gramma nancy

I have read two different opinions (facts?) about old thread. One says "toss it."

The other is what I am asking about. I think it said something like put it in a plastic bag in the fridge or freezer and it will be revitalized. Does anyone know anything about this method? Does it work? What exactly are you supposed to do with the thread? Does it restore the thread to anything like new?

Thanks for everyone's input. I have so much old thread and I hate to toss it all. I collect a certain kind of sewing caddy and every time I get one, it tends to have a few spools of thread, many never used.

Tartan

I have thread from my sewing years that must be 20 years old at least. I use it up piecing on busy fabrics. I take a length of it off the spool, wrap it a couple of times around each hand with about a 10 inch length between my hands and pull. If I have trouble breaking it I figure it is strong enough to piece with. We are spoiled with today's threads and you didn't see pioneer women worrying about their thread. They were just glad if they didn't have to make it themselves. Hooray for modern thread makers.

QuiltE

I guess the question is how "old" do you mean by "old"?

I don't see how putting thread in the frig/freezer would revitalize it ... though I have no facts on this.

One thing I've been told before is to take a length of the thread off the spool, and just pull on it ... if it breaks too easily then it's probably too "old"! If you're wondering how it should be ... try breaking some relatively new thread for comparison.

There was a couple of threads this week, with ideas on what to do with old spools. I'm guessing that these are probably wooden spools?

Central Ohio Quilter

I use old and cheap thread for mending and basting. I would not use it for anything I would want to last for any length of time.

KarenK

I use the easily breakable thread for hand basting my quilts.

There are many ideas at this link for using wooden spools:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t195522.html

Latrinka

I'm not telling nobody what kind, how old, or where I got/get my thread from! LOL!