Sewing Thread Dilemma

[Danielle La Belle]

Hi Girls:

Quality is more than a word.

First of course, what we perceive as “quality” will vary in every culture. But, so I do not get lost in a “wordsmith’s,” world, let me just tell you this little observation that often goes un-noticed.

The thread in garments today is not the thread that you new 30 years ago. No! A funny thing happened on the way to “cost effectiveness,” in China. The thread that holds your precious clothing together has been altered to meet the ever changing “global economy.”

I am not talking here about the nature of the thread material, typically some grade of cotton, or as in modern garments with stretch, cotton/polyester, cotton/nylon, cotton/spandex combinations. Rather I am addressing the fact that “thread” is typically fibers woven together to form what we think of as a single strand of thread. This process of weaving the strands together to form a single strand of thread as seen on any dime store thread spool, is what I am talking about.

To save money, in China, they reduced the weaving process to such an extent that when you find a loose thread in a shirt, blouse etc, you may note that the thread when handled separates into more than one strand!

OMG! Danielle, tell us more! Okay! So, this poor weaving process results in loose threads, lost buttons, or the decorative thread around your turtle neck collar suddenly just pulls out! OUCH! “A stitch in time, saves nine!”

No one pays much attention to detail any more. Hey, no one has the time when running from the “economic dinosaur.” You have got to be quick on your feet or get eaten! I know, some of my stock funds got eaten by 20% or so and they were considered the safest thing since refrigeration.

Okay, so, loose threads (lose lips may) may not sink ships, but, lets be real here girls. Dancing on the dance floor and suddenly, you come unraveled! Ahhh! Oh My! It is the little things that count. Like your hem, and the neck line. Ya know! Write your congresswoman (lot’s of luck finding her)! We want better integrated thread in our fine vestments!

Hugs

Danielle Marie

[Stephanie H]

And, I thought the weight gain had caused the buttons to pop and the zippers to split and here it was the thread all along. Thank God.
Stephanie

[Bernice]

That is part of how I got so involved with sewing.

I had a lot of trouble with my Singer 1040, which the repair people kept telling me was due to cheap thread. I began purchasing expensive thread, but still had trouble, especially with zig-zag stitching and stretch knits.

So, I bought a Bernina (very expensive machine, used). Better, but still had some trouble.

In further discussion, I pressed the technician for a better guide than "no cheap thread". Come to find out that what is really important is that the thread is limp. Thread that has any stiffness will not behave inside the bobbin case, and will end up tangled, or in places it doesn't belong. So now, before I buy thread, I open the spool and pull out a few inches and see how it dangles.

But I didn't mean to hijack your thread... (I always wanted to have an opportunity to say that!)

Hugs,

Bernice

[DonnaT]

I bought my wife a Bernina a few yrs ago, for her quilting.

She's not had any thread problems, but uses thread designed with the quilter in mind.

I try very hard to stay away from anything made in China, but that's getting harder to do these days.