I remember that in one of the first lessons clearly opted for polyester for sewing . Main reason for that is longlivity of the seams and the entire garment. Traditional tailors opting for cotton thread. Is there an other reason for than tradition?
When you sew a garment for example in Dupion silk it is highly recommended to use silk threa as the polyester thread can demage the delicate fabric just by sewing it . The thread seems to sharp. Isn't it the same case for super fine suiting fabrics??? Is cotton thread less sharp than polyester thread??? So, when you have to undo a seam in a super 180's you might demage the fabric instead of ripping the seam??? Cotton would break easier than the polyester.
Any thought on that????
Looking forward to hear form you guys.
Polyester is technically a better type of thread compared to cotton, like it will never break! But I've been taught that because of that it's more likely that the fabric might rip apart before the seam does, and it's easier to resew a seam than mend ripped apart cloth. But on the other hand the risk of a seam ripping is waaay higher with cotton, even when the cloth could handel the stress. So I guess it's really pick your poison? I personally really only use polyester for machine stitching due to the durability.
A case is often made for cotton thread when it comes to shirting. Many ready to wear shirts use a twin-needle chain stitch for the long, lapped seams. When polyester thread is used, the whole inside seam has a rough feel if you run a finger along it. That roughness increases if the polyester is overheated, the thread becoming harder as it melts; so not a great choice for a garment that will be close to the skin.
Personally, I've never felt uncomfortable when wearing shirts with polyester stitching. It seems to be more of a marketing ploy by bespoke shirt makers (they're the ones who tend to highlight this issue). Nevertheless, polyester, when overheated, will weaken. So it isn't necessarily stronger and it's a poor choice when working with cloth that needs a higher temperature (again, shirting is an example). In such cases, many prefer either 100% cotton or Polycore thread (cotton wrapped around a polyester core, which has strength and heat resistance).