Kaye Wood's Blog

Did You Know....

Thread has been an important staple all through history, ever since the first garments were made. Strips of animal hide served as the first thread, holding the larger pieces of hides and fur together. History states that the Egyptians were among the first to spin thread using plant fibers, but also utilizing wool and hair from domestic animals. In later decades, the Japanese and Chinese discovered the beauty of silk fibers spun as thread and made into cloth.
By the Middle Ages with the opening of the Silk Road to Asia, as well as vast improvements in processing and shipping wool, many new forms of popular needlework were started, including woven tapestries.
With the Industrial Revolution, thread making moved out of the home and into the factories, equipped with high speed machines. These machines allowed thread to be made faster and with fewer flaws. Manufacturers experimented with many types of fibers, till a wider variety of threads, that were stronger and more diverse in color were created.
These days, there are three basic types of thread created, based on their origin of either animal, plant or synthetic. Silk thread is decidedly the best because of it's strength and elasticity. Silk is often woven onto regular threads for added strength, while pure silk thread is used in finer clothing. Cotton threads are the most common and are made from the cellulose of plants. Cotton threads could shrink and they do not stretch. Nylon and polyester threads are used for synthetics and stretch knits and do not shrink.
Thread has gone through vast changes over the years becoming a staple we cannot do without. Whether it be clothing, blankets, etc., thread will help keep it together.