<div dir="ltr"><div>There are large differences between the types of thread (hand/machine/serger) and types of thread (cotton/nylon/kevlar). It depends on your use case. A thread that does not match your use will perform non-optimally in many cases.<br><br></div><div>The thread I use to make parachutes is completely different from that I use to mend sails.<br></div><div><br></div><div>What are you trying to do?<br><br></div>Matt<br><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">---------<br><b style="color:rgb(51,102,102)">Matthew Campbell</b><br><font size="1">Storage and Cloud Strategy<br>Office of the CTO<br></font><font face="Verdana" size="1"><br></font><b><span style="color:rgb(51,102,102)">Kaiser Permanente</span></b><br><font size="1">99 S. Oakland<br>Pasadena, CA 91101<br></font><br><font size="1"><a>626-564-7228</a> (office)<br></font><font face="Verdana" size="1"><a>8-338-7228</a> (tie-line)<br><a value="+18186918895">818-314-9897</a> (mobile phone)<br>Green Center 3-North, 031W29</font><font size="1"><br></font>---------<br><b><a style="color:rgb(51,102,102)" href="http://kp.org/thrive" target="_blank">kp.org/thrive</a></b><br></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jun 2, 2015 at 3:21 PM, Jeremy Leader <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jleader@alumni.caltech.edu" target="_blank">jleader@alumni.caltech.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">My impression is that hand sewing is the most flexible; depending on the size of your needle, you can sew with anything from spiderwebs to twine. Machine sewing is a little pickier, because the tension has to be adjusted to match the thread and the fabric. Failure modes for machine sewing include breaking thread, or over-feeding and tangling. I think sergers make similar demands on thread, they just use it up a lot faster (because every stitch wraps around the edge of the fabric) so they use larger spools and bobbins.<br>
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As far as fibers go, I don't know much. I know cotton isn't as strong as polyester, but might match the color and texture of cotton fabric better. I've used nylon upholstery thread for hand-sewing heavy-duty repairs (mending things like backpacks and futon covers). I tried some kevlar thread a couple times which was very strong, but I discovered that it's got very poor abrasion resistance. One time it wore through where it rubbed inside the eye of the needle, while I was still sewing with it!<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
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-- <br>
Jeremy Leader<br>
<a href="mailto:jleader@alumni.caltech.edu" target="_blank">jleader@alumni.caltech.edu</a></font></span><span class=""><br>
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On 15-06-02 00:35, <a href="mailto:nopbin@gmail.com" target="_blank">nopbin@gmail.com</a> wrote:<br>
</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><span class="">
Short answer is I don't know. However in our house we always hand sewed<br>
using the same thread as we used for the sewing machine. As far as I<br>
know the serger thread was also the same, just more bobbins. My memory<br>
is that the thread material and weight was always selected based on<br>
compatibility with the garment.<br>
<br>
On Jun 2, 2015 12:16 AM, "Tux Lab" <<a href="mailto:project.tuxlab@gmail.com" target="_blank">project.tuxlab@gmail.com</a><br></span><span class="">
<mailto:<a href="mailto:project.tuxlab@gmail.com" target="_blank">project.tuxlab@gmail.com</a>>> wrote:<br>
<br>
Any quick recommendation for sewing threads? There's too much<br>
information out there. Cotton vs polyester and various weights. . . .<br>
<br>
Does it matter if the thread is used for hand sewing or in a sewing<br>
machine, or in a serger?<br>
<br>
thanks,<br>
<br>
John<br>
</span></blockquote>
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</blockquote></div><br></div>