thread for hand sewing

[walletman]

hi thanx in advanice wot is best tread for hand sawing i am useing some polyester stuff at minite but it brakes tangels knots up and is generally rubbish thanx again bob

[Hilly]

It depends on what you're stitching, and whether you are stitching by hand, or using a machine.

For general hand stitching, a lot of folks use waxed linen thread.

[Rawhide]

I use Barbour's unwaxed flax sinew (#5 cord), and wax it myself with beeswax.

Marlon

[yaklady]

I never did try sawing with thread. That would be a new experience. I saw someone saw a hunk of wax with thread once.

Seriously, though, I use 4-cord or 7-cord unwaxed linen thread for all my hand sewing. I run it across some paraffin wax before use to keep it from fraying. It comes from Beiler's Manufacturing and Supply in Pennsylvania, phone, 717-768-0174. It comes in several colors, but I just use white. You can always dye it. It looks professional when you're done. I use haness needles to sew with.

The waxed linen thread you get at Tandy's is too bulky and too waxy to give you good results. The best thing for you is to try several different things to see what works best for you.

Kathy

[xlr8tn]

Here's where I got my stuff -- http://www.royalwoodltd.com/cat14-17aw.htm

I was looking for 18/8 waxed linen thread and now I have more than enough for awhile.

-brent

I never did try sawing with thread. That would be a new experience. I saw someone saw a hunk of wax with thread once.

Seriously, though, I use 4-cord or 7-cord unwaxed linen thread for all my hand sewing. I run it across some paraffin wax before use to keep it from fraying. It comes from Beiler's Manufacturing and Supply in Pennsylvania, phone, 717-768-0174. It comes in several colors, but I just use white. You can always dye it. It looks professional when you're done. I use haness needles to sew with.

The waxed linen thread you get at Tandy's is too bulky and too waxy to give you good results. The best thing for you is to try several different things to see what works best for you.

Kathy

[Tina]

Hi all:-)

Is there a way of making sense of this thread-chinese?

I bought a Myers awl and got some thread with it on a reel, super I loved the thickness and the durability to that thread, never broke on me. Now, I have tried to figure out how to get a big spole of that one (not buying this small reels that seams to be all over the place) but whatever I buy/see seams to be the wrong one :-( So, I know it is a 3 ply one, got a spool from one suplyer, 3 ply but it's thinner, scwimpy and brakes all the time and getting me just MAD!!! Ok, I get the 7 ply one from the same supplier...to thick, can't get it thru the needle *grrr*

Does anyone know where to get the myers thread in a big spool and what I should be looking for?

Greatful for any translation of this thread code that make absolutly no sense to me//Tina

[tazzmann]

I am with you on this one Tina. Thread talk makes no sense to me. Can someone explain the "ply"'s and sizing of thread? I am usually a lace guy, but want to do more in the hand stitching area. I have never used a sewing machine and until recently haven't done any hand stitching in about 15 years. Even then, I just went and looked at thread and said "yup. That's about the right size."

Thanks!

[Doug C]

Kathy,

I am interested in finding some unwaxed linen thread, so I called Beiler's in PA and was told the smallest spool they had now was a 2 lb. for $48. I am wondering if there is another supplier I could purchase a smaller amount from.

Thanks,

Doug

[yaklady]

Kathy,

I am interested in finding some unwaxed linen thread, so I called Beiler's in PA and was told the smallest spool they had now was a 2 lb. for $48. I am wondering if there is another supplier I could purchase a smaller amount from.

Thanks,

Doug

Doug,

That's the only place I have found. Someone else mentioned a place once before on this forum, but I can't remember who or when. How much are you wanting? I could send you some of my 2 pounds if you don't think you'll ever use that much. The 4-cord comes in 1 pound for $25. It has been very useful to me, too.

Kathy

[Doug C]

Kathy,

Beiler's did not have 4 cord currently, that's what I asked for but they were out of stock and 5 cord was the smallest size available. The person I talked to implied they had ordered 4 cord to restock but didn't know when it would be available.

Thank's for offering some of yours. I think I remember seeing another supplier somewhere. Not sure if it was here or somewhere else. I'll check around some before I take you up on your offer.

Doug

[howardb]

I think this question has come up on a monthly basis and it never gets a final answer.

Bob - shortest answer: get some from Tandy for now. Just call and ask them to help you pick one. They have both machine and hand stitching threads, and will be able to advise you on a choice. It will be better than fabric sewing thread no matter which kind you get.

None of the advice above is bad, it's just what works for each person, and several of them may work for you too.

As you learn & try things, you will find what works best for you. Smaller lighter duty projects need lighter smaller threads than something heavy duty like a holster or saddle. BUT ALL hand stitching thread will be 3-4 times thicker than the heaviest of fabric sewing threads.

I asked Maine Thread company how to compare things and I got a neat-o card in the mail with samples of all their colors and weights of thread, but no answer to the eternal question.

I have sought the mountaintop gurus and no help from them either.

Ply's, Cords, Nylon, Polyester, Sinew, Linen, gage... it all makes me nutso. But the good news is if you sort of ignore all that, you will still end up with something that works. I found 25yard cards ($2.50) of hand stitching thread at HOBBY LOBBY of all places!! They even had a pack of needles that were the right size and seem better than the Tandy kit needles. They have a small leather craft area in the store with just a few basic supplies & kits geared toward scouting or indian guides. I've used some of that thread and it's not all bad. It claims to be waxed, but I re-waxed it and that helped.

Good luck. I hope someday to answer this question once and for all!! It's becoming a personal mission...

Brent

[ferret]

Found this explanation for thread sizes, don't know if it's local or international

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/sizes.htm

[Art]

Hi Tina,

There are darned near as many thread systems as there are thread manufacturers, maybe more. Here's a little technical detail about the differences. Slow reading, a lot of info.

Thread_Sizes.htm

Don't know who did the work, but most of the info seems correct.

Art

Hi all:-)

Is there a way of making sense of this thread-chinese?

I bought a Myers awl and got some thread with it on a reel, super I loved the thickness and the durability to that thread, never broke on me. Now, I have tried to figure out how to get a big spole of that one (not buying this small reels that seams to be all over the place) but whatever I buy/see seams to be the wrong one :-( So, I know it is a 3 ply one, got a spool from one suplyer, 3 ply but it's thinner, scwimpy and brakes all the time and getting me just MAD!!! Ok, I get the 7 ply one from the same supplier...to thick, can't get it thru the needle *grrr*

Does anyone know where to get the myers thread in a big spool and what I should be looking for?

Greatful for any translation of this thread code that make absolutly no sense to me//Tina

Thread_Sizes.htm

[Hilly]

Kathy,

I am interested in finding some unwaxed linen thread, so I called Beiler's in PA and was told the smallest spool they had now was a 2 lb. for $48. I am wondering if there is another supplier I could purchase a smaller amount from.

Thanks,

Doug

These guys sell spools for $42. Not much better pricing, but sixbux is sixbux.

http://campbell-bosworth.com/catalog/index...e2d4987195ad393

[Frayed01]

Here's my donation

Notes_About_Thread.doc

Notes_About_Thread.doc

[Tina]

Hi Tina,

There are darned near as many thread systems as there are thread manufacturers, maybe more. Here's a little technical detail about the differences. Slow reading, a lot of info.

Thread_Sizes.htm

Don't know who did the work, but most of the info seems correct.

Art

Thank You Art and all:-)

I have read ever link here to try and make sense av it all. It seams like the 3-ply thread that is on the awl is just one manufacters version and others are not quite the same *grrrr* Well, one link had a #277 4-ply thread that I just ordered I hope this one will work better and not brake on me all the time as the 3-ply #207 thread. I was so frustrated I tossed the work in a corner...And i grump at it every time I look at it, I sooo want to finish of the 2 project.

Again, Thank you for all info, I'm sooo Happy this web site excists:-)

[tazzmann]

I would also like to extend my thanks to all, the links helped a LOT in understanding this alien thing called thread!

[Art]

Hi Tina et al,

One good thing (among the many) about linen is that you can double and even triple it up to make bigger sizes. Needless to say, don't do this in a machine. I can't double up nylon or poly and have it look any kind of decent. Of course, using the proper cord thread is always the best.

Barbour's has always made good thread, if a bit pricey, but it is a quality product. I received a spool of 4 cord once that was marked 4/20 instead of the standard 4 cord which is 4/18, now the difference between 4/18 and 4/20 has to be indiscernible at best, even with an optical comparator, but they took the time to measure and mark it anyway. The little things are important.

Art

Thank You Art and all:-)

I have read ever link here to try and make sense av it all. It seams like the 3-ply thread that is on the awl is just one manufacters version and others are not quite the same *grrrr* Well, one link had a #277 4-ply thread that I just ordered I hope this one will work better and not brake on me all the time as the 3-ply #207 thread. I was so frustrated I tossed the work in a corner...And i grump at it every time I look at it, I sooo want to finish of the 2 project.

Again, Thank you for all info, I'm sooo Happy this web site excists:-)

[ETW Grumpy]

walletman, I do mostly wallets and I use waxed Irish linen thread from Royalwood, Ltd.

http://www.royalwoodltd.com/cat14-17ar.htm

I use mostly their 7 ply, but did use the 4 ply to do some very small custom stitches. Hope this helps.

[Leerwerker]

A really super thread is any of the new colors of braided waxed thread carried by Tandy! For hand sewing that is just the best!

Hope this helps!

JOhan

hi thanx in advanice wot is best tread for hand sawing i am useing some polyester stuff at minite but it brakes tangels knots up and is generally rubbish thanx again bob

[tonyc1]

A really super thread is any of the new colors of braided waxed thread carried by Tandy! For hand sewing that is just the best!

Hope this helps!

JOhan

Yes, if it is the same as I get it really is good to use. I believe there are only 3 colours, black,brown and white and I was told it comes from Germany.

Tony

[Leerwerker]

You can see the braided thread at

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/product...=259&Page=2

look at the bottom of the page, any of the items starting with 11210-

[Tiffany]

I use the Royalwoodltd waxed Irish linen thread...7 and 12 cord depending

on how heavy the leather is. It's top notch. Lots of colors too, but a little

hard on the pocketbook if you want to stock a lot of colors.

[CircleZSaddlery]

Maine Thread provides small quantity spools for hand stitching. I use the .045 but they have other sizes as well. This is waxed poly and is strong. The folks there are really great and easy to work with. Contact Ron Vallee at: ron@mainethread.com or check out their web site. 

[Brianm77]

Here is what I use mostly.  It is very similar to tiger thread but cheaper and comes in more colors. 

 

http://www.acathreads.co.za/images/Shade Cards/Amann/Serabraid_ColourCard_Scan.pdf