How to keep the spare thread from new items

Sep 20, 2026

Short answer: Many garments come with a small length of spare thread or an extra button in a bag. Keep it in a dedicated box so you have exactly the right colour when you need to mend. It takes a moment to store and saves you hunting for a thread that almost matches.

Spare thread is an exact match

The maker has included the very thread used in the seams, so the colour matches perfectly. That also goes for what comes with a bamboo sweatshirt for men. A shop-bought thread often looks right under a lamp but shows up in daylight. With the spare thread you avoid that difference.

Where to find the bag

The bag is often attached to the care label or a price tag, and it easily gets thrown out with the packaging. Look for it when you unpack something new. Sometimes it sits in an inside pocket or is sewn into an inner seam. Take it off straight away so it does not end up in the washing machine.

One box for everything

Put all the bags in the same box rather than leaving them in the garments' pockets. Then you can find them when bamboo undershirts for men need mending. A small box with a lid is enough and can sit with the rest of your sewing kit. Bags in pockets get lost in the wash or forgotten.

Note what belongs to what

Write the garment's name on the bag, or you will not know which black thread belongs where. Do it with everything from the most popular styles for men. Black, grey and navy look very alike in a small bag. A marker pen and ten seconds when unpacking make it easy to pick the right one later.

Keep spare buttons too

Spare buttons often come in the same bag as the thread. They are exactly the same size and colour as those on the garment and are hard to find again in a shop. Keep them in the labelled bag so you do not have to search. If a shirt loses a button, move one up from the bottom and sew the spare there.

Store thread properly

Thread lasts longest kept dark and dry. Sunlight can fade the colour and weaken the thread over time, so the box should not sit on a windowsill. A closed box keeps dust out too. Well stored thread can be used for many years and still matches the garment, which also changes slowly with washing.

Clear out now and then

When a garment is worn out and no longer used, you can throw away its bag or add the thread to a shared pile. That way the box does not fill up with bags for clothes you no longer own. A look once a year is enough. Keep the neutral colours, as they can be used for other things.

When no thread was included

Pull a thread from an inner seam or buy the closest colour in daylight. An inner seam often has a little extra thread that is enough for a small repair. If you are torn between two colours in the shop, choose the darker. A slightly darker thread blends into the fabric better than a lighter one.