Embroidery thread! The beautiful, color-reflecting sheen captures the eye every time! Although gorgeous, it can often be a source of confusion as there are many options to choose from. Today, we are going to cover a few different brands, materials that they can be made of, and how to know which kind to use!
Fibers
Embroidery thread can be made using different fibers. The most common is rayon and polyester. It is believed that rayon used to be the best option due, mainly, to its high sheen and availability. In the past, polyester embroidery thread didn't have as much sheen as rayon; however, that is not the case anymore.
Between the two, rayon is softer to the touch. It also lays nicely. There are beautiful options available and the sheen is gorgeous.
Although rayon and polyester are the most common, you can find embroidery thread made of other fibers, such as silk. Both rayon and silk thread work well for light to medium weight fabric. When you move to heavier fabric, polyester, in my opinion, works better.
Rayon used to be the standard for embroidery, but polyester is gaining more popularity, primarily due to its strength. In the video above, I do a snap test. This is simply wrapping the thread around your hands and pulling. You can tell if it is a strong fiber or not. Rayon, even a good quality rayon, snaps more easily. That is just how it is. The polyester thread takes much more to get it to snap.
If you ask anyone that has been embroidering awhile, you'll quickly find out their thread preference. You learn very fast which thread works well for your machine and what you like; mainly because, if it works well, you won't be rethreading your machine all the time.
Brands
Madeira Polyneon Thread
I have found that my Babylock Verve likes Madeira. Lately, I have been using the Polyneon. Polyneon is a 2-ply polyester option. It is great for frequently washed textiles. The colors remain brilliant, even after sun exposure and multiple washings. It is very affordable and has a bunch of color options.
Hemingworth Thread
Another brand that I love is Hemingworth. In my opinion, of the polyester options, the sheen is one of the best. It is so pretty and vibrant. They also come with a convenient case that helps prevent your thread from unravelling and becoming tangled. It also keeps it clean and dust-free.
Isacord Thread
There are a bunch of different options, but one brand that is totally worth mentioning is Isacord. I don't even like to do the snap test with Isacord thread, because I hurt my fingers. It is a very strong, high-quality embroidery thread. It is used among some of the largest embroidery houses.
The manufacturer states that this polyester thread is nearly twice the strength of rayon. That's incredible.
Metallic
I could go on and on about brands. There are so many great options. I do want to talk about a specific type of thread -metallic. Boy, can it be a headache if you don't use it properly. Make sure that you swap out your needle for a metallic needle. It has an elongated eye, which allows the delicate metallic thread to pass through the eye of the needle easily. This helps prevent breakage. This little step, along with using a larger needle (size 14), makes all the difference in the world.
Bobbin Thread
Lastly, I want to touch on what you should use in your bobbin. Always check your manual; however, a common suggestion is a 60 weight polyester bobbin thread.
Conclusion
I just named a few here, but if you visit our website, sewingpartsonline.com, we have a great filter that allows you to narrow down your search. You can search by type, material, weight, brand, and much more. You are sure to find an option that you love. If you need any help, please reach out to us!
Until next time.
