What's Inside this Site:

Below are brief descriptions of the technical bulletins and flyers available on this web site.

Children's Sleepwear-Sewing Threads Required: Provides guidance for sewing on children's sleepwear, including seam testing and threads.

Corespun vs. Spun Poly: Describes the major differences between corespun and spun poly threads as well as the considerations for making the appropriate choice of thread.

Decorative Stitches (.PDF): Describes special decorative stitches and provides graphics. (.PDF file.)

Denim - Sewing Heavy Threads: Describes considerations when sewing heavy thread on denim garments.

Denim Garments- Optimizing Seam Performance: Describes how to select the proper thread for denim garments.

Eliminating Buttonsew Failures: Describes how to eliminate buttonsew failures.

Embroidery Application Guide: Provides needle, thread, and backing information for various garment applications.

Embroidery Checklist: Provides

Embroidery Placement: Provides helpful embroidery placement recommendations.

Embroidery Quality Defects: Describes common embroidery quality defects.  Also provides graphics and tips on minimizing the defects.

Embroidery Terms & Stitches: Describes common embroidery stitches and provides simple stitch graphics.

Estimating Thread Consumption: Describes how to estimate thread consumption so you can: 1) Estimate the number of cones needed; and 2) Calculate the cost of the thread needed to manufacture the finished product.

Needle Heat-How to Minimize: Describes what causes needle heat and what can be done to minimize needle heat.

Over-Dyeing or Piece-Dyeing Assembled Garments: Describes considerations when selecting 100% cotton thread for assembled garments that are to be over-dyed or piece-dyed.

Performance Gains Using A&E Core Thread (.PDF):  Provides cost calculations to compare A&E Core Thread versus Spun Poly in Denim (Hard Wash Process).  (.PDF file.)

Reducing Needle Cutting on Knit Goods: Defines needle cutting and provides a  checklist that will aid in reducing needle cutting.

Seam Engineering:  Describes the factors in engineering quality seams, formulas for estimating seam strength, and seam abrasion resistance.

Seam Puckering-How to Minimize: Describes the common causes for seam puckering and how to reduce seam puckering on woven and knit fabrics.

Seam Puckering, Stretch Woven Fabrics-How to Minimize: Describes the common causes for seam puckering on stretch woven fabrics and how to reduce it.

Seam Quality Defects: Describes common seam quality defects.  Also provides graphics and tips on minimizing the defects.

Seam Types (.PDF): Describes common seams and provides simple seam graphics, 751a & ISO numbers, common applications, and requirements. (.PDF file.)

Seam Engineering: Describes the role of thread size  in seam engineering, factors that affect seam strength, how to estimate seam strength, and factors that affect abrasion resistance.

Selecting the Right SPI: Discusses the influence of stitches per inch (SPI) on: 1) the seam strength; 2) stitch appearance; and, 3) seam elasticity on stretch fabrics.  Describes how to measure SPI and provides typical recommended stitch lengths for woven and knit garments.

Selection Logic (.PDF): Describes the elements for selecting the right thread for a specific application (including fiber type, thread construction, and thread size).  (.PDF file.)

Sewing Maintenance Checklist: Provides checklists developed to help you evaluate sewing processes in order to optimize sewing and seam performance.  The topics include preventative maintenance, the three basic systems used to form and set stitches, and stitch and seam quality. 

Sewing Stretch Knit Fabrics: Describes common issues of sewing on stretch knit fabrics; for example, methods for minimizing broken stitches, thread type & size commonly used to sew stretch knit fabrics, etc.

Stitch Types (.PDF): Describes common stitches and provides simple stitch graphics, 751a numbers, common applications, and requirements. (.PDF file.)

Thread Breakage & Skipped Stitches-How to Minimize: Describes the characteristics of thread that affect thread breakage and skipped stitches.

Thread Price Vs. Thread Cost: Describes ways to reduce thread costs without compromising sewability and seaming performance.

Thread Recommendations for Buttonsewing, Buttonholes, and Bartacks: Provides thread recommendations for sewing buttons, buttoholes, and bartacks.

Thread Science (.PDF): Provides a brief overview of the manufacturing process for thread (including, fiber science and thread construction, dyeing, and finishing). (.PDF file.)

Thread Selection by End Use: Helps you select the most common thread types and sizes used for a particular application (including wovens, knits, special applications, and non-apparel applications).

Worldwide Thread Comparison Chart (.PDF): Has the most common thread ticket sizes used in the world. The chart gives information for six major thread constructions.

Writing Thread Specifications to Assure Seam Integrity: Describes the process for evaluating where to begin writing thread specifications to minimize quality issues.