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Member since 11/16/05
Posts: 1570
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2 Replies
Posted on: 12/20/14 4:13 PM ET
My daughter dances ballet and has asked for a stitch kit for Christmas. It contains 2 needles and a spool of "super-strong, lightly waxed nylon thread" (with a little handy cutting device on top) and it is recommended for hand sewing. Regular sewing thread is not strong enough and it slips out if used for hand sewing--it does work well with machine sewing. Time is running out to order it online from the dance supply companies. Does anybody if this type of thread is available at a local Hancock's or Joann's? What should I look for?

I appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

Claudia
  
Member since 6/18/08
Posts: 941
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Posted on: 12/20/14 4:29 PM ET
In reply to purplebouquet
"Nymo" is a waxed thread used for beading . Think it is nylon.
Should be available at craft/bead stores, not sure if Joanne's
carries it but you could check. You're in luck, Joanne's carries it
under the "Beadalon" brand name as well as a generic one.
-- Edited on 12/20/14 at 4:38 PM --
  
Member since 6/22/04
Posts: 4602
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Posted on: 12/20/14 8:32 PM ET
In reply to purplebouquet
I would just get the "stitch kit" if that is what your DD is asking for. It is probably a little special thing in her dance world, the right item that a dancer in her school possesses, and the price is low enough for it not to be an issue, imho. A perfectly functional substitute thread that is not a real "stitch kit" might be a huge disappointment.

I don't think a special thread is essential for ballet shoe sewing. Ages ago now, I used regular sewing thread to sew the ribbons and elastic to my dance shoes and it was easy enough and there was no real durability issue. My pointe shoes and slippers didn't last an eternity and it seemed like there were holes in the slipper leather or the elastic gave out before my sewing fell apart. If there had been such a thing as a stitch kit back then I would probably have wanted one and would have felt quite important owning one.
------
Liz

thefittinglife.blogspot.com
  
Member since 8/1/06
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Re: Back in the 70s, I worked on pointe shoes too (posted on 12/30/14 6:27 AM ET)
The first time the dancers showed up at my dorm room, they had the ribbons and the shoes, and I used sewing thread with a tight zig zag (and resewed seams frequently). I moved into dental thread (not floss), and it seemed to work well. Today I would probably try quilting thread, with 2 threads through the needle.
  
Member since 11/16/05
Posts: 1570
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Posted on: 12/30/14 1:08 PM ET
I caved in and bought the stitch kit.

I have always machine-sewn my daughter's elastic and ribbons to her pointe shoes and it has worked beautifully for years (to be improved once SHE really starts doing it on a regular basis). But evidently, the dancers need to hand-stitch their ribbons together for performances so they don't dangle or bunch up in a messy knot around their ankles. The stitching is just temporary and done by the dancers while wearing their shoes. Machine-sewing wouldn't work in this position. For this purpose, regular sewing thread kept slipping out. So, stitch kit was it.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Claudia


  
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