Thread and Fabric Scraps are two of the most sought-after crafting materials in SAND: Raiders of Sophie, the PvPvE extraction game where you pilot massive mechs called Tramplers across a hostile desert. Both materials feed directly into the Dmytro Melnyk skill tree, and without them, your Trampler upgrades stall early. The good news: once you know which crates to target, farming both becomes a quick, repeatable loop rather than a frustrating scavenger hunt.
What are Thread and Fabric Scraps used for?
Both materials are tied to Trampler upgrades in the Dmytro Melnyk skill tree. They are not interchangeable with each other, and neither can substitute for the higher-tier Fabric item. Fabric is reportedly crafted from 5 Fabric Scraps and 15 Thread at a workbench inside a Fort or similar crafting station, so stockpiling both from the start gives you options once that recipe becomes available at your bench.
For a deeper look at how these materials fit into your broader progression, the SAND: Raiders of Sophie tech tree upgrades guide breaks down every unlock cost and tier across all three factions.
Dmytro Melnyk skill tree
Where to find Thread
Thread has exactly one source right now: Food Crates. These come in three tiers (Food Crate, Rare Food Crate, and Very Rare Food Crate), and all three can drop around 15 to 30 Thread per loot. You will not find Thread in Medical Cabinets, Valuable Safes, or any other container type, so do not waste time opening random boxes hoping to get lucky.
Spot Food Crates by the white cow icon painted on the lid. That symbol is your signal to stop and open it, no matter where you are on the map.
Best locations for Food Crates
Forts are the most reliable source of Rare and Very Rare Food Crates. Getting inside requires either a timed explosive or a Trampler cannon shot to blow the large red doors open. Once inside, check both the inner courtyard and the walls. Both areas tend to pack in high-tier loot, and multiple Rare Food Crates in a single fort run is a realistic outcome.
Named towns are hit or miss. The loot is scattered across a large area, and the locations are patrolled by both Ironclads and the undead enemies roaming the streets. You can absolutely find Food Crates here, just expect to spend more time and face more resistance than at a fort.
Ships with red doors on deck are worth a quick stop. Blow the door open and you will typically find 5 to 6 lootable crates inside. Food Crates are not guaranteed, but the whole sweep takes under two minutes, making it an easy detour on any route.
Fort interior after door breach
Where to find Fabric Scraps
Fabric Scraps follow the same logic as Thread but come from a completely different crate type. Look for Crates of Shells, marked with a cannon symbol on the lid. These exist in three tiers: Crate of Shells, Rare Crate of Shells, and Very Rare Crate of Shells. All three can drop Fabric Scraps, though the Very Rare version has a better chance of producing actual Fabric instead of Fabric Scraps.
Do not confuse Fabric Scraps with Thread or Fabric. They are three distinct materials, and a recipe calling for Fabric will not accept Fabric Scraps as a substitute.
Best locations for Crates of Shells
Shipwrecks are the standout source here. Most wrecked ships contain either a Crate of Shells or a Weapon Crate, and they are usually guarded by only around two enemies. You can chain several shipwrecks in just a few minutes, filling your Fabric Scraps quota without ever setting foot in a contested town.
Forts and named towns also carry Crates of Shells, but the risk-to-reward ratio is less favorable when Fabric Scraps are all you need. Save those locations for runs where you are after multiple resource types at once.
Cannon-marked shell crate
Farming routes by risk level
The cleanest early farming loop is to chain shipwrecks for Fabric Scraps, then hit one fort for Thread on the way to extraction. That combination covers both materials in a single run without forcing you to linger in dangerous high-traffic zones.
Common mistakes that slow your farming
The biggest time sink is opening every crate you see without checking the icon first. Each material has exactly one reliable crate type, so scanning for the right symbol before committing to a loot spot cuts run times significantly.
Spending too long in named towns is the second problem. Towns have more loot density, but rival players gravitate toward them for the same reason. If you only need Fabric Scraps, a chain of shipwrecks gets the job done faster and with far less exposure.
Finally, do not skip ships with red doors on deck when hunting Thread. They are fast to clear and often overlooked by other players focused on larger landmarks.
How do Fabric Scraps and Thread fit into crafting?
Beyond the Trampler upgrades, the combination of Fabric Scraps and Thread feeds into textile crafting progression. The reported recipe of 5 Fabric Scraps plus 15 Thread producing Fabric at a Fort workbench means you will want a healthy stockpile of both before committing to a crafting session. Treat them as resources to accumulate passively on every run rather than materials you farm in dedicated sessions.
If you want to know what to do with your extracted loot once you are back at base, the buying and selling items guide covers the shop interface and how to convert loot into currency for your next run.
For everything else you need to get ahead in the desert, the full SAND: Raiders of Sophie strategy guides collection has you covered on weapons, crafting recipes, red box items, and more.