I have 2 freezers, one is frost-free and one isn't. Maybe it depends on what kind of freezer you have. I've emailed my friend for more details about her experience. I did a google search on the topic and all I found was ONE website that said to prolong the life of your rayon thread, put it in the freezer. However, there's no explanation as to why, and I doubt any of us quilters are using rayon thread for piecing and quilting.

very interesting

I had a commercial embroidery business for a long time and at times putting the thread in the freezer was one of the "tricks" we used if we were having problems with thread. I always used the same brand of thread but at times we would have problems and this seemed to work. I don't know why but it did.

After I get off work I will try the thread that has been in the freezer over night and let you know if it worked! :)
Becky

It sounds like a pretty good trick. Will try it with a varigated thread that has given me trouble before.

Putting on my science hat here....

A lot of issues we have with threads is to do with the heat build up from the friction of sewing. the more layers the more friction the more heat and therefore the more damage to the fibres leading to fraying, shreadding and breakage.

Soooooo if you put the thread in the freezer it goes through the machine cold and therefore more heat has to be generated to get the thread to a point where it shreads/ melts or frays.... It gives you more time to get the thread to work.

It would be interesting if a spool placed in the freezer worked just out of the freezer but if left in the warm overnight misbehaved first thing the next day then actually behaved after another spell in the freezer....

interesting.

Please keep us up updated.
Becks

I know these things sound odd but they work. When I was trying to get info off my old hard drive my son told me to put it in the freezer and of course I though he was joking. He was not. Many things can be done like this and I do not know why or how they work but they do.

When I was in high school, my neighbor at the time had a monogramming business before home monogramming machines became available. Her machines were industrial size. She ordered all her thread from Italy and kept it in the freezer. She had a small chest freezer just for her thread. I don't know if it was frost free (probably not) and the thread was put in the freezer in the boxes it came in. I never asked why, I wasn't interested in sewing at the time.

It probably doesn't have as much to do with removing or adding moisture as it does with the fact that most things contract when cooled. The fibers might just contract enough to run more smoothly through the machine.

We do this all the time when changing wheel bearings on our motorcycles -- freeze the new bearings overnight first and they go into the races with fewer issues.

However, I'm not sure how long the benefit would last with thread -- it would seem that it would warm quickly and you'd lose any contraction you had from it being in the freezer.

So, I'm with the poster that said "Use a quality thread and you won't have as many issues." :-)

This sounds interesting, but the website I found that discussed putting the rayon thread in the freezer said to let it come to room temperature before using. So, I'm back at square one for understanding why this would work.