does putting thread in the freezer work?
 

I am having trouble with my thread free motion quilting and was wondering if putting it in the freezer will help?
Thank you
Becky

Never heard of this one, gonna watch to see what others say.

Actually, as bizarre as it sounds, I have a friend with 2 longarms who has done this and reports success. I would call her an expert, she quilts as many as 30 quilts a month, and she was having problems with one particular thread. She called the manufacturer who instructed her to put it in the freezer overnight. She rolled her eyes but figured she had nothing to lose, so she did, and it worked! She said it sewed like a dream the next day. I do not know which thread it was or why it worked.

Thank you sew much for this info...I am so frustrated that I will put it in the freezer and quit for tonight:{
Becky

Let me know how it works--looks like I'll be putting my thread in the freezer too.

I've read on my embroidery groups that putting thread in the freezer will restore moisture and keep it from drying and breaking. Haven't tried it myself yet.

Sorry, but if you have to do this with your thread to make it sew properly it is either too old to use or junk!!! If you use quality thread, you won't waste you time.

And just how can a frost-free freezer add moisture?? Their function is to remove moisture from the air inside the freezer. Sounds like an old trick that never changed with the upgrades in technology.

Here is a little different take on this idea. Wet your spool of thread and let it drain off on the counter, then put it into the fridge in the salad crisper. Seems to work!

This may be way off topic, but I used to put my nylons and panty hose in a container of water and freeze the overnight, and I'll swear they lasted longer and didn't snag as easily. This suggestion came from the manufacturer, and was meant for brand new hose. I think if we enlisted a chemist, he/she could tell us what the freezing process does to the fibers in the materials that are frozen.

I hear you when you note that the technology has changed, and "frost free" freezers remove moisture instead of adding it. But we haven't determined yet if it's the addition of moisture or the act of freezing that is providing the beneficial help for the thread, and it sounds like it's the freezing alone. If you're concerned about adding a bit of moisture, you could always do as I did, and freeze it in a container of water, or not as drastic, just a sealed plastic bag with moisture in it.
That would solve the problem.

This is not the first time I've heard it suggested that I put some kind of material into the freezer - dry or wet - for at least 24 hours to obtain a beneficial result. I'm thinking there has to be something to it. If it works, then I say "go for it!"
Why argue with success?

Cheers!

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.

use this method to Rehydrate older cotton or silk threads!

My thought exactly. If you put it in without a plastic container it will just suck OUT all the moisture.

Like cats suck out babies' breath ...but maybe if you suck out the moisture it will shrink a little and work better. Another old wives tale?

LOL Seriously I'm glad it works, damp or dry. I live in a humid summer climate and hopelessly dry in winter - can't get anything to stay ironed in one season and everything dry and static-y in the other.

Maybe you can revive it like a cookie - stick an apple slice in the container?

I have heard of it but that would really confirm to my husband I had lost it. He would never let me live it down if he saw I was stoing thread in the freezer ...

Well Ladies......I am sewing great with the thread that I put in the freezer! I can not explain it but it seems to be working!
Thank you for all your input...it was much appreciated
Becky

Oh and p.s. it was older 100 percent cotton mercerized

Glad to hear it! So, is your freezer a frost-free model?

frost free...but after the comments about moisture I put a tiny bit of water on the cardboard spool.

Thread in the refrigerator
 

A quilt teacher once told me to store cotton threads I'd had for some years into the refrigerator for a few days. Something about the thread being "dry" and the moisture in the refrigerator puts the moisture back again. I have had reels of threads for many many years and I do put the container of threads in the refrigerator from time to time. I've never had a problem with them, I also throw the polyester threads in the refrigerator too for a little holiday.
By the way, I put silk garments in the freezer to freeze before I iron them, and years ago when I used to damp down the washing prior to ironing, if I couldn't get the ironing done that day I would store the whole damped down lot in the chest freezer. It didn't dry out and I didn't have to re-damp it all down again.
Does anyone still damp down their ironing?

Regards,
Anna from Oz

I recently attended a Sharon Schamber workshop and she recommends dunking the whole spool of thread in mineral oil from the drugstore. You then wipe of the outside. It actually oils your machine and the thread also becomes lubricated. I've actually tried it and it really works. She says she never has trouble with her machines any more.

I've been hearing about this for years and many of my friends have done it successfully.

Once I discovered Mettler embroidery cotton 60wt for handpiecing, Aurifil cotton 50wt for machine piecing, and Bottom Line poly 60wt for the bobbin I donated most my other threads. I keep finding more which I'll get rid of some day.

I would be VERY careful about using mineral oil with some machines. I have a HV Diamond and would never do that.

Am a longarmer too and when I have a spool of thread that keeps shredding for no reason-after I have done a complete check/maintenance of machine....I will spritz the spool with some water.....just enough to dampen it and it will stop misbehaving. And, yes, putting in fridge overnight has been done, but sometimes just a small spritz and a ziplock bag while you have a cuppa will tame that thread.........

When I was a child, we hung our clothes on a line to dry. In winter, when they froze, they were much softer. Perhaps its the same, that freezing softens the fibers.

this is interesting as never heard this before

I had never heard of this before, but love the lively discussion!

Now, that sounds really messy and scarey!

According to Bob Purcell of Superior Threads, this is an old wives tale. The freezer actually takes moisture from the thread causing it to dry out and making it more brittle. Quality thread does not break....of course, the needle, tension, etc., play a large part......And while all machines are different, they will all use the same threads as long as the proper needle, tension, etc. is employed......I'm not an expert, but I do believe Bob knows his stuff. You can go to www.superiorthread.com for more information. I have no affiliation....just a fan....:)

What I was told was you put the thread into a baggie into freezer and then let thaw--the thawing will cause it to draw moisture into the thread, which will make it more supple. Never tried it though!

Not only does freezing remove moisture, but colder things are constricted more so than warm. Maybe that is the benefit to look for. I don't think it can hurt the thread, so give it a try. :thumbup:

I guess you could test the freezer method by winding two bobbins of the same school of thread, put one in the freezer and then see which one sew better.
I remember mother freezing the dampened clothes prior to ironing and the clothes ironed much better. I know from experience with church linens that 100% linen must not be dried in the dryer, instead, put the damp linens in the freezer in a zip bag and iron them with a dry iron. NO starch. Your linen will be crisp and beautiful. Works well for cotton too. Remember that bugs tend to like starch.