Quote Originally Posted by Alan H View Post
...never, ever, ever, ever put a white stripe right on the edge of a pleat. White thread ALWAYS shows unless you are beyond anal-retentive and do microscipically fine stitching...

...I used white thread.....NEVER again. I'd like to hear what w2f has to say about this issue...white stripes in dark tartans/white thread.

OK, well I take all that back if you're sewing up a dress tartan.
Alan, I only have one question: Does thread come in white?

(Oh, never mind. It's that stuff one uses for basting. )

Aside from the aesthetics of a white stripe on the edge of a pleat, the only other question is: Do the "shades of white" and the finish match? Just as there are different shades or finishes of black, the same is true for white. (Or, the stripe may not be white at all, but "heathered" with another color.) Even if the thread is the same shade of white, the finish could be shinier because of polyester content.

Generally, when trying to match fabric and thread, try to get thread that is a shade or two darker than the fabric because the stitches tend to blend in better. When stitching across narrow stripes, changing thread colors is usually not needed. Stitching across very wide stripes and other color blocks may require changing thread color.

Of course, the great test of stitching skill is to use contrasting thread color and do it with such "microscopically fine stitching" that the thread cannot be seen.

w2f

(not a hijack because Alan asked for it...)