The 6 Types of Threads the Pros Use for Machine Embroidery

Being in the embroidery business involves a great deal of thread work. A good thread breathes life into a design and make a fabric look beautiful and appealing. Using a good embroidery thread means the design will last longer and doesn’t lose its appeal with the course of time.

This article was written by Houston Embroidery Service team; it is custom patch maker in Houston. Embroidery is an old way to modify clothing using threads. It is the most popular method to decorate a shirt or jacket. If you search on Google or Bing using this search query custom patches near me, you may find hundreds of patch makers websites.

There are plenty of things that define a good embroidery thread. Besides, the different threads work best for different types of fabrics. However, you need to be knowledgeable enough to choose the right thread for your specific machine embroidery business.

Whether you want to create an embroidery on an applique or want to create several custom Velcro patches, you first need to choose the right embroidery thread for the fabric that you will embroider on. Once you do it, you are good to go.

To familiarize you with different types of embroidery threads, we have presented here some of the famous embroidery threads that are used by the professionals in the machine embroidery industry:

1. Cotton Thread

Cotton thread is among the most highly-rated thread in the embroidery industry. It is made from the natural fibers which help it create a stronger seam. Unlike the polyester and rayon, a cotton thread has a matte finish and is an ideal for creating the redwork, quilting and cross-stitching. Cotton thread is the first choice for the embroiders since they can use any dye on the thread and produce the desired color.

In addition, a cotton thread is recommended by embroidery professionals for its soft feel, durability and colorfastness. The other upside of this thread is that it doesn’t fray or produce lint during the embroidering process. The best cotton thread is made from Egyptian cotton which is known for its longer staple.

You can get a mercerized cotton thread from the market which is slightly shiny than a regular cotton thread. So you can get enough sheen in the embroidery. To get a good embroidery work, you should choose a cotton thread with a weight between 30 wt. and 50 wt.

2. Polyester Thread

One of the strongest threads from the embroidery industry, the polyester thread is a synthetic thread and is widely used in the industrial embroidery business to decorate garments. They are commonly used to decorate the stuff that are used on a daily basis, such as apparels, linens, towels and bed sheets.

Among its many types, the most common include the Trilobal polyester that has a triangular shape which makes it look vibrant and shiny. In addition, the polyester thread is extremely resilient and endures the daily treatment of chemicals and bleaches due to regular washing. Polyester thread is extremely color-resistant and works well with woven, fibers and knits. A thread size of 50 wt. works well with the majority of fabrics.

3. Silk Thread

Silk is one of the most widely-used thread that is used in the embroidery industry. The silk thread is known for its superb shine and strength. Silk thread is suitable to embroider luxurious materials. Silk thread has the strength and sheen to look good on any fabric. Besides, it is extremely durable which make it a perfect thread for embroidering the clothing pieces.

Silk thread is available in different sizes and anything between 30-50 wt. will do for a specific type of fabric. At 100 wt. the stitches are almost invisible to the eyes. This thread is perfect to create eye-catching embroideries. It works best with silk and wool fabrics.

4. Metallic Thread

Metallic threads are regarded for their luxury look and durability. The metallic thread can produce embroideries with lustrous shine that last longer. For their incredible appeal and strength, they are more expensive than any other thread.

In addition, a metallic thread requires special needle, stitching speed and tension to create a perfect embroidery. Besides, the embroiders have to make use of a hoop or stabilizer to keep the design on the right location as well as avoid the breakage. An embroidery that is produced from a metallic thread is shiny, appealing, and durable.

5. Rayon Thread

Rayon or Viscose Thread is one of the most popular embroidery threads that embroiders use in the embroidery industry. The thread is famous for its unmatched sheen, high tensile strength and durability. Rayon is made from cellulose fiber and comes in a range of colors.

The rayon is produced from natural polymers and it feels soft and cool on the body. Besides, the rayon is suitable for the people who live in tropical regions where temperatures are higher. Since it doesn’t insulate the body heat, it keeps the wearer cool during the hot sunny days. You can use rayon thread to embroider on any fabric. For the heavyweight fabrics, you can use a thread with a size of 40 wt.

6. Nylon Thread

Nylon is another synthetic thread that is used by the embroiders. However, this is not the best thread when it comes to quality and durability. Though a nylon thread is praised for its elasticity and strength, it is not the best thread to use in the embroideries.

The primary reason why professionals don’t recommend nylon threads is that it gets scorched from exposure to high heat. The bonded nylon thread is the top-rated type of nylon that is used in the industry to decorate heavy-duty stuff. Nylon thread is highly invisible and is ideal to use in appliques, custom embroidered patches and quits.

The beauty of an embroidery is highly dependent on the type of embroidery thread. A good thread can create designs that are beautiful, stronger and durable. The aforementioned are some of the best embroidery threads that you can use in a fabric to create the best designs.