WonderFil is the Canadian thread house that specializes in the weights and finishes the big longarm brands do not chase - ultra-fine bobbin threads, true Egyptian cotton in fine weights, wooly serger threads, and garment-strength sewing poly. If Glide and Omni are the everyday workhorses of the studio (see the Longarm Thread Hub), WonderFil is the specialist bench. Here are the lines we stock and where each one earns its place.
DecoBob - 80wt Cottonized Polyester
DecoBob is one of the finest bobbin and applique threads made: an 80wt cottonized poly that behaves like cotton under the needle but carries polyester strength. In the bobbin it lets your top thread shine with zero bulk buildup on dense designs. On top, it is the invisible-applique and micro-quilting secret - stitches disappear into the fabric. Colors match across the range - see DB934 Bermuda and DB935 Dark Aqua for the colored end of the spectrum. If you like Superior Bottom Line's concept (see the Bottom Line guide), DecoBob is the same idea one step finer.
Efina - 60wt Egyptian Cotton
Efina is a double-gassed 60wt extra-long staple Egyptian cotton: fine enough for micro applique, English paper piecing, and machine embroidery details, with the matte glow only real cotton gives. It is the thread for heirloom work where poly would look wrong. Start with EF100 White and EF76 Ivory, then build color with spools like EF66 Indigo, EF73 Riviera, and EF82 Lilac.
SoftLoc - The Serger's Wooly Poly
SoftLoc is a supple wooly polyester built for serger loopers: it fluffs to fill rolled hems and cover stitching with complete coverage and a soft hand against skin - the reason it dominates baby garments, activewear, and cloth-diaper sewing. It runs on knits and wovens alike and is colorfast through real laundry. We stock the full SLM color line - the neutrals like SLM5, SLM6, SLM7, SLM8, and SLM9 and the color range through the SLM40s and 50s such as SLM47, SLM48, SLM51, and SLM55. Pair it with a machine from our Sergers and Overlock guide.
Designer - All-Purpose Garment Strength
The Designer Sewing Collection packs eight colors of WonderFil's garment-construction poly - rated to a 50lb seam strength - into one starter set. It is the glove-box kit for dressmaking, repairs, and everyday sewing.
Rinse Away - Wash-Out Design Aids
The Rinse Away Design Sheets let you draw or print a quilting design, stitch through it, and dissolve the sheet in water - no marking, no picking paper out of stitches. WonderFil also packages project collections like Heart of a Lion that bundle thread with a design.
Where WonderFil Fits in Your Thread Drawer
Think of it by job: Glide or Omni for everyday longarm tops, Bottom Line or DecoBob in the bobbin, Efina when the work is heirloom cotton, SoftLoc in the serger, Designer in the sewing machine for garments. No single brand covers all of that - WonderFil covers the gaps the others leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is cottonized polyester?
- Polyester processed to remove the stretch and sheen so it handles and looks like cotton while keeping poly strength. DecoBob's cottonization is why it behaves so well in tension-sensitive bobbin work.
- Is 80wt thread strong enough for quilting?
- Yes - in the bobbin and for applique and micro quilting, 80wt poly like DecoBob is plenty strong. For structural seams and everyday piecing, stay at 50-60wt.
- Can I use SoftLoc in a regular sewing machine?
- SoftLoc is designed for serger loopers, not needles. In a standard machine you can wind it as a bobbin thread for decorative texture, but its home is the serger, where it fills rolled hems beautifully.
- What needle should I use with Efina and DecoBob?
- A fine needle matches a fine thread: 70/10 or 60/8 microtex for DecoBob, 70/10 or 75/11 for Efina. A big needle punches holes the fine thread cannot fill.
Browse all WonderFil threads in the store, and see the Longarm Thread Hub for how every brand we carry compares side by side.
