Description
Waxed Polyester Slipping Thread – 500m Roll
Waxed Polyester Slipping Thread is designed for hand-closing upholstery seams where machine access is limited or where the final closing stitches need to remain neat and discreet.
Supplied on a 500 metre roll, it is particularly useful for professional upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, cushion makers and repair workshops finishing upholstered sections by hand.
The waxed surface helps give greater control during stitching and can reduce unwanted tangling while the seam is being formed.
Browse the complete Upholstery Twines range for specialist hand-upholstery threads and twines.
Ideal for Slip Stitching Upholstery
Slip stitching is commonly used where two prepared upholstery edges need to be closed after the cover has already been fitted.
Typical applications include:
- Closing cushion openings
- Outside sofa and chair backs
- Upholstered arms
- Furniture side panels
- Hand-finished seams
- Loose-cover sections
- Mattress and bedding work
- Furniture repairs
- Areas that cannot be reached easily with a sewing machine
The stitches are positioned so that most of the thread remains concealed within the seam.
Closing Cushion Seams by Hand
Slipping thread is particularly useful where a cushion cover needs to be closed after the interior has been inserted.
This may occur with:
- Fixed cushion interiors
- Feather cushions
- Fibre-filled cushions
- Bolsters
- Scatter cushions
- Specialist shaped cushions
For replacement cushion interiors, browse Foam Cushions and Fibre & Feather Cushions.
Where a removable cover is preferred instead of a permanently hand-closed seam, explore the Zipping range for zip chain, sliders and associated components.
Hand Closing Outside Backs & Upholstered Arms
Outside backs and arms are common areas where machine sewing may no longer be practical once the upholstery has been fitted to the frame.
Waxed slipping thread allows the final covering edge to be closed by hand against a prepared adjoining edge.
This can be particularly useful on:
- Sofa outside backs
- Armchair backs
- Outside arms
- Upholstered panels
- Furniture restoration
- Shaped furniture sections
For covering materials used in furniture manufacture and reupholstery, browse Vinyl & Fabric.
Why Use a Waxed Thread?
The waxed finish helps control the polyester thread during hand sewing.
This can make it easier to:
- Maintain tension
- Form consistent stitches
- Reduce tangling
- Control longer thread lengths
- Pull the seam together progressively
- Keep the thread positioned while working
The wax does not remove the need for correct stitching technique.
Avoid pulling a long section of seam tight in one movement, as this can gather the fabric or distort the finished upholstery.
How to Produce a Neat Slip-Stitched Seam
Before beginning, align the two prepared fabric edges and check that any piping, pattern or seam detail matches correctly.
For a cleaner finish:
- Keep the seam allowance consistent
- Use evenly spaced stitches
- Catch sufficient material on both sides
- Keep most of the thread concealed inside the seam
- Tighten the stitching progressively
- Avoid puckering or gathering
- Check the seam regularly as you work
- Secure the finishing knot carefully
Where the seam includes piping, make sure the piping lines remain aligned before tightening the stitches.
For cushion and furniture piping, browse Piping Cords.
Use with Curved Upholstery Needles
Curved needles are especially useful for slip stitching because the curved shape allows the point to enter and return through the same face of the upholstery.
Browse Curved Upholstery Needles for a range of shapes and sizes.
For fine-to-medium upholstery work, C.S. Osborne N501 Light Upholstery Needles are available in 2½”, 3″ and 4″ lengths.
For finer hand-sewing work, C.S. Osborne N501X Extra Light Upholstery Needles provide a slimmer alternative.
Livedale also supplies Curved Needles – Pack of 10 in several sizes for general upholstery hand sewing.
Choose a needle eye large enough for the slipping thread to pass through without forcing it.
Straight Needles for Accessible Seams
Where there is enough access for the needle to pass directly through the upholstery, a straight needle may be more convenient.
Browse Straight Upholstery Needles for general hand-sewing, cushion and furniture applications.
Straight and curved needles perform different jobs, so select the shape according to the seam position and available access.
Choosing the Thread Colour
Waxed Polyester Slipping Thread is available in:
- Beige
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Grey
- Khaki
- Natural
- Red
- White
Where the finished stitching is properly concealed, an exact colour match may not always be essential.
However, if the seam opens slightly under tension, small areas of thread can become visible.
Choose a colour that blends reasonably closely with the surrounding upholstery material, particularly on:
- Plain fabrics
- Pale coverings
- High-contrast seams
- Outside backs
- Arms
- Visible cushion closures
For patterned fabric, choose a shade that blends with the dominant colour around the closing seam.
Slipping Thread or Machine Sewing Thread?
Waxed slipping thread is intended for hand-closing upholstery seams and performs a different job from machine-sewing thread.
For machine construction seams, piping and cushion manufacture, browse Sewing Threads & Barbobs.
For strong upholstery machine sewing, see Somabond 40’s Bonded Nylon Sewing Thread.
For an alternative machine thread, M36 PolyCotton Corespun Sewing Thread combines a polyester core with a cotton outer covering.
Machine construction thread and waxed slipping thread should not be treated as interchangeable simply because both are used in the same finished cover.
Slipping Thread or Other Upholstery Twines?
Different upholstery twines are designed for different operations.
Use Waxed Polyester Slipping Thread for:
- Hand-closing upholstery seams
- Cushion closures
- Outside backs
- Upholstered arms
- Other difficult-to-machine areas
For traditional edge stitching and general hand upholstery, use Barbour’s Linen Stitching Twine or Everlasto Flax Stitching Twine.
For spring lashing, choose Laidcord.
For deep buttoning, use Premium Quality Button Twine.
Choosing the thread according to the actual upholstery operation gives better control than trying to use one twine throughout the complete furniture build.
Upholstery Threads, Twines & Hand-Sewing Supplies from Livedale
Livedale supplies professional sewing threads and specialist upholstery twines for upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, cushion makers, furniture restorers and soft-furnishing workrooms.
Browse Upholstery Twines for slipping thread, button twine, linen and flax stitching twines and Laidcord.
Explore Needles, Pins & Skewers for curved and straight upholstery needles used for hand stitching and furniture repair.
Return to Sewing Threads & Twines for the complete professional upholstery sewing range.
Waxed Polyester Slipping Thread is supplied on a 500 metre roll and is available in Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Khaki, Natural, Red and White.
