How long does sewing thread last

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The Specifications and Guidelines including all future changes are incorporated by reference into this Agreement. It may discover a completely different color hiding underneath the first layer. Or, it might start breaking apart as soon as you start working with it.

Well, little did you know that this is all because of a thread that has gone bad! In fact, main symptoms of a thread gone bad can be faded coloring, brittleness, weakness, bleaching and disintegration. There are types of threads that will outlast your fabric! Some of these are threads made out of fluoropolymer and polytetrafluoroethylene.

Both of these thread types come with a lifetime guarantee. In fact, they are completely resistant to UV rays, pollution, rain, cold, snow, and rot! And yes, they are way more expensive than other threads, too. However, their performance benefits should outweigh the priceyness at any given time. Just think about it, they might cost you more upfront but there will be no need for restitching.

These threads are usually used for marine, outdoor and awning applications. In addition to that, they are slightly trickier to sew than a regular thread. A great alternative to these two sturdy thread types is polyester. Polyester is pretty famous for its durability, strength, sturdiness and low shrinkage. And, polyester has proven to be quite resistant to UV rays, too! In addition to that, moisture will have little to no effect on it.

However, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will inevitably lead to weakening. Also, when it comes to the colors, a polyester thread comes in a number of them, which makes it quite easy to match to almost any fabric.

However, these colors will fade significantly after being exposed to the sun. Also, the thread produced today will most likely outlast the one that was produced more than 20 years ago. However, you have to take the technology advancements into consideration, too. Just think about the dying, spinning, and twisting technology. And, add the evolution and improvement of genetic engineering of cotton plants!

Cotton is a natural fiber, right? Well, that means it will naturally degrade and deteriorate over time. I got some of my favourites there for a ridiculous price. Oh, and our local Vietnamese greengrocer does that, too we just discussed this with father this morning! And speaking of the greengrocery thing, I recently bought two large nectarines: one was already kinda spoilt at one place, so that got eaten quick; but the other one was unharmed and survived in the fridge for nearly another week.

I always had the vague idea that old thread was no good and when I used some and had trouble with one particular reel breaking endlessly I threw the rest out. I shall keep any reels that I come across from now on and see what happens. It will cost you more in time and frustration than it is worth. Of all the vintage threads I love Sylko thread the most. It was huge, after all these years I have most of it left, even though I have used up a lot…. About half of teh spools are so old that they are made of wood and I think the oldest, but to this day I have had no problems at all with threads breaking except once.

A white cotton thread on a wooden spool that I made an 18th century gown with, keeps braking. I like some of the theories here. You see that a lot in other areas of consumerism.

Museums have to store and handle them carefully or the fibers in the weave develope weak spots. Perhaps, the thinking is that if fabric can disintegrate over time, why not threads. I think people confuse natural i. I love that you find a use for that stuff—much better than simply hoarding.

How infinitely cool to use the same tool another seamstress used in a different time! I too have my Nanas old threads. I love the older thicker cottons for decorative stitching on quilts and wall hangings.

I know some people have trouble with them in their more modern machines. But I use my Bernina with no problems. My theory is, if it can cope with the tension of a sewing machine, it must be okay. I also sometimes do a manual break test. I have a whole bunch of vintage thread too — I have never ever had a problem, and alot of time I find my vintage sylko is far superior to cheaper modern cotton — but that may just be that I will buy cheap cotton as I am poor!!

Well, I certainly find the price of thrifted vintage sylko is a nice added bonus to how well it works! Not the fabric ripping — the thread disintegrating.

Just something to consider. I was also gifted a box of vintage straight pins that are SO much stronger than new pins. I find old straight pins are stronger — but also thicker. I prefer finer pins, so buy new ones. This is so good to hear from a professional, as I always see pretty vintage spools at thrift stores!

Let us know how they go! And then you can go buy all the other pretty ones you ever find. At least you live far enough away to not be competition. Sure hope the 60 spools of Belding Corticelli Silcor coming my way are as well-behaved as your older polyester threads!

In fact, for conservation work I much prefer the threads that look and act more like the original. I would rather stabilize a silk garment with old silk thread than with new polyester thread.

Thank you for sharing Karen. There is more than one way to support a museums collections literally! And I imagine early rayon and polyester may have had some stability issues. Love all the comments…I too thought old thread was not to be used…but when I tested some old thread I have, the other day, it was fine…still had the strength of new thread…so now I will surely take note of any threads I will see in the op shops…. What about silk thread? I think if you try it and it works, you should be good to go.

I have noticed using older thread sometimes requires me to do extra cleaning on my machine under the plate. Loved reading about you. I intended only one test reply but your system response time was slow so I tried again. I just finished doing some informal strength testing of some older and newer threads. Did not notice any lower strength for the older thread.

Strength tested just by pulling until they broke. Did this several times for each and compared how hard I had to pull for each. For comparison, I also tested some relatively recent plastic spools of that same thread brand and thread type. The thread from the older gold spools actually seemed stronger and no thicker! Comparing them with a 5X eye loop magnifying glass showed that the twist was usually tighter on the older thread, ie more twists per given length.

Looks like a waxy coating coming off. But that happened only on the outermost winding layer on the spool, the thread underneath looks brand new. However it is nylon, not polyester, so maybe not the best for continuous exposure to sunlight UV. Thanks for the thread.

Thank you for sharing this post!! I too inherited old thread and also found a large amount in an antique sewing table purchased at an estate sale. Great Grandma taught Grandma who taught Mom who taught me and the lessons and traditions follow through the generations. There is a reason why Great Grandma used only cotton thread. That's all there was at that time. If we use cotton thread because of tradition, that's not a good reason. If we use cotton thread because we like it, that's a great reason.

What about shrinkage? Quality fabrics do not shrink like the old days. Most are pre-treated for shrinkage. And even if there is some shrinkage, it isn't realistic to expect a woven cotton fabric and a twisted cotton thread to shrink in equal proportions. Use quality fabric and thread and there should be minimal worry about shrinkage.

Thread will not tear through a fabric solely due to its fiber content. If a thread ever tears through a fabric, it is because it won the strength contest.

In a battle of heavy use and high stress placed on a quilt, the strongest component will always win. It is not accurate to say that a polyester thread is stronger than cotton. It is a very well known brand, widely available, and is one of the top selling machine quilting and piecing threads. It is twice as strong as a comparable polyester thread. Although it isn't labeled as such, it is coated with a glaze which strengthens the cotton fibers and makes the thread rather wiry.

In a strength test, it beats a comparable size poly, rayon, and metallic every time. In a heavily used quilt, this stiff, wiry cotton thread could do more damage than a soft polyester thread. The point is this: The traditions, myths, and rumors that polyester thread will tear the quilt are not true.

Under extreme use, a strong polyester thread might, but so will a strong, glazed cotton thread. Under normal use, softer non-glazed threads will not tear through the fabric and it is perfectly fine to use any type of quality thread, except nylon. Nylon will go brittle and discolor over time.

Choose your threads based on quality, feel, and appearance, avoiding wiry glazed threads. Although they are rarely labeled as such, if the thread is stiff and wiry, it most likely has a glaze coating.

Whether you are creating a showpiece or a daily-use quilt that will be put to the ultimate tests, it is perfectly fine to use quality polyester or non-glazed cotton thread. Which fiber type will last longer? Poly will last a lot longer than cotton. But then, after 80 or years, the quilt has served us well and we should expect some deterioration.

What good is a masterpiece that is locked away in an airtight closet? Quilts should be enjoyed and shared. That's how memories are made. View All.

So Fine! Scissors Superior Snippers. Stabilizers Dissolve. Superior Blog View Our Blog. Search Site. Q: Does over-dying thread affect strength? Q: Can I recycle empty cones and spools? Here are some great suggestions we have received over the years: I wrap my binding around an empty thread cone I then put it on the upright spool holder Spools can be strung to become cute garland to hang on your tree or create a spool wreath!

B If you have kids or grandkids, a fun activity is transforming empty cones into kaleidoscopes! O There's a lot that can be done with empty cones and spools if you spend a little bit of time being creative. Q: Does thread go bad over time? Q: Is it true that European-made threads have a patented twist? S twist and Z twist visualized. Q: How do I stop the thread from breaking when using a cone?