Thread Types

Rayon and Polyester are the most common Embroidery Threads. Always Choose a good quality thread to ensure the best results with your embroidery. Rayon Threads Rayon is the one of the favored thread among professional embroiderers.  It is a soft thread, available in great colors, and suitable for all forms of machine embroidery.  Rayon thread holds up well with high-speed stitching without breaking or fraying and it also consistently performs well.  It is easily available in many embroidery stores and in a wide range of solid and variegated colors, as well as in a "twist" thread composed of two or more solid colors twisted together to form a single strand. They are available in a light 50wt, standard 40 wt. and a thicker 30 wt. Advantages of Rayon high sheen  softer relatively heat resistant less elasticity then polyester Disadvantages of Rayon not colorfast  not as strong as polyester  less durable than polyester Polyester Threads Polyester embroidery thread is the popular and economical choice. It is available in a wide assortment of colors, and your results will be similar to that of rayon. The benefit of polyester is that it won't shrink, fade, or bleed. Like rayon thread, polyester thread is strong and won't easily break or fray.  Polyester Thread is Synthetically produced from polymer resins. It can be made with a matte finish to look like cotton, with a medium sheen, or high sheen finish to look like rayon or silk. Trilobal poly is a higher quality polyester with a sheen equal to rayon and is lint free.  Due to its strength and color fastness polyester is becoming one of the most popular embroidery threads available these days. More detailed information on Polyesters are available here. There are three types of polyester thread: spun poly: fiber staples spun together. Looks like cotton. filament poly: continuous fiber trilobal poly: high-sheen continuous fiber. Looks like rayon or silk. Lint Free Advantages of Polyester Durable. Designed for heavy duty use Strength. More tensile strength than rayon or cotton. Colorfast Retains shape Recovers stretch Disadvantages of Polyester More Elasticity then Rayon Lower Temperature Tolerance then Rayon Nylon Threads A synthetic thread occasionally used in the form of a monofilament clear thread or as a textured fuzzy (woollie-like) thread. The negatives far outweigh the positives of nylon. Use only with caution. Advantages of Nylon Strength Disadvantages of Nylon Low melting temperature. Not heat resistant. Not colorfast. Will yellow over time. Becomes brittle through laundering and exposure Cotton Threads The only 100% natural fiber thread made for high speed machines. Cotton has various finishes, each providing specific results:  Cotton embroidery thread is very often overlooked by automatic embroidery machine users. But the fact is that it performs beautifully in embroidery machines and has a lovely, soft sheen. Additionally, cotton thread is available in weights up to the very fine 100. Mercerized The thread is treated in a solution, causing the fibers to swell. This allows the dye to better penetrate the fibers and increases the luster of the thread. It also increases the strength of the thread. Gassed The thread is passed through a flame at high speed to reduce the fuzz.   Glazed The thread is treated with wax or other chemicals, then polished to create a higher luster. Although the result is a glossy, hard finish which protects the thread, the glaze does rub off and can gum up the needle and machine. OK for hand quilting but not recommended for machine use. Cotton-wrapped poly Most cotton-wrapped poly threads are approximately two-thirds poly and one-third cotton and will therefore resemble the characteristics of poly more than cotton. A mixed-fiber thread is not necessary. If cotton is too weak, use poly. If you're worried about poly being too strong, use cotton. Advantages of Cotton soft durable  easily adjusts to changes in the fabric (such as shrinkage) since it is  a natural fiber  available in various thread weights  easy care Disadvantages of Cotton low sheen  not as strong as polyester  low-quality cotton is linty Metallic Threads The quality of metallic thread ranges from very high to very low. A good metallic thread does not require a lubricant. More Hints on Metallics are available here. Quality metallic thread has the following components:  1. Nylon core. A nylon core offers the most strength and resists tangling. Polyester and rayon cores are inferior.  2. Rice paper construction. This adds strength and cohesiveness and makes the thread more soft and supple, reducing the wiry feel. It also reduces tangling.  3. Outer coating. Lower quality metallics have no outer coating. This means the metal foil rubs against the needle, creating friction and heat, resulting in discoloring and shredding. A good metallic has an outer coating which reduces friction and acts as a protective layer.  Laminate or Flat Threads Produced by bonding layers of polyester together and slicing to a desired width. Available in either 2 ply (weak) or 4 ply (strong) construction.  Characteristics  Colorfast  Brilliant, reflective, colors. Can be produced in a hologram effect.  Heat resistant. can be ironed  4 ply construction does not require special handling for good results. Silk Threads Silk thread absorbs dye more brilliantly than any other fiber, and is truly the top of the line when it comes to specialty threads. It sews smoothly without breaking, and offers the embroider the strength of polyester and the stability of cotton. It also has a distinct sheen unmatched by any other thread. Silk threads are available in a variety of sizes and colors, but the 30 to 50 wts. are appropriate for machine embroidery. Silk thread is more costly, but well worth considering.