Does sewing thread expire? The short answer is yes. I’ll show you how to tell if your thread is too old to use for sewing, and provide some creative ways to use spools of thread that don’t pass the test!

Sewing thread does indeed expire. Sunlight can degrade thread that isn’t properly stored. Excessive humidity will cause some types of thread to swell and break down more easily. And some thread seems to just give up after a while, no matter how it was stored. Synthetic thread in general will fare better than rayon and cotton, but it’s not indestructible.

How to tell if sewing thread is too old to use

How do you know if a spool of thread is too old to use? Here’s a super simple strength test for sewing thread!

Cut off a length of thread that’s about as long as your arm. Tie a knot in the middle. Now use the thread to quickly lift about 2 pounds of weight (1 kg or so). One quart or liter of liquid will be about the right amount of weight, or a two-pound bag of rice or beans.

Here, I’m checking to see if a vintage spool of mercerized cotton thread is too old to use by trying to lift a quart of paint. If the thread breaks, like this one did, then I wouldn’t rely on it to hold a garment together.

Note: You may want to increase the weight to 3 or even 4 pounds if you are constructing something rugged that will get a lot of wear.

Even if thread is brand new, it may not be strong enough

I won’t be naming names here, but I have seen some brand new spools of cheap thread that were fuzzy, inconsistent, and would probably fail the strength test right off the bat. Using dubious sewing thread is one instance where “saving” money is usually a bad idea. If you start out with thin, fuzzy, weak thread, your project won’t be as durable as it should be.

If you’re having doubts about a particular spool of thread, then the best thing to do is buy a new spool of good-quality sewing thread. This is one of my favorite brands, but there are plenty of high-quality threads out there. (By the way, as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.)

I’m as thrifty as the next gal. And as my many upcycling tutorials prove, I love repurposing and using scrap material. But I don’t mind buying new, good-quality thread when I need to. Be kind to your future self, and don’t take all that time selecting fabrics, cutting them out, and sewing them together, just to have them fall apart because you used sewing thread that was too old!

Creative ways to use old sewing thread!

So, as we’ve talked about, sewing thread does expire. But if you have some old or poor-quality thread lying around, you don’t need to throw it away. You can still use old sewing thread in the following ways:

Make some string art

Use old thread to create string art by wrapping it around nails or pegs, as in the following examples:

Use expired sewing thread for basting, tailor’s tacks, or other temporary stitching

You can use old thread for temporary stitches, such as basting and tailor’s tacks. Here, I’m adding a removable bell sleeve to a wedding dress I’m restyling for a bride. I’m using tailor’s tacks to mark the exact position where the sleeve will meet the strap and back of the dress.

When making tailor’s tacks, using different colors of thread is a good way to color-code pattern pieces so you can match them up easily later.

Old sewing thread makes great tassels!

Decorative uses where the thread won’t be put under any stress are also okay. This includes tassels, teeny tiny pompoms, and decoupage/collage/mixed media art pieces.

Here, I’ve used sewing thread and a fork to construct a tiny tassel. I attached it to these turquoise and amethyst earrings I made, to add some softness and movement at the bottom. (See how I made this tiny tassel, and other strange ways to use forks in your sewing room, in my post 50 Unusual Sewing Tools and Techniques!)

Use expired thread to make fringe

Old thread can still be used to make fringe. It can be trapped within a seam, or stitched down in rows.

You can also slice down the side of the spool (carefully!) with an x-acto knife. Then, stitch down the bunches of thread to make a colorful embellishment that’s full of texture, like I’m doing here. This method is best used on items that won’t get a lot of wear, such as lampshades.

Make a thread doll with expired sewing thread

This doll is adorable, and a great way to use expired sewing thread! You can follow along to make your own thread doll, in your choice of colors.

Use expired thread to make lovely flowers

Here are a couple of different ways to make beautiful thread flowers for home decor accents.

The first video makes a puffy flower, kind of like a dandelion, that would be perfect in a vase or on a wreath. The second video results in a flatter flower that can be embroidered onto a 2-dimensional project or glued onto a picture frame.

You can also use thread flowers on hat brims and hatbands, or use them as lapel pins. They can even be added to shoes, sandals, and flip-flops!

Turn old sewing thread into fabric

Expired or scrap sewing thread can be sandwiched between water-soluble stabilizer and sewn down to create a felt-like piece of fabric.

This material can be used to make coasters, embellishments, art quilts, collages, or even bowls and baskets.

Use old thread as doll hair

If you’re making a rag doll, you can use expired sewing thread to make the doll’s hair.

Or, you can use old sewing thread to make one of these ballpoint pen creatures! It’s a great party favor, stocking stuffer, or just a way to brighten someone’s day.

Bundle some expired sewing thread together to make friendship bracelets

One strand of thread might be weak, but bundled together, it will be perfect for making friendship bracelets! Take 6 strands at a time and give them a gentle twist to twirl them together. Now you have a thicker strand to make braided bracelets and other items.

Any project that won’t put much tension on the thread (or rely on it to permanently hold something together) will be a perfectly fine way to use it.

Make beads out of thread that’s too old for sewing

There are several different ways to make beads out of thread or yarn. The video shows beads made out of a single color.

You can also wrap different colors of thread around a coin, button, or other flat object (which will remain inside the pendant.) Add a sturdy loop for hanging, glue all of the edges and ends, and leave it to dry. It makes a great focal point for a necklace, or even a Christmas tree ornament!

Wrap expired thread around a pen

This is one of my random ideas that I ended up loving. I write a lot, and having a few wraps of thread around a regular ballpoint pen makes it so much more comfortable to hold. The thread makes the pen thicker, softer, and less slick.

I just wrapped a few complementary colors of old sewing thread around the barrel of the pen, and dabbed some fabri-tac glue on the ends to secure it.

The insert that holds the ink can still be changed out when it’s empty, although I have wrapped the thread down too far for the pen cap to still fit. I chose comfort over cap-ability, lol.

Decoupage with expired sewing thread

You can use Mod Podge or another decoupage glue to attach thread to a canvas or board. Use the thread to imitate brush strokes or other textures.

Here’s a sewing thread decoupage I’m working on. It’s going to be a moonlit ocean scene, and I’ve twisted different shades of blue thread together to make the distant ocean waves. It’s far from finished, but I like how it’s turning out so far!

Sculpt something out of thread and glue

This one was fun, although super messy!

I decided to make a colored pencil holder by getting thread soaked with this heavy gel gloss and wrapping it around a disposable cup. Next, I added a huge metal washer to the bottom, and covered it up with more thread, so that the finished pencil cup wouldn’t tip over. I left it to dry upside-down until it was completely dry (it takes several days), then peeled it away from the cup. Ta-daaaaa! It’s a free-form messy pencil holder that always makes me smile.

This video demonstrates how to make a lantern using thread and glue. Super cute and fun!

When you make a craft like this, there will always be a time where you think the glue is dry but it’s not. Make sure to leave it for a couple of days longer than you think it will need. If the project feels cool to the touch, wait longer before you remove the item that’s supporting it. If you are still having trouble with your project keeping its shape, use a heavier glue (like the gel gloss I linked to above), and/or use more wraps of thread.

Use the vintage wooden spools from old thread to make another craft

Don’t even get me started on all of the ways you can use wooden thread spools! From marionettes to wheels on mini carts to drawer pulls to just wrapping ribbon around them for easy storage, I always have wooden spools on hand. Even just sitting in a glass jar, they lend a lot of vintage charm to a sewing room!

Bonus tips: fun ways to store your thread!

Make a DIY sewing thread rack

If you need a way to store all of your sewing thread, check out my tutorial for making a DIY Sewing Thread Rack. This is a surprisingly easy project that starts with a piece of wire. It results in a DIY thread rack that’s as functional as it is beautiful!

Make your own garden hose bobbin holder

And this DIY bobbin holder that I made from a discarded piece of garden hose is how I’ve been storing my bobbins for years. They don’t rattle around or unwind, and you can clearly see what color of thread is on them. I love it!

I hope some of these ideas are new favorites of yours! Now that you know how to tell if sewing thread is too old to use, you can sew with confidence or make one of these other offbeat thread crafts.

Happy crafting!

Jessie