Sewing Thread: Fibers, Structures, Twist

A sewing thread is a specially engineered yarn designed to pass through a machine at high speed while forming a stitch. As the industry saying goes, there's no perfect thread for all applications, only the perfect thread for a specific application. Choosing it means knowing what properties you need. Here's how thread is built and selected.

Two functions

Thread has to deliver on both, for the life of the product:

• Aesthetics - colour, luster, and fineness (primary for decorative use like topstitch or embroidery), plus hue/shade matching and colour fastness.
• Performance - sewability and seam performance. Thread must survive the abrasion and needle heat of high-speed sewing, the chemicals of finishing and care, and stretch/recovery in wear.

Sewability parameters

Superior sewability means: no breakages at high speed, consistent stitch formation, no skipped stitches, evenness (stable tension), high abrasion resistance, and enough surface smoothness to pass the machine guides.