| Thread is a tightly twisted strand of two or more ply | | | | the thread. Cotton thread tends to shrink and is not as |
| of yarn used for hand and machine sewing. Some | | | | strong as silk thread. The thread is singed over an |
| facts about sewing thread: | | | | open flame and mercerized (dipped in a solution of |
| - The difference between thread and yarn is that | | | | caustic soda) to improve its strength and give it sheen. |
| thread is used to sew together garments and other | | | | - Nylon and polyester thread are examples made from |
| products, while yarn is a collection of fibers that is | | | | synthetic materials. |
| woven or knit into textiles. All threads are made from | | | | - Ninety-five percent of all thread of all kinds |
| yarn, but yarn is not made of threads. | | | | manufactured are used in industrial and commercial |
| - The first 'thread' to be used in sewing was made | | | | sewing. |
| from animal sinew and plant fibers. | | | | - The development of the cotton thread industry in |
| - There are three types of thread, animal, plant and | | | | England was the result of a blockade during the |
| synthetic, based on the materials they are made from. | | | | Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. This |
| - Silk is an example of thread made from animal | | | | prevented raw silk from entering the country, so no silk |
| products. The silk caterpillar weaves a cocoon made | | | | thread could be made for sewing. Patrick Clark |
| from silk that it produces. These cocoons are | | | | invented a method for twisting cotton together to |
| unraveled, and two or more strands are twisted | | | | make sewing thread. |
| together to form silk thread. Silk makes a very fine, | | | | - The original threads made by Clark were not string |
| stretchable and strong thread. | | | | enough to use in the new fangled sewing machines of |
| - Cotton is an example of plant fibers used to make | | | | the later 19th century. George Clark, a Grandson of |
| thread. Fibers of cotton are spun into a fine yarn; two | | | | Patrick, developed a six-stranded thread with the |
| or more strands of yarn are twisted together to make | | | | qualities necessary to be used in sewing machines. |