Hand Stitching With White Thread

[GaryWGraley]

I feel your pain, there is a new trend in so called 'white thread' that is a polyester, and the white that you initially see is the wax they applied to the thread, but, when you start sewing, the wax comes off and leaves that bland looking polyester see through thread that does not give us that pop that the old white thread would do !!! 

I am currently in the hunt for some thread, my old thread came from Weaver Leather but when I recently bought some from them, it was NOT the same and I returned it, Tandy was the same and I tried a different place, same thing.  Today I got a roll of thread that kept it's white look but is pretty thin so not great but maybe passable until I locate a good source.

Here's a shot of a sheath I did a few years ago, the white really pops and makes great contrast

 

sheath_cityknife by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

here is one with some thread that the 'white' rubbed off during sewing, you can see that the polyester is what is now showing, not near the pop, holds secure but doesn't have that nice contrast I need.

Tribal Lock by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

IF I can locate a good source, I'll leave info here if that is allowed.

G2

Edited May 21, 2018 by GaryWGraley

[zuludog]

I see you are using white linen thread.

Try using Tandy's waxed white nylon thread, #1227 - 03, it is more resistant to discolouration; and a bit cheaper than linen.

Of course if you or your customer insist on linen you still have the same problem

[Matt S]

Have you tried a white wax? Harness makers used to use a mixture containing white lead when doing fancy stitching. Nowadays we know how toxic white lead is, but powdered chalk or something similar mixed into melted beeswax would probably keep the thread white for longer.

[CaptQuirk]

I'm having the same problem, and that is using the Tandy waxed nylon thread. In some cases, I have hit the seam with a little saddle soap, and it sometimes cleans it up. I am so tempted to try hitting it with a cotton swab dipped in bleach.

[gmace99]

It could be the thread you are using 

When I teach I always have the students stitch with white thread. This is so that they can see their mistakes 

it is rare that they get the thread dirty 

 

the thread we we use in the trade is a poly cotton core spun