Sewing thread has been around for a long time for closing shut two ends of material but easy, trouble-free sewing that lasts for the life of the product has been a challenge.
Modern material like polyester has helped achieve these and is a popular material for making bag closing thread.
Bag closing thread is widely made with spun polyester filament and these strands of filament are twisted to form one homogeneous thread. The number of strands used can vary depending on the application for example 12/5 means a filament that is 12's count that is folded 5 times (count is the measure of thickness, smaller the number thicker the thread – 12s count is finer than 10s count).
The resulting thickness of the thread matters for sewing as the thread has to pass through the needle head smoothly – say if you compare 12/5 and 10/4 the resulting count (2.4/2.5) is almost the same but 12/5 would be a better choice as it uses a finer thread and a greater number of strands makes it stronger and number of imperfections would be less compared to the coarser 10/4s thread.
When the thread is guided through the sewing machine it passes through many eye opening and through tension devices to enable uniform stitching. If a poor-quality thread is used it may damage or unsettle the tension device leading to problems with sewing.
As a customer, shop for the best price but at the same time ensure a quality thread that is fit for the purpose. Things to consider selecting thread for your application:
- Machine downtime and maintenance.
- Wear and tear of sewing machine/tension mechanism because of lint buildup
- Tangling and thread wastage.
All these can be reduced dramatically just by changing to a better-quality thread. This will prolong the life of your sewing machine and make for happy stitching.
Some important Thread properties you can consider:
- Strength & Durability: Strength and durability that is fit for the purpose.
- Uniform Diameter - no variation in thickness
- Surface Lubricity amount of frictional resistance offered by the surface of the sewing thread.
- Suppleness - ease with which a loop is formed and is essential for a machine formed stitch
- Low elongation - amount of stress on the thread can cause the thread to elongate
- Torque Free (Balanced Twist) - to minimize kinking, tangling and missed stitches
- Low Linting Characteristic - lint causes sewing thread breaks and unbalanced stitches.
- Resistance to Needle Heat - withstand the heat due to friction with the needle and the fabric.
- Free of Knots, Variation of Twist or Broken Pieces - higher machine and labor productivity.
Happy sewing!
Rainbow Industrial Threads