Twines

Upholstery Twines for Traditional Hand Stitching

Shop upholstery twines for traditional furniture making, reupholstery, spring work, edge stitching, buttoning and hand-closing upholstery seams. Livedale supplies linen and flax stitching twines, traditional laidcord, strong nylon buttoning twine and waxed polyester slipping thread.

These specialist twines are intended for hand-upholstery operations rather than ordinary sewing-machine construction.

For bonded nylon, polycotton corespun, monofilament and overlocking threads, browse Upholstery Sewing Threads & Bobbins.

The correct upholstery twine depends on the job being carried out. Different products are used for:

• Traditional edge stitching
• Sewing springs to hessian
• Lashing double-cone springs
• Blind stitching upholstery layers
• Securing upholstery buttons
• Slip stitching cushions, arms and outside backs
• Closing areas that cannot be reached with a sewing machine

Buttoning twine, slipping thread, laidcord and linen stitching twine perform different jobs and should not be treated as interchangeable.

Shop Upholstery Twines by Application

The range contains five principal products:

• Barbour’s linen stitching twine
• Everlasto flax stitching twine
• Laidcord for spring lashing
• Nylon buttoning twine
• Waxed polyester slipping thread

Barbour’s Linen Stitching Twine

Barbour’s linen stitching twine is supplied in a 250g ball and is available in four sizes:

• No. 3
• No. 4
• No. 5
• No. 6

The lighter No. 3 and No. 4 twines are suited to traditional edge stitching and general hand-upholstery work.

The heavier No. 5 and No. 6 twines are better suited to more substantial operations, including blind stitching and sewing springs into position.

Barbour’s stitching twine may be used for:

• Shaping traditional stitched edges
• Sewing double-cone springs to hessian
• Blind stitching suitable filling layers
• Securing hair, coir and felt
• Traditional seat, arm and back upholstery
• General furniture hand sewing

Choose the size according to the upholstery operation and the needle being used.

A heavier twine may provide additional substance, but it also requires a larger needle eye and creates a more prominent stitch and knot.

Everlasto Flax Stitching Twine

Everlasto stitching twine is a traditional flax twine supplied in a 226g ball.

It is available in:

• No. 3
• No. 4
• No. 5
• No. 6

The lighter sizes are suitable for edge stitching and general hand sewing, while the heavier sizes can be used for blind stitching and sewing springs into place.

Potential applications include:

• Traditional stitched furniture edges
• Hand sewing through hessian
• Securing upholstery fillings
• Blind stitching
• Spring work
• Furniture restoration

Both Barbour’s and Everlasto twines are available across the same size range, allowing professional upholsterers to select according to their preferred material and working method.

Traditional Edge Stitching

Edge stitching is used to shape and control traditional upholstery fillings beneath the final cover.

It can be used to create:

• Firm seat fronts
• Rounded chair and sofa arms
• Shaped furniture backs
• Traditional rolled edges
• Defined borders
• Controlled transitions between filling layers

A traditional stitched edge may include:

• Upholstery hessian
• Hair or coir
• Felt
• Linen or flax stitching twine
• Curved or straight upholstery needles
• A regulator needle for arranging the filling

Browse upholstery hessian for the foundation material used to contain and support traditional fillings.

For suitable filling materials, explore hair and coir and upholstery felts.

The filling should be distributed evenly before stitching begins. The twine then helps shape and retain the required furniture profile.

Needles for Edge Stitching

Use a needle suited to the depth, shape and accessibility of the furniture edge.

Browse:

• Curved upholstery needles
• Straight upholstery needles
• Regulator needles

Curved needles are particularly useful where the needle needs to enter and leave from the same side of the work.

Straight needles may be more suitable where there is access through the complete upholstery construction.

Regulator needles are used to arrange and redistribute suitable filling materials, helping create a consistent shape before and during edge stitching.

Select a needle with an eye large enough for the chosen twine without forcing or damaging it.

Stitching Through Hessian

Hessian used for edge stitching must be fitted securely enough to carry the tension of the stitches.

The twine should hold and shape the filling without cutting through the hessian.

Work progressively along the edge and regularly check:

• Shape
• Firmness
• Stitch spacing
• Twine tension
• Filling distribution
• Symmetry

Consistent tension is more important than simply pulling every stitch as tightly as possible.

Excessive tension can distort the furniture edge or cut through the hessian, while insufficient tension can leave the filling loose and poorly controlled.

Laidcord for Spring Lashing

Laidcord is a strong traditional flax cord supplied in a 250g ball.

It is used for lashing double-cone upholstery springs and controlling their position, height and movement within a traditional sprung furniture foundation.

Laidcord may be used to connect:

• Springs to the furniture frame
• Springs to neighbouring springs
• Front-to-back spring rows
• Side-to-side spring rows
• Diagonal spring sections

The chosen lashing pattern depends on the furniture design, number of springs, spring height and required finished profile.

Laidcord is not ordinary general-purpose string. It is used under tension as part of a traditional springing system.

Double-Cone Upholstery Springs

Browse double-cone upholstery springs for traditional chair, sofa and furniture springing.

Double-cone springs are available in different heights and gauges for suitable:

• Dining chairs
• Armchairs
• Sofas
• Footstools
• Traditional seat units
• Furniture restoration

The springs should be arranged evenly and secured to a suitable webbing foundation before lashing begins.

Jute Webbing

Traditional double-cone springs are commonly supported by jute upholstery webbing.

The webbing forms the lower foundation beneath the spring system.

It should be:

• Evenly spaced
• Properly tensioned
• Securely fixed
• Attached to sound frame timber
• Positioned to support the spring layout

Browse pliers, webbing stretchers and pincers for tools used to tension suitable upholstery webbing.

For traditional fixing methods, browse upholstery tacks and upholstery hammers and mallets.

Once the springs have been secured and lashed, suitable hessian can be fitted across the spring tops before the filling layers are added.

Sewing Springs to Hessian

Heavy stitching twine may be used to secure suitable spring tops to the hessian covering the spring unit.

Barbour’s or Everlasto No. 5 or No. 6 twine is suited to this heavier work.

Use:

• Properly positioned springs
• Secure spring lashing
• Suitable upholstery hessian
• A strong curved or straight needle
• Consistent stitch positions
• Secure knots

The stitches should retain the spring positions without pulling the hessian excessively down between them.

Browse curved upholstery needles for working around spring tops and through traditional upholstery foundations.

Nylon Upholstery Buttoning Twine

Premium nylon buttoning twine is supplied on a 375-metre roll.

It is intended for securing upholstery buttons in furniture, headboards, cushions and other suitable buttoned upholstery.

Potential applications include:

• Deep-buttoned chairs
• Sofas and settees
• Upholstered headboards
• Footstools and ottomans
• Seat and back buttons
• Scatter cushions
• Bolster cushions
• Traditional and contemporary tufting
• Replacement of broken button ties

Buttoning twine must withstand the tension used to pull and retain the button within the upholstery.

The finished button depth depends on:

• Foam or filling thickness
• Furniture construction
• Button spacing
• Pleat arrangement
• Covering material
• Rear fixing method
• Intended design

Buttoning Needles

Browse upholstery buttoning needles for long and specialist needles used to pass through deep furniture and cushion constructions.

The correct needle depends on:

• Upholstery depth
• Button type
• Access from the rear
• Twine thickness
• Anchor method
• Type of furniture

For buttons, backs, dies and related components, browse buttoning parts and equipment.

A typical upholstery-buttoning project may require:

• Upholstery fabric or vinyl
• Foam or traditional filling
• Upholstery buttons
• Button backs
• Buttoning twine
• A suitable buttoning needle
• A secure rear anchor

Browse upholstery vinyl and fabric for suitable furniture-covering materials.

Waxed Polyester Slipping Thread

Waxed polyester slipping thread is supplied on a 500-metre roll.

It is available in:

• Beige
• Black
• Blue
• Brown
• Grey
• Khaki
• Natural
• Red
• White

Slipping thread is used for hand-closing suitable upholstery seams where machine access is limited or where the finished closing stitches need to remain neat and discreet.

Potential applications include:

• Closing cushion seams
• Finishing outside backs
• Closing upholstered arm panels
• Securing suitable loose-cover sections
• Mattress and bedding work
• Hand sewing around difficult furniture shapes
• Repairs to suitable upholstery seams

The waxed finish helps control the thread during hand sewing and can reduce tangling while the stitch is being formed.

Slip Stitching Upholstery Seams

Slip stitching is used to close two prepared fabric edges by hand.

The stitches are positioned so that the thread remains largely concealed within the seam.

For a neat result:

• Align the two fabric edges
• Maintain consistent seam allowance
• Use a suitable curved or straight needle
• Match the thread colour to the covering
• Keep the stitches evenly spaced
• Pull the seam closed without gathering it
• Secure the ends carefully

Browse curved needles where access is restricted or the needle must return through the same face of the work.

Browse straight upholstery needles for suitable open and accessible seams.

Matching Slipping Thread Colour

Choose a colour that blends with the upholstery material where the seam may remain visible.

An exact match may not always be necessary where the stitches are properly concealed, but a contrasting colour can become noticeable if the seam opens under tension.

For patterned fabric, select a colour that blends with the dominant shade around the closing seam.

Machine Sewing Thread or Upholstery Twine?

This category contains specialist twines and hand-sewing threads.

Choose these products for suitable:

• Edge stitching
• Spring lashing
• Sewing springs to hessian
• Buttoning
• Blind stitching
• Slip stitching
• Traditional hand-upholstery work

For machine-made cushion covers, furniture seams, piping and overlocking, browse Upholstery Sewing Threads & Bobbins.

Return to the parent Sewing Threads & Twines category to compare machine-sewing products with traditional upholstery twines.

Associated Traditional Upholstery Products

The products most closely associated with upholstery twines are:

For Spring Lashing

• Laidcord
• Double-cone springs
• Jute webbing
• Webbing stretchers and pincers
• Upholstery tacks
• Upholstery hammers

For Traditional Edge Stitching

• Linen and flax stitching twines
• Upholstery hessian
• Hair and coir fillings
• Upholstery felts
• Curved needles
• Straight needles
• Regulator needles

For Upholstery Buttoning

• Nylon buttoning twine
• Buttoning needles
• Buttoning parts and equipment
• Upholstery fabric and vinyl

For Hand-Closing Seams

• Waxed polyester slipping thread
• Curved upholstery needles
• Straight upholstery needles
• Upholstery fabric and vinyl

Trade Upholstery Twines

Livedale supplies traditional upholstery twines to professional upholsterers, furniture restorers, manufacturers, educational workshops and trade customers throughout the UK.

The range covers the principal hand-upholstery tasks, from spring lashing and edge stitching to buttoning and hand-closing finished seams.

Approved trade customers can access preferential trade pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.

Choose the twine according to the work being carried out, the upholstery materials and the needle required.