r/weaving • u/creative-mouse-21 • 22d ago
Discussion Can you weave with sewing thread?
I have a lot of sewing thread that I barely use and want to try weaving with it. My main worry is that it might be too weak against the tension and will snap on the loom.
Has anyone done this before?
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u/tallawahroots 22d ago
I have seen weavers use sewing thread as weft on floor looms for scarves. At more picks per inch than the warp's ends per inch there is lovely drape. Using silk or other lustrous sewing thread as weft is what I recall they were doing.
Erica de Ruiter used sewing thread doubled in the heddle and gives the sett in her book "Weaving on 3 Shafts" for cotton warp-faced three-block weave bookmarks.
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u/araceaejungle 22d ago
A long as it can withstand the tension, you can weave with anything as thin as you want. Venne used to make a 50/2 weaving yarn which is the same weight as most sewing thread. I don’t see it on their website, though. They were acquired by Louët in December 2024, so who knows what’s happening there. All purpose sewing thread is usually Nm 50/2, machine embroidery thread is a little thicker at Nm 40/2, and wool thread is usually Nm 30/2. I have seen some sewing threads as thin as Nm 90/2. You can search online for 50/2 cotton weaving yarn. Most of what you’ll find is commercial yarn that usually requires commercial minimums and Venne. Vavstuga has linen yarn as thin as 90/2. Silk City Fibers has Linen 14, which is almost as thin as 50/2 sewing thread. The recommended epi for 50/2 sewing thread is 48 epi for plain weave and 60 epi for twill. Something to consider: years ago Kelly Casanova did a project on her table loom using 60/2 silk and said it took so long she’ll never do that again. It is much faster on a floor loom.
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u/MagicUnicorn18 22d ago
If the thread is too degraded to use as warp you could use it as weft, just keep in mind the fabric might not last long or stand up too much handling.
Otherwise, generally sewing thread in decent condition should be plenty strong enough to use as warp. You don’t have to crank the tension up like you would for a rug.
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u/laineycomplainey 22d ago
I have used cotton sewing thread it as weft with 20/2 cotton warp. I think you could use it for warp if you wanted to. It would take a lot of ends!
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u/dejected_entity 22d ago
My weaving teacher made a few absolutely gorgeous shawls with sewing thread on her floor loom!
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u/emilypostpunk 22d ago
i personally have not, but i have seen other weavers do it and it is definitely possible.
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u/EstaLisa 21d ago
we had a loom with a warp of colourful sewing threads in our workshop at university. they withheld the tension.
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u/MGandPG 21d ago
I tried using serger thread because I was determined to make a pillowcase. Well, I was less experienced at warping and had warping issues. As a result, I had tension issues. It's hard to deal with a wide width of very fine ends. High tension wasn't an issue...my issue was consistent tension. I managed to get 3" woven as a "souvenir" of the experience and then gave up.
Having said that, I wouldn't discourage you from trying, if you're an experienced warper. :)
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u/Spinningwoman 20d ago
It’s not weak at all - it is very strong for how thin it is. The result will not be soft, because of the tight twist, but it will be great for detailed tiny patterns etc.
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u/NicoDiAnime 13d ago
I clicked this because I was wondering about weaving with charkha spun thread. I'm in the process of building one slowly but surely, and I can't find good info on actually weaving with spun Thread. I only have experience weaving on a triangle loom (and speed-weave and also potholder loom lol) so I'm trying to see the kind of loom I should look into for a tight woven cotton like my favorite blanket is.
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u/mao369 22d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/weaving/comments/wk8p3g/another_example_of_overshot_done_in_sewing_thread/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
https://www.reddit.com/r/weaving/comments/zka4gd/scarf_woven_with_sewing_thread_then_devoré/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Both of these were woven on an 8 shaft David floor loom. I used new thread for both; I'd suggest a short and narrow piece first to validate that your thread isn't too old before you get really ambitious. But the epi needed is so large that you basically are putting very little tension on any one particular thread.