Left Twist, Right Twist?

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Camerius, please don't take my little experiment to mean that I am saying you are wrong! On the contrary; all it proved was that in the manner in which I sewed the sample, the left twist un-twisted and the right twist didn't. I do believe that given a different sequence of inserting the needles and completing the stitch may very well give different results. I try to be very careful in making generalizations that state one way is the only way and everything else is wrong. There are just too many variables in our type of work to say that one way is the only way. The older I get the more I realize this is true of many things in life:)

Bill, I don't think it is so much what the handler does with the thread in his hands, as it is the way the thread passes through the hole and draws tight over the other thread that makes the difference. I'm still not sure what exactly it is at which point that affects the twist, but it's the method and sequence. A left handed stitcher (help me out here lefties) would do things in reverse possibly than a right handed person, hence the theory that a leftie needs left twist. And I don't always sew in the manner in which I did my little experiment. Like I said above, and I don't know if it will be today, but I plan to mix things up a bit and see what happens.

[Camerius]

No worries, Big Sioux. I have no problem being told that I'm wrong at all. I just want to know why I'm wrong, if it so happens, with an informed and logical answer that I can learn and grow from.

[Lippy]

Big Sioux many thanks for doing the extra testing.

FYI, if you read "Jimsaddler's" profile it states he is the "President of The Saddle & Harness Maker Association of Australia" with an interest in hand sewing. Even before I knew his position and history he seemed to always offer good advice and comments.

Happy sewing and long live this forum.

Cheers!

[King's X]

I appreciate the experiment. It really doesn't matter. I buy the same thread and sew the same way (different from when I started). I haven't had any problems to date. Just thought this thread was interesting.

Thanks again!

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I think I bought my right twist linen from Pilgrim years and years ago.

[jrmysell]

Campbell Randall Machinery has some right twist in Barbour's linen thread in different cord sizes. I just ordered some from them. 

[jrmysell]

19 hours ago, Sticks said:

ok thanks alot for this info.

Any ideas re bonded nylon..?

I have tried so many places.

Don't know about the bonded. But for anyone interested, Rocky Mountain Leather Supply has Tiger thread in most (may be all) colors, and different sizes, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2mm. And they have the different sizes of John James Harness Needles. They are a U.S. source, which I know doesn't help you being in the UK, but for everybody else interested in the states. 

Edited July 19, 2016 by jrmysell

[YinTx]

Does anyone have up close photos that illustrate this phenomenon of twist going in the right direction vs. twist going in the wrong direction?  This is a detail I have not noted myself, maybe I've been lucky and used the correct twist for my particular stitching style, or maybe I just didn't know what I should be looking for...  Thanks!

YinTx

[LumpenDoodle2]

Funnily enough, I was sewing a holster last night using tiger thread, and noticed that my length of thread was starting to twist.     Looking closely, my thread had developed a gentle spiral which it didn't noticably do before.

I have obviously developed a habit of turning the needles while sewing.   All I need to do now is work backwards and see where this twist is developing.    Obviously, being tiger thread, it's not a problem regarding unraveling, but it is a good example of a small problem that can multiply itself over a metre or so of stitching.