Calculation of Sewing Thread Consumption for

Garments

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 Stitch analysis.

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.