Environmentally friendly sewing thread

Things to note when sewing thick fabrics in sewing thread

During the sewing process, sewing thick fabrics is often challenging, and higher requirements are placed on the performance and operating skills of the sewing thread. Whether it is making denim clothing, thick home fabrics, or leather products, mastering the correct methods and precautions can ensure that the sewing thread performs the best results when sewing thick fabrics, making the finished product firm and beautiful. The following details the key points of sewing thread when sewing thick fabrics from multiple aspects.

1. Choose the right sewing thread

(I) Material consideration

When sewing thick fabrics, sewing thread materials with high strength and good wear resistance are preferred. Polyester and nylon sewing threads are ideal, they have excellent tensile strength, can withstand the greater tension of thick fabrics during sewing and use, and are not prone to breaking. For example, when sewing denim fabrics, polyester sewing threads can ensure that the joints are firm and maintain good condition even after multiple wear and washing. In addition, high-strength thread is also a common option for sewing thick fabrics. It has undergone special process processing, has a tight fiber structure and is far stronger than ordinary sewing threads. It is suitable for extremely thick and hard fabrics such as leather and canvas.

In contrast, cotton thread has relatively weak strength and wear resistance and is not suitable for sewing thick fabrics unless it is specially treated high-strength cotton thread. The silk thread has a soft texture and is limited in strength. It is easily worn or pulled out during sewing of thick fabrics. It is generally not recommended to use it.

(2) Selection of thickness of line

The thickness of the sewing thread has a significant impact on the sewing effect. When sewing thick fabrics, thicker sewing threads should be used. Thick lines can better penetrate thick fabrics, forming tight and firm stitches, enhancing the strength of connection between fabrics. The specific thread number should be chosen based on the thickness of the fabric. Usually, the thicker the fabric, the thicker the sewing thread required. For example, lines 40-50 can be used for sewing regular denim, while lines 20-30 canvas and other fabrics are required. But it should also be noted that too thick threads may leave obvious stitches on the surface of the fabric, affecting the aesthetics, so you need to find a balance between strength and aesthetics.

(III) Color and color fastness

The color selection should be coordinated with the fabric, and you can choose the same color system or contrasting color according to the design needs. If you want the stitching to be less conspicuous, choose a sewing thread that is similar to the fabric color; if you want to highlight the decorative effect, you can choose a contrasting color. At the same time, since items made of thick fabrics are usually used frequently and may require frequent washing, it is necessary to ensure that the sewing thread has a high color fastness to prevent fading during the washing process and affect the appearance and quality of the finished product.

2. Adjust the sewing machine settings

(I) Replace the appropriate needle

Ordinary needles may not penetrate smoothly when sewing thick fabrics, and may even bend or break. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the special needle according to the material and thickness of the thick fabric. For example, if you sew denim, you can use a denim needle, which has sharp and high strength; if you sew leather, you need to use a leather needle, which has a wedge-shaped needle, which can reduce the puncture damage to the fabric. The model of the needle must also match the thickness of the sewing thread. Generally, thick thread is paired with thick needles to ensure that the thread can pass through the needle hole smoothly and avoid problems such as broken threads and jumping threads.

(II) Adjust the needle distance and presser foot pressure

Appropriately increasing the needle distance will help the needle penetrate the thick fabric and prevent the fabric from being damaged by excessive puncture. Generally speaking, when sewing thick fabrics, the needle spacing can be adjusted to 3 - 4 mm, but the specific values ​​need to be fine-tuned according to the actual situation of the fabric. At the same time, the pressure of the presser foot should be increased so that the thick fabric can be transported smoothly during the sewing process, avoiding uneven feeding and crooked stitching. The presser foot pressure can be adjusted through the pressure adjustment knob on the sewing machine, and the seams are tested on small pieces of thick fabric to further optimize the settings according to the effect.

(III) Adjust line tension

When sewing thick fabrics, the tension adjustment of the thread is particularly important. The tension between the online and offline needs to be appropriately increased to ensure that the stitches are tight and flat. If the tension is too small, the stitches will be loose and the thick fabric cannot be effectively fixed; if the tension is too large, it may cause the fabric to shrink or break the thread. When adjusting, you can first adjust the tension to a larger value, and then try the seams on a small piece of thick fabric to observe the state of the stitches. The ideal stitch should be that the upper and lower lines are evenly intertwined in the middle of the fabric, and they are both flat and tight from the front and back of the fabric. If the stitches are not ideal, gradually adjust the tension until satisfactory results are achieved.

3. Key points of operation during sewing

(I) Processing of start and end

At the beginning and end of sewing, a needle back operation is performed to strengthen the beginning and end of the suture to prevent loose ends. The length of the back needle is generally 1 - 2 cm, ensuring that the suture is securely secured in thick fabrics. In addition, reserve a thread head of sufficient length to facilitate subsequent processing and avoid the stitching falling off due to too short thread head.

(II) Avoid stopping and leaving quickly

When sewing thick fabrics, keep operating at a constant speed to avoid stopping and leaving quickly. Sudden acceleration or deceleration will cause uneven tension in the sewing thread, which can easily lead to broken threads or uneven stitches. Especially when sewing curves or corners, reduce the sewing speed in advance, make the transition smoothly, and ensure the smoothness and aesthetics of the stitches.

(III) Treatment of overlapping parts of multi-layer fabric

The thick fabric itself is thicker, and the difficulty will further increase when multiple layers of fabric are sewn over and over. Before sewing these parts, you can use awls or tweezers to neatly organize the edges of the fabric to reduce thickness differences. At the same time, slow down the sewing speed appropriately so that the needle and sewing thread can penetrate the multi-layer fabric smoothly. If you encounter a situation where it is difficult to feed the cloth, you can put a layer of tissue paper under the cloth to increase friction and help the cloth pass through the sewing machine smoothly.

(IV) Regular cleaning and maintenance

During the sewing of thick fabrics, the sewing machine is prone to produce more thread chips and fabric chips. These debris will affect the smooth passage of the sewing thread and may even cause failures such as stuck threads and broken threads. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly clean the shuttle bed, thread path and other parts of the sewing machine, and use a special small brush to clean it to ensure the good operating condition of the sewing machine. At the same time, check whether the needle is worn. If the needle is blunt or bent, replace it in time to ensure the sewing quality.

When sewing thick fabrics with sewing thread, every link cannot be ignored, from the selection of sewing threads, the setting and adjustment of the sewing machine, to the operating details during the actual sewing process. Only by paying full attention to these key points can we overcome the problem of sewing thick fabrics and produce a solid and beautiful finished product.