Thread, thread

**McFarkus** · 8th April 08, 01:08 PM

Thanks, Barb. Great advice!

**Barb T** · 8th April 08, 01:35 PM

Huh - not sure why my post got posted twice. Sorry!

**The Wizard of BC** · 8th April 08, 03:05 PM

I'm with Barb on this one. I use Guttermann exclusively. I use the Polyester on my Poly/Cotton Kilts and 100% Cotton on the 100% Cotton kilts. Wool Kilt are sewn with only 100% Polyester.
For basting and hand stitching of straps I use upholstery thread. This is thick, very strong and waxed. Some people don't like the waxing but I find I can re-use the basting thread by simply ironing it straight.

**kfreeouf** · 8th April 08, 06:49 PM

It looks like I'll be paying JoAnn's a visit tomorrow to take advantage of their sale on Gutermann's.
Barb, Thank you for the explanation regarding hand sewing and the dual duty or wrapped thread. Being self-taught to sew, I always thought the problem of the thread hanging up was improper technique on my part. I never suspected my thread was the cause.
The collective knowledge of this group is astounding!!!
Semper Fi,
Keith
PS This will go into my "Things I didn't learn in the Marine Corps" book!

**emolas** · 10th April 08, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by kfreeouf

PS This will go into my "Things I didn't learn in the Marine Corps" book!

Ironically enough, sewing is one of the things I DID learn in the Marine Corps (6060/Parachute Rigger)

**cacunn** · 11th April 08, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by Barb T.

Huh - not sure why my post got posted twice. Sorry!

Because the system realized your advice was so good that it deserved to be repeated.

**Alan H** · 8th April 08, 08:27 PM

Well, you learn something new every day. You know why I went with the cotton-poly Dual-duty stuff?

.....'cause Frostline includes it with all their kits!.......or used to, anyway.

**SteveB** · 8th April 08, 08:58 PM

I have been sewing since my school days many decades ago. Early polyester thread was very unreliable at first. Most of my sewing was shirts and trousers for school. My parents did buy the sport coat and tie, the rest was for me to sew. The uniform required a cotton shirt, for which I used cotton thread. my old Singer could handle it real well. The cloth for the trousers started out as cotton, but as the Cotton/polyester fabrics became available, I tried them with "dual duty" thread as the all polyester thread would not work consistently in my machine. The poly thread at the time was not able to hold a reasonable tolerance of diameter, and would bunch in the tensioner, or get stuck in the eye of the needle. Today's quality manufacturers of poly have improved the thread many times over. I too haul in the Gutterman's when it is on sale and save it for the special work, and use the Coats and Clark all poly for most of my general purpose sewing today. Barb may know this one, What did they use for thread in kilts in Scotland around 1958? That is where and when my first tank was made. The stitching is such that there is none visible anywhere on the kilt. There is only a hint of stitching on the lining. Still have no idea what the thread is, but it is still going strong today. The kilt has never needed any repairs. The kilt I am now trying to make following Barb's book and my first time with real wool tartan is being made with all poly Gutterman thread.

**kfreeouf** · 8th April 08, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Well, you learn something new every day. You know why I went with the cotton-poly Dual-duty stuff?

.....'cause Frostline includes it with all their kits!.......or used to, anyway.

I "cut my teeth" on several Frostline kits, including a nice mountain parka. There used to be a Frostline store in Denver (many years ago) that would have outlet-type deals on kits.

Is Frostline still around?

They provided a great niche of high quality materials kits before outdoor gear was so readily available at the highly discounted prices of today. The catch was, you had to sew it yourself or find someone to sew it for you. I think I re-did the zipper in my mountain parka about a dozen times before I was satisfied with it!
Thanks Alan, for a nostalgic memory!
Semper Fi,
Keith

**Alan H** · 8th April 08, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by kfreeouf

I "cut my teeth" on several Frostline kits, including a nice mountain parka. There used to be a Frostline store in Denver (many years ago) that would have outlet-type deals on kits.

Is Frostline still around?

Thanks Alan, for a nostalgic memory!
Semper Fi,
Keith

Frostline technically still exists but the company changed hands in 2000 and if you do the substantial amount of work needed to chase them down, according to this website:

http://www.oregonphotos.com/Frostline1.html

you'll get their last catalog, published in 2001. I think they're basically kaput, which is very much too bad.