How to Choose the Best Embroidery Thread

As a beginner, you might not know where to start because there are so many different kinds of threads for machine embroidery. When I first started embroidering, I had a lot of questions, too. How Do I Select the Best Embroidery Thread, for Example? What is the best thread for sewing? What kind of thread does the bobbin hold? What kind of thread or weight does an embroidery machine work with? So many things were important for me to learn.

Since I started embroidering, I’ve discovered that not all threads are created equal through experience, reading, and talking to local embroiderers. Sewing machine thread differs from embroidery machine thread, which differs from serger machine thread. What is all the commotion about machine embroidery thread, then?

In this embroidery tutorial for beginners, I’ll show you how to do that. We’ll talk about the different kinds, weights, and finishes of embroidery thread and how to choose the best one for your next project. So, let’s get started

Seeing if the Embroidery Thread is Good

Not every thread you see in stores or online will be good for your embroidery machine. Threads can break, shred, or fray if you choose a low-quality or incompatible thread. This is not fun, especially if you embroider something expensive or special.

So what do you need to look for? Check to see if the thread is even and smooth, with no lumps, bumps, or fibers sticking out. Because embroidery is done so quickly, you need a smooth, uniform thread to keep the thread from catching on the eye of the needle. This also means that you should often use embroidery machine thread instead of sewing machine thread.

How Much Weight Does Embroidery Thread Have?

Threads are known by their weight, which is a way to measure how thick they are. The weight number shows how thick the thread is. So, a 50-wt thread is thinner than a 40-wt thread. Unless otherwise specified, most machine embroidery designs are designed to be used with a 40 wt thread. This is the most common weight for a thread for an embroidery machine. So, please don’t go too far from this weight without knowing how it will change the design.

Even though the weight of your thread might not seem important, it has a big effect on the final product. For example, if you want to fill in an embroidery design, a thinner thread won’t do the job as well as a thicker one. Thicker threads (smaller wt) work better with heavyweight fabrics, while finer threads (larger wt) work well with lightweight fabrics.

Before choosing a thread thickness that isn’t common, check the user manual for your machine to see what thread weights it can handle. Also, keep in mind that larger threads may be harder to fit through the eye of a small needle, so make changes as needed. Remember, the best embroidery thread makes your design more attractive.

How to Choose the Best Embroidery Thread

Quality and value are the most important things to look for in the Best embroidery thread you use in your machine. How important it is to have more colors depends on the projects you usually do and how much embroidery you usually do. With 260 colors to choose from, the Mega Kit might seem too good to pass up, especially since it’s the best deal.

But if you don’t use the thread, it can break over time because it’s been exposed to light and heat in your home. A set with 63 spools might be a better deal if you don’t use much thread. You can use this as your main thread supply and add more spools of thread you use. You might also want to try something new, like metallics or thread with more than one color.

On the other hand, the Mega Kit will be a great tool for you if you are always starting new projects and are doing more than just monogramming the cheerleaders’ uniforms with the school’s famous blue and white emblem.

For identification, the person using these thread sets must either put the number sticker on the machine or write the number on the spool. After the tag has been used, it needs to be fixed with tape or another method. None of the thread sets have a rack for storing them, but they are easy to organize in plastic containers.

These are small problems that you might not have to deal with when you use name-brand threads, but most people who use these embroidery threads think they are well worth the trouble because they save money and get great results.

What Are the Best Threads for an Embroidery Machine?

Polyester, rayon, and cotton are the three main types of everyday embroidery thread you can use as the top thread in the spool. Then, there are a few special threads that, with a little extra care, also work well in an embroidery machine. First, I’ll talk about upper thread options, and then I’ll talk about bobbin thread options.

Machine Embroidery Thread Made of Rayon

Rayon embroidery thread has been a favorite of people who have liked to sew for a long time. It is known for its beautiful, shiny, and shiny sheen. It is stronger, lasts longer than most other types of thread, and comes in many colors. Rayon thread is soft and made from cellulose that comes from plants.

Its use has been decreasing over the years, and polyester thread is slowly taking its place. Why? Some brands of rayon threads bleed when they are washed, don’t bleach well, and fade in the sun and over time. When I first bought my machine and was looking for the best embroidery thread for it, the person helping me told me to stay away from rayon. Since I live in the hot and humid South, I’ve heard that rayon thread doesn’t last as long here as it does in cooler, less humid places.

Polyester Thread for an Embroidery Machine

Because of how well it works, polyester embroidery thread is becoming increasingly popular. It shines and shimmers beautifully and comes in a wide range of colors. It is very strong and won’t get torn up when it goes through the eye of the needle.

When stitching designs, polyester and rayon threads can often be used together. So, what’s the difference between rayon embroidery thread and polyester? Is rayon or polyester better? Well, rayon threads have a better shine, but polyester threads are usually stronger, won’t fade over time or in the sun, won’t bleed in the washer, and can handle bleach.

I’ve found that polyester thread works best for my Brother’s machine embroidery and stitching needs. It’s what I was told to do, cheap, and I’ve never had any problems with it, so I’m going to keep doing it! Both reads are good quality and easy on the wallet, so I like to use them.

Cotton Thread for an Embroidery Machine

Cotton embroidery thread is made from natural fibers and comes in the widest range of weights. It is the least popular of the three main types of thread. The most common weight for machine embroidery is 30 wt, but there are also thicker and thinner types.

Most cotton embroidery threads have a matte finish, unlike rayon or polyester, which are shiny. This is great if you want a more natural look, like embroidering lace. On the other hand, cotton embroidery threads are fragile because they don’t stretch. So, they’re more likely to break than the other kinds of embroidery thread. They can also shrink when washed (unlike polyester), fade in the sun, and mess up your embroidery machine if you use them with complicated designs.

Silk thread for sewing

Silk thread is also made from natural fibers, but it is a special kind of strong and luxurious thread. It’s hard to find and very expensive, but it goes well with soft fabrics like silk and satin.

Metallic Thread for Embroidery

Metallic machine embroidery threads have a metal foil wrapped around the center of the thread. Even though the finished product is shiny and awesome, these threads are notoriously hard to embroider with. They are easy to break at high speeds and need a special needle and thread tension to be set just right. If you need help, though, here are some tips for embroidering with metallic thread.

Machine Embroidery Thread That Glows in the Dark

My thread collection now includes glow-in-the-dark thread, which I’ve enjoyed using so far. It also needs a special needle, which can be tricky. It comes in a few colors, but most glow greenish-yellowish shades. Even colors vary in how bright they are.

Different Colors of Embroidery Threads

Variegated embroidery machine threads are made of two or more colors woven each time differently. They can be made of silk, rayon, polyester, or cotton. Using variegated thread has been much easier than using other specialized embroidery machine threads, like those annoying metallics.

Bobbin Thread for Embroidery on a Machine

In sewing, you use the same thread in the bobbin case as on the spool. With an embroidery machine, however, the bobbin thread is usually thinner than the top thread. This makes embroidery thread less bulky because it is not as heavy. So, the top stitches lie flatter, and designs with lots of stitches don’t get too stiff or puckered.

My embroidery machine works best with 100% polyester 60-wt thread in the bobbin. Other machines may need a different weight. The best thing to do is to look at the machine’s user manual to find out what it needs.

One great thing about bobbin embroidery thread is that you can use white thread for most projects where the back won’t be seen. So, you don’t have to change the color of the bobbin thread every time you change colors! What a way to save time! If your bobbin thread will show on the front of the project or be visible (like when you’re embroidering free-standing lace), you should choose colors that go well together.

You can use bobbin thread to make your bobbins, but I like to buy white bobbins that are already threaded, which are the coolest thing ever. Just make sure that this will work with your machine and that it has the right size bobbin.

How many thread colors do you need?

You can get by with white, black, and a few neutral-colored threads for most sewing projects. Embroidery, on the other hand, is a different story. Photo-stitched designs can have more than a dozen different colors.

So, should you buy the 40-pack or go all out with a 200+ pack? When I started embroidering, I bought a 30-pack of Floriani 40-wt polyester thread. This helped me figure out which colors I used most often, and I could easily use other threads in embroidery designs for the ones I didn’t have. It turns out that white, black, and red are by far the colors I use the most.

When I ran out of these colors, I bought huge spools of each because they were the cheapest option. (Note that these big spools won’t fit on the spool holder on your machine, so you’ll need a separate one.) When I ran out of some colors, I bought a lot of different colored spools to add to my collection. Now, I replace each spool as it runs out.

What are the Best Embroidery Thread brands?

This question has no best answer! If you ask 10 people who like to embroider what their favorite threads are likely to be or what is the Best Embroidery Thread brands? You must provide at least five different responses. First, there’s the debate about rayon vs. polyester, mostly about what the user likes. Then, some machines will tell you to buy a certain brand. Some brands work better with certain machines. The cost and how the item will be used are both important.

Some brands of the best embroidery thread are Sulky, Gutermann, Coats and Clark, Madeira, Isacord, Floriani, Simthread, Embroidex, and Brothread. I started buying Floriani thread because a dealer told me to, but the price and the fact that I was running out of money for craft supplies put me off. I finally bought Brothread from Amazon, and so far it’s been working fine on my computer.

A few more things to know about threads and how to fix them

Don’t pull the thread out of the machine and back toward the spool when switching from one thread color to another. Instead, cut the thread before it goes into the thread guides and pull it down and out. If you pull the thread through your tension discs the wrong way, you could damage them.

If you have skipped stitches, broken threads, or other stitching problems that you don’t know how to fix, you should change your needle. A dull, bent, or broken needle can sometimes cause much trouble.

Most of the time, threads are cross-wound or stacked. Stacks of thread are wrapped parallel to each other and work best on machine spools that stand up straight. Cross-wound threads are wound in a crisscross pattern and work best on horizontal spool holders.

I need my thread stand to live. Since I can’t afford or find room for a multi-needle embroidery machine, I line up my on-the-thread stand. The thread stands are also good for holding very large spools of embroidery thread.

Conclusion

I hope you know how to choose the best embroidery thread for your machine project. So, which do you like better? Cotton, rayon, or polyester?