Threads

Threads used in our belt making

At The Belt Makers we use several different types of thread in our belt making.

The first, and most traditional, is linen thread. These threads have been around for centuries and are well tried and tested, especially in the assembly of traditionally tanned leather products. The colours are strong and last well and this natural material has character. You can see that most clearly in the differing thicknesses along the length of a long section of stitching, such as in one of our border belts. 

Linen does have its drawbacks. It can be difficult for beginners to use, as it is easy to sew through your thread, and then linen often prefers to break rather than be untangled.

It is only produced in basic shades and at the moment we carry Black, Brown and Yellow. If you have a belt, bag or a briefcase made using linen thread, it is to be expected that the leather will outlast the stitching due to the nature of this natural thread product. 

Here at TBM we will restitch our own brand belts that have been made using linen thread, free of charge, as part of our after-sales service. 

Since linen is an easily sustainable material, we are currently researching other makes in order to find a wider range of colours.

Next, we have slipping twine. This was developed for upholsterers and bookbinders as an alternative to linen, with a much better longevity than linen thread. A poly-cotton mix, it is easier to stitch with as it is less prone to breaking, and comes in a slightly wider range of colours. We currently carry Red, Green (dark) and Blue (dark). Slipping twine behaves in a very similar way to linen and has a much more consistent weave, giving a smoother and more even thickness.

A drawback for slipping twine would be that it stretches a little, however it is easy to simply stretch the length before sewing so that there are no surprises after the stitching is completed! The colour range is still a little limited and the darkest colours can be hard to tell apart.

Tiger thread is super strong. Unlike the others, it is entirely man made (100% polyester) but unlike the other options, Tiger comes in a much wider array of shades. It is a pleasure to work with and almost impossible to break, meaning it is much, much longer lasting than threads made from the traditional natural materials. 

There are some jobs that even a Tiger can’t do and we occasionally need to source colours in which Tiger thread is not available. Thanks to our years of hand sewing experience, we can source threads to match most colour scheme requirements. Still reasonably thick polyester and created for hand sewing but with a looser weave and a faint sheen to them, these are often used for general haberdashery purposes and are good and strong. 

If you have any particular thread colour needs, do please get in touch and we will do our best to help!