Sewing thread is made from materials like cotton, polyester, and nylon. It must have several key properties to perform well for sewing, including good tensile strength to hold seams securely, tenacity for strength and reduced breakage, and optimum elongation to stretch before breaking. Other important qualities are proper lubrication to reduce wear, suitable twist level to prevent fraying, good elasticity to recover shape after tension, low shrinkage to prevent puckering, high abrasion resistance during sewing, and good color fastness to maintain its hue over time and washing.

1. Properties of sewing thread

2. Sewing thread
• Thread is a type of yarn used for sewing.
Material:
Cotton, Cotton/polyester, Fusible, Linen,
Metallics, Nylon, Polyester, Rayon, Silk, Wool,
Water-soluble

3. 1. Good tensile strength
• Tensile strength is a measurement of the force
required to pull the thread to the point where it
breaks.
• Good tensile strength holds the stitched seam
securely during wash and wear.

4. 2. Good tenacity
• Tenacity is the relative strength obtained by
dividing the tensile strength by the thickness of
the structure (strength per size).
• Using a higher tenacity thread reduces thread
breakage and re-stitched seams, reduces seam
failure, and allows the use of a smaller
diameter thread.

5. 3. Optimum elongation
• The term elongation refers to the amount that a
thread stretches before it breaks, or reaches its
breaking point.
• Elongation at break, also known as fracture
strain, is the ratio between changed length and
initial length after breakage of the thread.

6. 3. Optimum elongation
• If a thread measuring 100 cm can be stretched
to 110 cm, at which point it breaks, it is said to
have 10 per cent elongation at break.
• Elongation at break is expressed as a
percentage of its original length.

7. 4. Proper lubrication
• Prevents thread burn out
• Cools the needle during sewing
• Reduces wear and tear of machine parts
• Increases seam strength

8. 5. Suitable twist
• Twist is defined as the number of turns
inserted per meter (TPM) of yarn or thread
produced.
• If the twist is too low, the yarns may fray and
break.
• If too high, it can cause snarling or looping
resulting in thread breakage.

9. 6. Good elasticity
• Elasticity is the ability of thread to resist a
distorting influence or stress and to return to its
original size and shape when the stress is
removed.

10. 6. Good elasticity
• Good elasticity enables thread to recover its
original length immediately after the tension
has been released.
• The elasticity of sewing thread affects the
strength and the finished quality of a stitched
seam.

11. 7. Low shrinkage
• The dimensional change of sewing thread after
washing with water or heat is called shrinkage.
• Shrinkage is expressed as percentage.

12. 7. Low shrinkage
• Due to the shrinkage of threads, seam pucker
is occurred.
• Low shrinkage of the thread being used on the
fabric material with higher shrinkage reduces
the chances of seam puckering.

13. 8. High abrasion resistance
• Abrasion resistance is the frictional resistance
of one sewing thread to another.
• It has great importance to determine the
sewing performance of thread.
• Good abrasion resistance ensures a good
sewing performance and makes the thread
more durable.

14. 9. Good color fastness
• Color fastness is very important factor for the
sewing thread.
• The color durability of sewing thread against
sunlight and wash must be as like as garments.

15. 9. Good color fastness
• Good color fastness provides immunity to the
different agents the thread is exposed to during
manufacture and washing.
• The thread must hence be uniformly dyed.