Is Gutterman thread necessary?

[Superfluous Grizzly]

Does anyone know what makes Gutterman thread better than any other brand? I just ran out of a spool of 100% poly lightweight Gutterman thread that I bought from Quest. I need some thread tomorrow and my local stores don't carry Gutterman.
Thanks,
Dan

[Thunderchi1d]

I've done a bit of looking through the forums and have come to a decision. The reason Gutermann thread is mentioned is because it is pretty high quality. That being said there are other brands of thread that are also high quality, but aren't mentioned as much. To me it seams that although many lean towards Gutermann, really any quality thread should work just fine.

Make sure that it is 100% polyester, as cotton tends to rot over time, and nylon stretches and may not work well with your injector.

[FLRider]

What Thunderchi1d said.

Gutterman's is consistently good quality thread that comes in polyester. So, it stands up well to sunlight and damp while not being a pain to work with on the machine.

There're other brands out there that (I'm sure) are good quality and polyester. It's just that Gutterman's is readily available at most fabric outlets.

[Junebugdawn]

When I ordered my materials for quilts from DIY Gear Supply, I ordered a spool of Gutterman thread. As others have said, it is high quality and doesn't shred in the machine. I made 3 quilts, 2 socks, a pair of snake skins, several bags and ridgeline organizers and other misc. items on one spool. When I ran out, I picked up a spool of "outdoor sport" Coats and Clark thread from Walmart. It was way more expensive than Gutterman's for about 1/3 the amount of thread...and I hate it. It is too heavy and doesn't want to move through the machine very well. When I place a new order with DIY Gear Supply, I am going to get several spools so I am sure I don't run out again!

[gmcttr]

Yep...any high quality 100% polyester thread of an appropriate size. Mettler is another brand I have used.

This store should have Guttermann Sew-All and Mettler threads. Give them a call to confirm.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, # 2190
951 East Lewis & Clark Pkwy
Clarksville, IN 47129
812-283-6491

[SnrMoment]

I've had both good & bad luck with Coates & Clark. It does shred and screw up the project. Going to inventory the Gutterman thread - worth the cost of shipping.
+1 on the spool size. Had to make thread gallows to use it on my machine, but that took about 5 minutes and cost nothing.

[WickedKlown2]

I have noticed that Gutermann doesn't leave a whole bunch of fuzz in my machine after I get done using it. The Coats & Clark outdoor thread already mentioned leaves a mess, doesn't like to flow and is always jamming up in the hook and bobbin case.

[dejoha]

I've also used the Coats & Clark 100% UV Outdoor thread. It was thick and rugged and worked well with some tweaking (and the right needles).

I've switched to the Gütermann Tera thread from DIY Gear Supply and I've been really impressed.

Prior to the Gütermann thread, I tries some "generic" polyester thread I had laying around. The generic thread worked fine for stuff sacks, clothing, and even some hammocks, but when I tried making some straps, the loops pulled through, no matter how or what style of stitch I used.

The Gütermann thread has been stellar and I won't look back. I just ordered another spool last week.

[jordo_99]

...to answer your question (and sum up my post briefly) there are other options but Gutterman is easier to find and performs very well for what it's used around here for.

I've heard of Rasant being used but it's difficult to come by in the states. A few people on UBL forums swear by Rasant but it's also around 2-3 times more expensive than Gutterman from what I remember. More people use Gutterman because it's cheap and performs well enough for what we use it for.

I've been using Gutterman (Mara and Tera) and recently bought some Mettler Metrosene. I picked up the Metrosene at the recommendation of a local guy who makes parachutes (he said parachute and tent making require very similar threads) and it's been working well for me. I haven't finished my project yet but I'm pretty happy so far.

I can't say which I like better because I haven't had much chance to test/stress them out in the elements but my gut tells me that the Gutterman will hold up a little better in the elements.

[Ramblinrev]

Coats and Clarks from Wal-Mart and other big box outlets can be problematic primarily because it is the low end of the C & C line. Thread has a shelf life and needs to be rotated and stored properly. Something Wally World is not likely to understand or do. C & C from a local sewing supply store or fabric store is more likely to be higher quality. Avoid the really cheap stuff like the plague. For one thing the $1 spools have almost no volume on the spool. You'll go through it like mad. Secondly they are made of short fiber leftovers and will shred and break with out the slightest provocation.

High quality thread is definitely worth the investment for high quality projects. If you want to do mock ups or trial stuff don't be overly concerned. But for top quality work use quality materials.