Thread question

[Rawhide]

My wife was commissioned to sew a large pillow cushion (42" x 42" with 3" gussets). She wants to know the best size thread to use. It looks to be about 4/5 oz, upholstery grade hide, not a real smooth hide like chap, but a little grainy.

If any more info is needed let me know and I'll post.

Thanks,

Marlon

[steveh]

Marlon,

My choice would nylon or poly size 69 or 99 thread.

Steve

[Rawhide]

  steveh said:

Marlon,

My choice would nylon or poly size 69 or 99 thread.

Steve

Thanks Steve. I would have guessed 138. Looks like I guessed too big. I forgot to mention the cushion will be used for a large dog.

[Bree]

#69 bonded nylon would be my pick. A medium weight industrial machine will easily sew the leather and the focus will be on the pillow and not the stitches. The nylon thread has good stretch and flex and is quite strong... over 11 lbs tensile strength which should be more than enough for the intended application.

[Rawhide]

Thanks Bree,

Guess I was thinking too thick!!

[Bree]

  Rawhide said:

Thanks Bree,

Guess I was thinking too thick!!

You might be thinking right. It depends on what role you want the thread to play. Strength wise going up a notch will give you about 1/3rd more strength. The question is do you need it?

You can get many times the strength of #69 by thickening the thread. If you stress the item with 2 pounds of tension you have a lot of overkill. But if your purpose is to show off the thread, then the thickness becomes decorative and not for strength.

That may be valuable in the designer's mind. Ask her! Heck you may have to hand stitch it with 6 cord!! LOL Or buckstitch it with contrasting lace!!

Edited January 15, 2009 by Bree