
ReplyDeleteThis is a great tip! I learned this many years ago while taking an overlock class. Grey thread is great to use with an overlock as well.....we all know what a headache changing the thread on that machine can be. It can be used for many projects without having to re-thread! Yay!
ReplyDeleteWhite, black and grey are the only colors you need for stage costumes, old costumer's trick.
ReplyDeleteI learned in sewing class that if you are choosing between 2 colors of thread, go darker rather than lighter. Lighter thread stands out, while darker blends in better.
ReplyDeleteOooo that's a new one for the knowledge bank ;) thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic tip thanks, it's one colour I dont have. Will definitely be getting some.
ReplyDeleteNow that's a helpful hint!
ReplyDeleteWhen I got my overlocker, it came with four reels of light grey thread and I thought, pfft, what the hell am I going to do with light grey? It all makes sense now.
Grey thread is a great neutral. I work in a quilt store and we buy it by the case because we sell it so much and recommend it so much to customers. It is a more important color to a sewist than white or black Try Gutterman 813 for a great grey neutral.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea, what a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant tip!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this very handy tip.
ReplyDeleteit's a handy trick isn't it? I just learned this recently too; since starting work as a tailor's assistant.
ReplyDeleteJust last month I read an article in Australian Stitches magazine and they suggested getting white, red and grey for overlocking threads to go with nearly everything and they showed some samples - same thing..blended in perfectly. I bought my grey overlocking thread yesterday!
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering what a good neutral for serging would be, thanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, brilliant tip. I will be stocking up on my grey thread.
ReplyDeleteIt's true. I recently had a colorful quilt top quilted with grey thread and it completely blends in.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've been using light grey for a long while and, also, believe it or not a mustard gold that also ends up being a neutral, something I'd never have guessed before my local sewing shop owner suggested it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a tremendous top tip thank you!
ReplyDeleteI just love this tip.... I am in the process of making sleeping caps and this will help trememdously. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite tricks. I started doing it years ago. It's particularly handy in the serger - four cones of light grey get a lot of use and aren't as glaring inside lighter colored garments :-). Thanks for the validation!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! This is indeed the perfect neutral color.
ReplyDeletegrey thread! who knew! grey may become my best friend lol! multicolor fabrics are the worse to match up, thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteHelen
I sort of guessed that on my own yesterday, then I found your article by chance today and now I am comforted in my choice to buy 10 spools of light grey thread :D
ReplyDelete