Thread; good hand sewing thread that's worth buying.

[Toddy]

Well, we've had needles and scissors, so here's a thread about thread

Good thread matches the weight and strength of the material you're sewing. It shouldn't shrink or stretch more than the material does as it's laundered. It shouldn't fankle itself into granny knots while you are sewing, and it shouldn't fray to feathery mess that splits and snaps either.

So, I thought some recommendations for good thread, suitable for repairs, or hussif, or indeed hand sewing anything from tents to bags, trouser hems to replacing zips. I can hand sew most anything, so I get to see and use a lot of thread varieties.

Linen,
Cotton,
Wool,
Nylon, Polyester and other modern fibres.

First up are linen hanks. This is lovely stuff, it's good for canvas and leather (I used it to repair my moccasin slippers and attach new wool linings) and it's sound. The hanks are fine for the house, but if you're fitting it into a hussif, do yourself a favour and buy a wee pack of the plastic bobbins meant for embroidery threads and wind it onto those. This is as heavy a thread as I would recommend for a normal hussif. If you're likely to end up repairing a tent or 'chute, I'll recommend nylon instead since that's what they're made from, but this would do even for that. The company selling them is Midfords and they sell superb candlewick too; they make them in England, so support home industry folks Their beeswax is also recommended, especially the pelleted stuff for melting down for polishes and creams.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Irish-Lin...t=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item3a7ef57d01

M

p.s. Link to bobbins.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-Thread...329?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item541b785ef9

 

[sandbender]

A useful thread.

Thanks.

 

[Toddy]

If you can use it, then this is a bargain
Barbour Campbell made superb thread, it's my preferred linen thread, and they don't make it anymore The machinery was sold off to India

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barbours-...453?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f48c4eb25

M

 

[Toddy]

A useful thread.

Thanks.

Oh witty
M

 

[Toddy]

This stuff is a tad muckle, but oh, it's lovely thread

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barbour-H...687?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d513cd8cf

 

[Toddy]

This is a machine sewing thread…..if you have a leather stitching machine that is It's meant for sewing shoes.
It's beautiful thread though, but it's heavy and most domestic machines will struggle. Cut your thread no more than 60cms and it's fine to hand sew with though

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Coats-Bar...142?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4190f7ebf6

 

[Toddy]

….and in black too
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barbour-H...496?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d5620c058

Beautiful thread….but you'd really need to have friends to split it with; my days of buying in bulk and selling on are past.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-B...138?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19fcf71b02

The six cord mattress twine is excellent for sewing rushes, basketry, making nets….not cheap though
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UPHOLSTER...t=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item2c62f27d04

 

[lannyman8]

what about cotton /polyester for 1000 d Cordura repairs to packs Mary?????

I got some 100% polyester extra strong, cotton ( for want or a better word ) produced by Gutermann,seems strong as boot leather but cost £ 3.75 for a small normal size roll of 110 yards or 100 meters.

do you think that will do the job,its for attaching extra pouches and adding wider straps.

thanks

chris.

 

[demographic]

I repaired loads of pairs of jeans over the years with dental floss.
Did the trick anyway.

 

[Toddy]

Dental floss is a compromise though; it's white, and it frays if rubbed. It works and it's cheap so it gets used. If you're happy with it then go for it lad

Half way down the page Chris…..or speak to Ian (Bilmo p-5) and see if he can buy you some of the thread he gets at a more reasonable price. Even with postage added, it's a bargain.
http://www.beaversports.co.uk/Catalogue/Category/190?cat=wet-suit-components

Gutermann is very good, but it's hellish expensive for such wee reels. I refuse to buy it because of that. I go through too much to be bothered paying that price for a reel that will only fill two bobbins
There's no shortage of good thread out there, just that there's a lot of stuff better suited to overlockers or to very industrial manufacturing processes.

M

 

[demographic]

Dental floss is a compromise though; it's white, and it frays if rubbed. It works and it's cheap so it gets used. If you're happy with it then go for it lad

Half way down the page Chris…..or speak to Ian (Bilmo p-5) and see if he can buy you some of the thread he gets at a more reasonable price. Even with postage added, it's a bargain.
http://www.beaversports.co.uk/Catalogue/Category/190?cat=wet-suit-components

Gutermann is very good, but it's hellish expensive for such wee reels. I refuse to buy it because of that. I go through too much to be bothered paying that price for a reel that will only fill two bobbins
There's no shortage of good thread out there, just that there's a lot of stuff better suited to overlockers or to very industrial manufacturing processes.

M

Don't want to seem too chauvinistic but nowadays I ask my wife nicely and it gets sorted in the Bernina and overlocker department (otherwise known as her sewing room).

My sewing keks up with dental floss days are pretty much over.

 

[Emdiesse]

Thanks Mary, this is a great.

 

[Robson Valley]

Took a look at what I use. Most of my things in the "thread" category are Gudebrod, some Gutermann.
Ideally suited to such things as binding the guides on custom-made fishing rods.
An equivalent in milnery supply stores seems to be what's called "button twist."
For the tough stuff, I use a "Speedy Stitcher" sewing awl and one of several of their weights of waxed polyester threads for sewing leather and canvas.
www.speedystitcher.com Deadly sharp device for repairing saddles, shoes and so on.