What kind of embroidery thread to use

It is softer than polyester and is more suitable for intricate work or work with freestanding lace. Where polyester and rayon pride themselves on a high sheen look, a cotton thread has a beautiful soft sheen. You can order cotton threads with a matte finish to further your creativity. Cotton threads can be purchased in standard thickness, but they also come in very fine varieties, suitable for incredibly intricate and delicate work. Keep in mind that the finer the thread, the more likely it is to break while embroidering.

Silk is luxurious and sought after in the fashion world, and is considered equally luxurious when it comes to machine embroidery. Silk thread is strong and fine, yet has a sheen and softness that is unmatched by both polyester and rayon. For these reasons, silk thread can be expensive, and it might be challenging to acquire specific colors. Ah yes, the thread that keeps on breaking.

Metallic threads are notorious for breaking during embroidery and this can cause frustration! Check out our video on how to change your thread without having to rethread the needle, save the irritation! Metallic threads provide beautiful colors and shines that other threads cannot emulate, but many new embroiderers are easily frustrated as rethreading your embroidery machine can be a very irritating and time-consuming process.

This problem can be easily fixed with a few adjustments to your spooling technique and by making sure to use a needle specific to metallic thread embroidery. Click here to see a detailed explanation of how you can avoid metallic thread breakage. Metallic threads are composed of a central core that is wrapped in metals or foils and then dyed with the desired color. These strands tend to fall apart easily, which is where the integrity of the thread seems to fail.

Picking up the high-quality metallic threads will reduce breakage when embroidering, and are worth the extra penny. In the machine embroidery world, thread thickness is referred to by weight. The larger the number, the finer the thread, the easier it will break. Finer threads are good for heirloom quality embroidery, and thicker threads are better for general work. For example, the standard thickness for rayon thread would be referred to as 40 wt thread.

A 20 wt thread would be thicker, and a 60 wt thread would be finer. When choosing thread weight, it all depends on the desired result or purpose of your project. For high quality, high detail designs over a small surface area, you might use a finer thread. For larger designs, maybe for materials that will be outdoors or in constant use, you might want a thicker thread. However, in general, 40 wt thread should be your normal go-to as most embroidery designs including ours are created with this thread weight in mind.

Polyester is an excellent all-rounder, but rayon is more suitable for softer work. When it comes down to choosing the correct thread for your work, remember to test it first. It is always best to have all the colors you need from a brand you trust. To learn more tricks and tips regarding embroidery thread watch our video here. A bobbin is located directly under the needle. When the needle plunges through the fabric, the bobbin wheel creates a loop with your main thread and wraps it around the bobbin thread, then pulls it tight.

Always use threads from the same manufacturer in an embroidery project that uses floss, as the finish on the threads can vary from shiny to matte. Pearl Cotton is a single-ply embroidery thread with a lustrous, pearly finish due to a process called mercerization. Pearl cotton is available in a variety of weights or thicknesses, and depending on the weight can be available in a twisted skein or a ball.

A wide range of colors is available for size 5 pearl cotton, with a lesser variety for size 8. Other sizes have a limited color selection. When selecting pearl cotton, remember that the larger the number, the finer the thread.

Silk threads have a soft hand and are a joy to stitch with—but these threads can be expensive. Silk threads for embroidery are available in embroidery floss , pearl, and other weights, as well as fine ribbon. Use silk thread as you would any other thread.

Use metallic threads to add glitz and glamor to your embroidery projects. Narrow weights of metallic thread can be stitched directly onto the fabric, while thicker or wired varieties should be couched to the surface of the project. Weights for metallic threads can be very fine and whispy to very thick and somewhat stiff. Metallics are also available in floss, single-ply or pearl cotton varieties.

Colors include gold, silver, and platinum as well as copper and antique or aged versions. Satin and rayon threads are synthetic threads that are shiny like satin. These threads are usually packaged as floss that can be separated or single-ply threads such as braids, narrow ribbon, or holographic ribbon. Synthetics can be unruly to stitch with, so keep some thread conditioner handy when using these types of threads.

Overdyed threads feature more than one color in a single strand and can be hand-dyed or mass-produced. It is then wound on the plastic thread holders — keeping the thread neat and clean and organised. Before using the embroidery floss, separate the floss into different strands then bring them together and then thread the needle. This is supposed to keep out tangles. Use short lengths of the thread. Because when the thread enters and exits fabric repeatedly the resultant abrasion will make the fibers weaker.

So using short lengths are always better. It also doesnot tangle easily. Sure, threading the needle repeatedly is a problem. You can check out this post on easily threading the needle for more details. It is said that the thread has a grain just like the fabric. To know the grain of the thread is important when you have to thread the needle with it.

The experts can feel it by the touch of their hands. I have read that the cut end near you is to be threaded through the needle; then it will go easily through the eye.

This becomes very important when you have to thread the needle many times. You prewash fabric before sewing; same way you can prewash floss too. This makes sense if you do not want colour bleeding afterward.

How do you buy the best threads for your work?. One way is to buy only reputed brands. Then another criteria I use is to look at the price. When you pay the money you will most probably get the best quality thread. If you have already bought cheap thread you feel may run, do not worry.

Use them for projects which do not have to washed. Experts and experienced vouch that the colour bleeding stops with several rinses in cold water, but why take the risk? Related posts : Sewing machine thread ; Hand embroidery stitches ; Best braided stitches ; Best filling stitches. Sitemap of sewguide. Hi please disregard my last question on the abbreviated embroidery floss from Europe. It is not a floss but a Persian wool. Thanks Debbie. Hi, could you please tell me what these abbreviations stand for in regards to embroidery floss.?

Prsn I ordered a cross stitch pattern from Europe and they are using the above brand. Thank you Debbie. In hand embroidery the only thing that comes to my mind for your situation is to ensure that all the extra colour in your t-shirt is settled before you embroider on it. Wash it several times, washing it with salt solution to make the color settle, and then after embroidering, not washing it further with other colored clothes to reduce the probability of the color transferring on to the thread.

These posts may help : How to prevent color bleeding ; Garment and fabric care Best wishes. I would like to do some embroidery on my transparent bag. Thank you for helping in advance. Hi Jeanny You mean plastic transparent bag? I am afraid I have not done that. One tip I can tell you is to use a very thin needle lest it leaves holes. I am trying to work out a suitable thread for embroidering on a stretched canvas typically used for painting.

I am going to be threading along a single line, with no filling in. What would you recommend? Hi Elyse Because of your comment I have added one more type of thread to the above list -thanks. I think you can have a look at Sashiko thread. I have added some details in the post. Thank you for contacting me. I do not sell yarns, yet. I use Anchor brand and locally made yarns of different kinds. Your email address will not be published.

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. You can include embroidery images in your comment by selecting them below. Select the file, and post your comment! Sarah has been researching and sharing hand embroidery lessons for over a decade, making it accessible to everyone around the globe. Learn hand embroidery stitches through step-by-step photo illustrations with tips, techniques, projects, and patterns.

Check out our embroidery book store for more books on hand embroidery. Our eBooks are available on Amazon and Etsy also. We recommend buying books directly from our embroidery book store. When I'm not plunging into the past, tweaking, or embroidering, I'm reading books about history, computers, or embroidery. Stitching is meditation to me, as I work sometimes I say a little mantra 'every stitch is a prayer for healing'.

Embroider whatever you like, use the colors that make you happy. I often think of these women and wonder about their lives.

It was liberating. It allowed her to exist outside of time. Creatively, there is just so much to get into, so much to play with. It's an amazing way to turn inward and get off your phone.

I decided to sculpt camels in a needle. The needle is used to repair the damage. Skip to content Embroidery Threads. Different types of hand embroidery threads Hand embroidery threads come in various materials and textures.

Stranded Embroidery Cotton: These are the most common embroidery threads. It comes in a myriad of colors, each identified by a color code. The color codes are different for each brand. The popular brands are Anchor and DMC.