How to Sew With Wooly Nylon

Thick wooly nylon is typically wrapped on a large cone-shaped spool.

Wooly nylon is thick sewing machine thread that completely covers the spaces between horizontal stitches, producing a decorative edge with a single seam. Zigzag stitching with wooly nylon creates the effect of midi-braid. It can make a simple overcast stitch look like a rolled hem. A hem seam sewn with wooly nylon is all the trim you need for decorative table linens, and wooly nylon matched to the fabric creates a subtle tone-on-tone effect reminiscent of couture linens. You cannot thread a sewing machine needle with wooly nylon, so it is used in either the bobbin or the loopers.

Instructions

Using a Standard Sewing Machine

1. Fill a bobbin with wooly nylon and insert it into the machine.

2. Thread the top of the machine with clear sewing thread.

3. Sew with the fabric wrong side up, using a zigzag stitch and a short stitch length. Use the stitch width appropriate for your project. The decorative seam will be on the bottom side of the fabric as you sew.

Using a Serger

1. Thread one of the needles with thread that matches your fabric. Use the inside needle for a narrow edging and the outside needle for a wide edging.

2. Thread the loopers with wooly nylon.

3. Sew along the desired edge of the project to create a covered edge.

Tips & Warnings

• Sew a test seam first, and adjust the stitch length, width and thread tension to achieve the desired effect.

• If your serger makes flatlock seams, you can use wooly nylon for decorative flatlock stitching.

Resources

• Beacon Fabrics: Wooly Nylon
• Kentucky Cooperative Extension; Serger Sewing Flatlocking; Carol Vinyard