Grabbed a metallic thread for a jacket last week without checking the fabric blend first

Honestly, it looked amazing in the store but after one wash the thread frayed all over the sleeves. Had to pick between ripping it all out or covering it with patches - went with the patches and it came out half decent. Has anyone else had a metallic thread fail on them like that?

4 comments

4 Comments

oscarw832mo ago

Read somewhere that metallic threads are usually just a plastic coating over cheaper fibers. The coating cracks and peels off after any kind of friction or water exposure. Sucks that it happened on a jacket sleeve too since those get rubbed against things constantly. Patches sound like a solid fix though, bet it gives the jacket more personality than the shiny thread ever did. Might be worth looking for real metallic yarn next time if you want that look again, but those are a pain to work with.

ross.felix1mo ago

Is anyone else kinda wondering if the real issue here is less about the thread and more about how we expect clothes to be this perfect forever thing? I mean, yeah, the metallic coating is cheap plastic junk that flakes off, but that's true for most shiny stuff sold in stores now (even some zippers do the same thing). The jacket sleeve is gonna get rubbed on desks, car doors, tables, you name it - no thread is gonna survive that forever without wear. Patches are actually a better move because they add structure and make the jacket more durable in the long run, plus they hide the damage instead of trying to fight it. Really, it's just a lesson that shiny clothes are basically fast fashion tricks, not built to last through real life.

riley_west1mo ago

Wait, hold on - "plastic coating over cheaper fibers"? I had no idea that's how metallic thread worked. That explains so much about why it looks great in the store but falls apart after one night out. @oscarw83, is that true for all the shiny stuff? Because I've noticed my silver zipper on a hoodie started flaking after like three washes too. Wild that we're basically paying for trash wrapped in shiny garbage. Patches really do seem like the honest fix here, at least you're not pretending anymore.

phoenix1982mo ago

Metallic thread is just decorative nonsense wrapped in plastic. You basically bought a costume piece and expected it to hold up like real hardware. The store lights made it look cool but that stuff is notorious for shredding the second you look at it wrong. Patches were a smart move though, now it actually has character instead of looking like a cheap party trick. Honestly, I wouldn't bother with metallic thread again unless you're making something you'll never wash.