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What to Do With Old Thread

How to Store and Protect Old Thread

I can’t tell you how helpful your website has been to me. I’ve been selling my hand sewn items at craft fairs for a couple of years. After reading a lot of the business advice on your site, both my sales and my profit margins have increased! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I’m really trying to focus on keeping my costs down to improve my margins further. My question is whether it is worthwhile to stock up on thread when I find standard colors at a bargain price. I’ve had problems in the past using thread that had been sitting around for awhile.

Karen

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Thank you for the “thank you’s!

I can think of at least three reasons why your old thread did not yield the quality it used to.

First, sewing thread that came on wooden or styrofoam spools weakened over time because of chemicals in the spool that react with fabric.

Second, if the thread was not kept dust-free, lint may be affecting the thread tension as well as collecting in your machine.

Third, the sewing thread may not be appropriate to your new project.

Oops, I lied – I just thought of a fourth possible reason. You may have used a different type of thread in the bobbin.

Just because they were the same color red does not mean they will work well together.

In general, you should buy thread specifically for the project at hand. Read the article Sewing Tips: The Right Thread for more information on what type and weight of sewing thread to buy for whatever you're sewing. One size definitely does not fit all.

Buy high quality tightly wound thread that looks smooth like a strand of healthy hair when held up to the light. Cheap linty thread may clog and damage your machine.

If you do want to stock up when you see a good thread sale, be sure the spools are not wood or foam. Keep the thread in its original wrapper and store in a cool, dark place.

Polyester sewing thread is the best choice for stocking up because of its versatility. It can be machine washed and dried or dry cleaned, is colorfast and has a slight amount of stretch.

Wind a fresh bobbin when you dig into your stock of older thread to be sure of a perfect match and proper thread tension.

And, for heaven’s sake, never wind one thread over a partly filled bobbin. It may seem like a time saver, but your tension will not be even because the outermost thread is not secured to the bobbin. When winding the bobbin, keep a steady medium speed to assure uniform tension.

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Recommended Reading

These books are excellent resources for sewers of all skill levels.

Sew to Success: How to Make Money in a Home-Based Sewing Business
By: Kathleen Spike

Simplicity's Simply the Best Sewing Book
By: Anne Marie Soto

Sewing for Dummies
By: Janice Saunders Maresh

The Complete Book of Sewing: A Practical Step-By-Step Guide to Every Technique
By: Chris Jefferys

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