Eloflex Thread Review • Heather Handmade

Learn all about Eloflex thread by Coats. It’s a stretch thread for knit fabric sewing projects, but it has strength and durability.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it takes time to figure out sewing knit fabric. And as much as I love working with knit fabric, it’s always great to find a new product that will make it a little easier. Something that will help both those just learning and those who have been sewing for many, many years.

I tried out Eloflex thread by Coats* to see how I liked it. I tried it on several different knit fabrics to see how it would work and how it would stretch.

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What is Eloflex thread?

Eloflex thread* by Coats is a stretch thread that is not elastic thread. It is thin like regular thread with up to 65% stretch.

It’s made from Polybutylene terephthalate and works great with knit fabric. It is not made from rubber or elastic like shirring thread. It can be treated like regular thread.

This thread is meant to use with straight stitches on knit fabric and the thread stretches to stretch with the knit fabric. It comes in lots of different colors so you can always find the right color for your sewing project.

It’s slightly shinier than regular all-purpose sewing machine thread, but I will have to be careful not to mix it up with my other threads.

How can I use Eloflex thread?

Eloflex thread is meant to be used in the top thread AND the bobbin thread. Elofex needs to be used in both places on a sewing machine so that the seam can stretch as much as possible.

There is no information about changing the tension as you sew, so I’m not sure if that will make a difference or not.

Eloflex Thread on Cotton Spandex Jersey

I sewed a Eloflex straight stitch on cotton spandex jersey, and then I stretched it to see how it worked. The stitch was not perfectly straight, but it stretched very well with the fabric. It didn’t have any tightness.

Eloflex Thread on Double Brushed Poly

I sewed a Eloflex straight stitch on double brushed poly, and then I stretched it to see how it worked. The stitch was not perfectly straight, but I felt like it needed to stretch a little more.

Eloflex Thread on Rayon Spandex Jersey

I sewed a Eloflex straight stitch on rayon spandex jersey, and then I stretched it to see how it worked. The stitch was not perfectly straight, but I felt like it needed to stretch a little more.

Eloflex Thread on Swimsuit fabric

I sewed a Eloflex straight stitch on swimsuit fabric (nylon spandex) and then I stretched it to see how it worked. The stitch was not perfectly straight, but it stretched pretty good with the fabric. When I sew swim fabric with Eloflex I usually still sew with a zigzag stitch.

Eloflex vs Seraflex

When I was working with both threads, they felt very similar to me. The thread weight and sheen were the same. And when I pull each thread by hand, they felt like they stretched the same amount.

When I sewed one piece of knit fabric with both Seraflex and Eloflex, I felt like the Seraflex had a little bit more stretch. Both threads stretched well, and I could probably use them interchangeably. I’m not sure what changing the tension would do to the amount of stretch.

I’ve only used Eloflex on clothing and over time I found anything (swimsuit and workout leggings) with a high amount of stretch and high stress pulling still needed a zigzag stitch to give it the stretch it needed. It works great for topstithing necklines though!