By: Viraj Shah

Domestic and industrial sewing share many similarities and a handful of differences. Industrial sewing machines lack the versatility of home sewing machines but make up for it in power. They are only capable of making one stitch, but they can make this stitch at up to 1,000 stitches per minute. Industrial sewing machines can also run for hours without overheating or wearing down, often while punching through multiple layers of thick fabrics or tarps that a home machine would struggle with.

Despite this, many of the rules of domestic sewing apply to industrial sewing: measure your fabric, use quality thread, and keep in mind these tips when shopping for sewing supplies online.

Get the Right Type of Thread

Different thread types have other applications for which they are used. For example, cotton threads are the commonly used type of thread, but nylon is better for projects requiring a heavy-duty thread.

Know What Thread Weights Are

Higher thread weights indicate a thinner thread because they have a finer thread gauge. Using the wrong thread weight for your fabric could result in weak seams and snapped thread or a thread too thick to fit through the eye of your machine’s sewing needle, depending on whether you’re over or under a certain thread weight.

Understanding what type and weight of thread you need for your industrial sewing projects can save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

Take Advantage of Store Discounts

Many sewing supply stores regularly offer discounts, coupon codes, or scrap fabrics at a lower price. There are many reasons for doing this, including to clear out old inventory or attract new customers.

At a bare minimum, sewing supply stores pretty much always have a clearance section you should investigate for deals.

Stay Up-to-Date on New Items

Suppliers are always adding new items to their inventory. In addition, sewing in general tends to have seasonal bursts of product releases, with textile and pattern companies releasing batches of new products a few times per year.

This is a great opportunity to both look for clearance items and new products before they become unavailable.

Find a Reputable Retailer

Trustworthy retailers of industrial sewing products are typically those who have been in the industry for a long time. They should have their own website and positive customer reviews.

Blog posts, company events, or promotional pages on a supplier’s website are all potential indicators of their reputation, implying many successful years serving the industrial sewing supply industry.

Building off that piece of advice, it can be difficult to trust the quality of supplies sold by third-party retailers on popular sites like eBay and Temu. Sewing supplies, fabrics, and notions on these sites are often poorly regulated, low-quality items.

Email Customer Service if You Need Help

Good suppliers are more than willing to assist if you need help or guidance on finding a particular item for a project. If a company is willing to answer your questions through customer support agents, find a company that will.

Published By: Aize Perez