There are a lot of reasons why people buy thread. Whether you’re purchasing thread for the first time, or you’ve been embroidering for years, there may be many different reasons you choose to use the thread you use. Some people use the thread brand that came with their machine. Other embroiderers tend to buy thread based on color needs rather than brands. There are always those who buy based on price, and the cheapest price often seems to win. There are a lot of reasons people choose the thread they use, but one that isn’t often considered is consistency.
A consistent thread retains the same properties over time. The hues of the dyes used to color the thread don’t vary. The tensile strength of the thread remains constant. The cost of the thread stays reasonably steady. The quality of the thread doesn’t vary from lot to lot. The results you got when you used the thread the first time should, if the thread is consistent, be the results you get when you use the thread for the thirty-third time. Consistency in thread matters for several reasons.
Reason 1: Colors Don’t Change
If you’ve ever spent hours finding just the right shade of thread for a customer’s order, you know how important it is that colors stay constant. Once you find that perfect color for the customer’s logo, you need to know that color will match every time you do the order, with each spool of thread you use. Customers can be very picky about color matching. The last thing you need is a thread color that varies with every dye lot. A consistent thread will maintain color integrity across dye lots. The dye recipe will be precise and will be followed precisely.
Reason 2: Strength And Durability
A thread that breaks all the time is a thread that slows down production, something no one wants. An inconsistent thread is one that will have weak spots, areas where the fibers are uneven or aren’t as thick. It won’t hold tension well and may be more prone to thread breaks. A consistent thread, by contrast, will be without weak spots. It will sew smoothly and won’t be prone to breakage. Fewer thread breaks mean less down time which means less loss production time, which means a win for your bottom line.
Reason 3: Price
Consistent thread is, generally, not the least expensive thread on the block, but the benefits of consistency are worth paying a little more. It’s also unlikely that the price for a consistent thread will fluctuate much, since the manufacturer will have sourced quality supplies and secured their supply chain. If thread cost makes up a large part of your business budget, having a thread with a price you can rely on is key.
Reason 4: Sew-Out
Thread that is consistent will perform the same every time you sew a design. If all the parameters remain constant, the thread won’t sew perfectly one time and become a snarled-up mess the next. A thread you can rely on is one that is predictable. If you constantly have to tinker with your machine settings or the speed at which it stitches to get an acceptable sew-out you’ll be losing time and money and definitely adding stress to your day that no business owner needs.
There are many reasons embroiderers choose to use they thread they use, and none of them are right or wrong. In the end, the thread that works for you is the best thread to use. If you’re still searching for your “best” thread, we invite you to give Candle Thread a try. Our trial offer will let you take our thread for a spin without investing a ton to do so.
Writer For Graphic Pro Magazine, Apparelist And Screen Print Magazine. Former Director Of Marketing For EnMart.
