Threads-1.3

Question 1

what are sewing machine threads made from?

Answer 1

Polyester fibres

Question 2

why are polyester fibres used in sewing machine thread production?

Answer 2

because polyester fibres are:
-strong
-they have a degree of give so they are good to use with stretch fabrics
-they do not shrink
-they are resistant to rot

Question 3

what form are the polyester fibres in?

Answer 3

filament form- however the fibres are either covered with a sheath of cotton fibres or cut to staple length and spun into a sewing thread because on their own the friction caused by the sewing machine needle causes them to soften and break.

Question 4

what are the 6 different specialist threads?

Answer 4

-quiliting thread
-buttonhole thread
-elastic thread
-invisible thread
-overlocking thread
-fusible thread

Question 5

what are the two different types of embroidery thread?

Answer 5

-machine embroidery thread
-stranded embroidery cotton thread

Question 6

what happens to the cotton fibres in stranded embroidery cotton thread?

Answer 6

they are mercerised to help improve dye uptake, strength, lustre and reduce shrinkage.

Question 7

what twist is stranded embroidery thread made from?

Answer 7

S twist- the twist is much looser and you can easily separate stranded embroidery thread into 6 separate strands.

Question 8

what twist is used in machine sewing thread?

Answer 8

Z twist- the twists are much tighter and the threads are hard to separate

Question 9

what are the 4 different special effect threads?

Answer 9

-metallic threads
-glow in the dark threads
-metallic-effect threads
-multi-coloured / variegated threads

Question 10

how are metallic threads made?

Answer 10

By core spinning:
1. you can loosely wrap fine yarn around a core metal laminate
2. by wrapping coloured metallic foil around a polyester, viscose or nylon core thread

Question 11

what are metallic effect threads made from?

Answer 11

synthetic fibres which give a lustrous 3D effect and look like metal

Question 12

what is the advantage of metallic-effect threads over metallic threads?

Answer 12

metallic-effect threads are easier to work with

Question 13

what are glow in the dark threads made from?

Answer 13

from coated polyester which has a phosphoescent pigment- the thread is ‘charged’ by exposure to light.

Question 14

what do multi-coloured/ verietgated threads have?

Answer 14

repeating multi-coloured dye patterns running throughout.