WHAT IS WAXED THREAD? - And Why It Is Crucial in Hand Sewing Leather Items

Leather Corner Bookmark Hand-Sewn with Waxed Thread

Waxed thread is thread coated with wax to make it stiff, water resistant and durable. There are multiple benefits to waxed thread being used on your Traditional Catholic leather item.

The waxed thread we use is a thicker bunch of fibers than commonly used machine sewing thread. Similar to the way a rope is a bunch of individual fibers wound around each other for strength. You can pull on two sides of waxed thread and more likely end up cutting slits in your fingers than breaking the thread. This ensures that one or two extra items in your leather purse, or a child holding and pulling on your leather Missal cover won't be nearly as detrimental to the longevity of the stitches.

Waxed thread is also water resistant. The wax coating defends the inner thread core against moisture. This is important because most threads are polyester, nylon, or silk under the wax and can become weaker when they become wet.

We use a method of tying and burning the end knot of our finished lengths of thread to lock them in place when we are done sewing. The wax coating helps melt the thread fibers together and permanently fuse the ends. This method, if done properly, is very strong. Someone would need to cut the knot off to be able to remove the thread.

At Holy Queen Handmade, we choose waxed thread in hand sewing leather for its added stiffness, which makes it easier to handle and ensures precise, durable stitching. The wax coating also helps the needles glide smoothly through the leather, while allowing the thread to stay securely in place. This not only enhances the sewing process but also reduces the likelihood of the stitches unraveling over time.

Each of our genuine leather products is carefully hand-sewn to create a beautiful, high-quality item. By selecting only the best materials, we ensure that every piece not only looks stunning but also features smooth, aesthetically pleasing stitches.

Learn the difference between hand sewing and machine sewing here.

+Deo Gratias+