Spinning Thread

11/10/2024

Threads are what make up clothing, blankets, rugs, and other accessories. Most start off from a single primary source, like say from a sheep or a llama or well, not even a goat. Please don't say a goat because goats haven't enough hair unless you like them shaven. then again, you can't count on their coat growing back in. Let's see there's

sheep

llama

cotton plant

wood tree (seriously, those things are expensive)

flax plant

silkworm cocoons

petroleum

Now some of those aren't readily available and take a lot of work to produce. Flax and animal products by far are the easier method. To get fibers from the flax plant, you can cut open the stem and retrieve the pulp fibers or you can try to investigate how to best use the stem as well without cutting it open. Perhaps a good soaking might help followed by the spinning process. Usually, many smaller fibers are fed several at a time onto a round spinning wheel which then creates the thread. At least, this has been the process for many older generations. Perhaps you have one of your own that's simple and a bit more traditional.

Once the thread has been spun, it can then be fitted around the edges of something called looms (four sides and a shuttle that help weave the thread through). From there you can cut out the cloth in the desired shape before threading a needle and stitching up the edges carefully. Don't forget to turn it inside out so the stitched edges don't show. The other process is by using machine to stitch up the edges then turn it out. This means that the inside of the fabric usually goes outwards and the other outwards gets fitted together inside. This ensures the product meets the desired looks when you have finally put it together and turned it back out again. It sounds like a lot of work though which is why you might need a grown-ups help to source the material and also investigate.