Thread Conditioner

One of the things that has made the biggest difference to my embroidery work over the last few years is the discovery of thread conditioners. Today I’m reviewing three products to give you my opinions on how well they work .
When using stranded embroidery thread, some type of thread conditioner makes a lot of difference to how the threads glide through the fabric. A conditioner also helps the threads to stay together rather than separate and helps to prevent knots and tangling.

Beeswax is typically what embroiderers use and this is what I’ve used up until recent years. You run your thread through the grooves of the plastic container to coat it. You can repeat these steps two or three times to ensure your thread is covered. The protective layer the wax provides stops the thread being damaged by the abrasion caused by running it repeatedly through the fabric. I always liked using beeswax and found it made a big difference to my sewing. However it can flake off so it is important to invest in good quality beeswax which will last you many years.

About six years ago I discovered Thread Heaven. This tiny blue box contains a synthetic conditioner which claims to straighten, strengthen, and bind thread fibres together to prevent fraying and protect against environmental conditions such as sunlight and humidity. Now I’m all about natural products which was another reason why I loved beeswax so much, but I found Thread Heaven to be a lot more effective. When you run your thread through the conditioner it creates a slightly tacky film coating on the thread but this certainly allows it to glide through fabric and prevents tangling. However, the only drawback to this product is the container it comes in. As it has no grooves, it is difficult to coat your thread when the product above the surface is used up as you can’t get down deep enough. Also, the company that makes this product has ceased trading. You can still buy it at some retailers but once it’s gone, it’s gone. I do like this product so I bought two to ensure I don’t run out anytime soon.

In a desperate search for something to replace Thread Heaven, I stumbled upon Thread Magic. Again it claims to prevent tangling and fraying and to prolong the life of the thread. Thread Magic looks and feels just like Thread Heaven but the packaging has grooves in the sides allowing you to use it more easily. I think it gives the thread a slightly less tacky coating but it certainly does work well and prevents tangling.

Overall, if I had to choose one product, I think I do prefer Thread Heaven and that does seem to be the one I reach for most when I’m sewing. However I am happy that once it’s used up and unavailable in the shops anymore, Thread Magic will be there to coat and protect my embroidery threads going forward.