ewing Thread Consumption Formula

Noor Ahmed Raaz

B.Sc. in Apparel Manufacturing
Asst. Merchandiser
Opex Sinha Group, Narayongonj
Email: raju.uttara72@yahoo.com

Sewing Thread Consumption

For Apparel Merchandising, in todays competitive marketplace, there is a need
for tight cost control. A realistic estimation of potential thread requirements for
particular garment styles or contracts will not only end up saving money, and
warehouse maintenance. As, if you buy sewing threads more than you require
that will be a matter of extra warehouse maintenance. To understand sewing
thread consumption we also need to understand the Seam and Stitchanalysis.

Sewing thread
It's basic rule in garment industry that we must have knowledge how to calculate
sewing thread consumption in 1 pcs garment then decide how many sewing
thread we must buy for bulk production process.

For determining thread consumption there is a standard formula. In that formula

you will get multiplying factors according to machine type and stitching classes.
To define thread consumption you just have to multiply seam length with that
factors. Thus, one can estimate total requirement of thread for making a
garments. But actual thread consumption for a unit length of seam depends on
many factors.

Likes,

1. Stitches per inches (SPI)

 2. Stitch Classes

3. Thickness of the seam (fabric thickness)

4. Thread tension

5. Thread count (thickness of sewing thread)

We should follow when calculate it with below steps :

1. Measure the actual thread consumed in a specific length of seam along

the garments.

2. Calculate the thread consumption by using mathematic stitch formulas

based on seam characters ( example : single stich, double stitch,
chainstitch, overlock, etc ) also please take attentions in thickness of
thread.

3. Then convert it with total yardage contained in one cones of sewing

thread & total quantity of garments.

Measuring Actual Thread Consumed

A specified length of the seam, for example 3 inches, is measured and then the
thread is removed by carefully unraveling the stitch. You can then calculate the
amount of thread consumed in one inch and multiply this factor times the total
length of the seam measured in inches.

For example:

Length of seam is 42 inches or 1.17 yards.

Stitch and seam construction: 401 SSa-1.

Specified length of thread removed from a seam equals 3 inches.

Needle thread removed = 9 inches

Looper thread removed = 8 inches

Calculation:

Needle thread factor = 9 3 = 3 inches of needle thread per inch of seam.

 Looper thread factor = 8 3 = 2.67 inches of looper thread per inch of
seam.

Total needle thread consumed = factor 3 X 1.17yds = 3.51 yds

Total looper thread consumed = factor 2.67 X 1.17yds = 3.12 yds

Total Thread = 3.51 + 3.12 = 6.63 yards per seam.

Generally a 10 to 15% waste factor is added due to chaining-off, thread

breaks, repairs, etc.

If a waste factor of 15% is selected then:

6.63 yards/seam X 1.15 = 7.62 yards/seam including 15% waste factor.

Obviously you must do this for each seam to determine the total amount of
thread consumed in the finished product.