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#Post#: 52498--------------------------------------------------
Thread conditioner?
By: Rho Date: May 28, 2020, 11:17 pm
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Has anyone ever heard of thread gloss or thread conditioner?
It looks like a pot of lip gloss and is used to coat floss
before using for needlework.
"Thread conditioner binds thread fibers and prevents fraying-and
tangling. It adds a thin, even, slick coating to thread so beads
slide easily."
I understand the description above is for stringing beads. But
for cross stitch or needlepoint????
Excuse me but I have been doing needlepoint for over half
century and cross stitch almost as long and have never ever
heard of such a product until last week when a friend who does
not stitch looked up this item for a mutual friend who is a
novice needlepointer and complained her fibers were getting
caught in the needlepoint canvas.
Wouldn't coating the fibers in something waxy make a mess of
things?
#Post#: 52502--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thread conditioner?
By: Gardensgrey Date: May 29, 2020, 6:08 am
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Agreed this would be disastrous on needlepoint. Have also done
all sorts of needlework for decades.While I have occasionally
used a smidgen of beeswax on the end of a sewing thread to
stiffen it while threading a normal sewing needle, am thinking
that the novice may be using cheap mono canvas, badly-sized
canvas, or too many strands of whatever wool yarn/other thread.
There should be no reason to use this stuff for needlepoint. In
addition,I would think the finished work would attract dirt like
crazy.I have made it a practice to wash my hands before
stitching light-colored areas, as even a small amount of oil
from the fingers discolors that area.
#Post#: 52509--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thread conditioner?
By: TootsNYC Date: May 29, 2020, 9:39 am
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I have wanted to try it for hand-sewing (mending, clothing
construction) because I thought it might keep my thread from
tangling. I do try to coat my thread with beeswax so it won't
tangle, but that doesn't always work.
But I haven't tried it. I was excited to see your post.
#Post#: 52950--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thread conditioner?
By: Chez Miriam Date: June 11, 2020, 11:58 am
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I can remember drawing threads through a block of beeswax, and
my grandmother doing the same, but this was years ago, and I'm
now wracking my brains to remember why...
I have a feeling it was for sewing on buttons, to protect the
thread from rubbing? But this was back in the day when all
sewing threads [that we used] were cotton. Now I tend to use
the Gutterman threads that contain some man-made strengthening
element.
I can't imaging it would nice using that on embroidery.
But of course, conditioner may be a whole different thing.
#Post#: 52979--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thread conditioner?
By: Aleko Date: June 12, 2020, 3:15 am
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I still do pull my hand-sewing thread through a block of
beeswax, because I almost always sew natural fabrics and use
matchingly natural thread on principle. It does help the thread
pass through any slubs in the fabric without snagging. (Another
old-fashioned trick is to pull the thread through one's hair;
the natural oils in the hair do the same job as beeswax.)
Rho, I agree that coating embroidery thread - particularly
woollen thread - in something waxy would surely make the work
messy. But maybe this stuff isn't waxy? I've never encountered
thread gloss/conditioner, but I'm thinking that perhaps it might
be something more like hair serum, which uses silicone to smooth
the fibres? I can see how that might be effective.
A long time ago I embroidered my wedding dress; the only project
I've ever done in real floss silk on silk. I used more hand
cream in the months it took me to do that than I normally would
in a decade, because I found that the most microscopic roughness
in my skin - even roughness that my own fingertips didn't
register - would snag the floss. I'd have tried just about any
product that promised to smooth the floss and at least lessen
its tendency to snag!
#Post#: 53618--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thread conditioner?
By: Sylverbirch Date: June 25, 2020, 5:51 pm
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Thread conditioner is great stuff when you use it correctly. The
most popular of them was Thread Heaven, but it's been
discontinued. I agree that for needlepoint it's no use, but
it's not designed to be used on wool. If you were
needlepointing with floss it would be fine.
The single most wonderful use for the stuff is cross stitching
with metallics or light effects. The three things I tell
everyone who gets frustrated working with metallics is, use
thread conditioner, shorter than normal strands, and allow to
untwist very regularly.
I don't know what it's made of but definitely not beeswax. But
it is amazing. Rho, if you want to try it, your best bet is
your LNS* which should have good recommendations.
*local needlework store
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