Different Types of Embroidery Threads and Their Uses

It’s no secret that machine embroidery is an exciting hobby, especially for people who love creating new patterns and designs on fabrics. However, starting your machine embroidery journey can also be overwhelming and stressful, especially with so many different options available in the market that you can choose from. People that start machine embroidery have to pick the ideal embroidery machine, supplies like stabilizers and needles, fabrics, and more. But the most important machine embroidery supply that you need to purchase is machine embroidery threads. With dozens of different colors and materials available in threads, it’s difficult to decide which one you should start with. But we can help!

Are you considering doing machine embroidery and don’t know which type of thread to purchase and use? This article discusses the different types of commonly-used embroidery threads and how embroiderers can use them to create their favorite embroidery designs.

One of the most popular and commonly-used machine embroidery threads is rayon! These threads have been around for a long time, and we can definitely see the reason behind their popularity. Rayon threads are known for their gorgeous look and texture. They come with a visible sheen and luster, which makes them the ideal choice for decorative embroidery designs on luxurious fabrics. Rayon threads closely resemble the look of silk threads but are way more affordable, which is why many embroiderers use them as an alternative to silk embroidery threads.

These threads are also super soft and heat resistant, which means that they can survive high temperatures. Therefore, people living in areas with warm weather around the year can use rayon threads for embroidery, as it will make their clothes look cooler and lavish without breaking or losing their luster due to the heat. Additionally, another great benefit of using rayon threads is that these perform well in constant movements, like high-speed embroidery. In technical designs that require fast stitching, these threads don’t fray or break easily.

However, the only downside to rayon threads is that some of them lose their color after constant washing. They also can’t withstand bleaching as their look, texture, and shade can get damaged after bleaching. Rayon threads aren’t also suitable for people residing in areas with low temperatures, rain, and humidity in the environment as these threads don’t perform well under constant exposure to moisture.

The damaging impact of moisture and colder temperatures on rayon threads has pushed many people to switch to polyester threads for machine embroidery. Polyester threads are getting popular throughout the world due to their amazing characteristics and the huge variety of color options available in polyester threads. Many large-scale textile companies and commercial embroiderers use polyester embroidery threads as they can find any shade, color, or thread thickness in polyester embroidery threads. However, this is only one amazing characteristic of polyester embroidery threads.

These threads are more durable than several other thread types available in the market, like rayon threads, which makes them the ideal choice for heavy use. People that create designs on large scales and stitch large and heavier embroidery designs can opt for polyester threads. Even though polyester and rayon embroidery threads are used interchangeably, polyester threads are often the preferred choice of many expert embroiderers. Rayon threads might have better luster but polyester threads can withstand multiple washes, bleach, and maintain their color under the sun or in colder areas. Therefore, polyester threads are the ideal choice for people who live in areas with a cold, harsh, or humid environment.

Another huge upside to using polyester embroidery threads is that they’re compatible with most types of embroidery machines. These threads are synthetic, inexpensive, easily dyed, and lightweight. From quilting to stitching, polyester embroidery threads are the ideal choice for all kinds of thread work.

Cotton embroidery threads are another commonly-used option for machine embroidery. However, these embroidery threads are less popular than rayon and polyester threads. Cotton threads have a matte look as they come with a medium sheen. This makes them the ideal option for machine embroidery designs that are stitched on low-key and minimalist clothes. Cotton embroidery threads also have a super-soft texture, which means that you can use them to stitch designs on children’s clothes, as harsh textured threads can be irritable for them. Additionally, their soft texture makes them the ideal choice for nightwear clothing.

It’s no secret that you need soft and comfortable clothes for sleepovers and napping and using cotton embroidery thread to make designs on them is a great way to add that extra oomph factor to your nightwear. If you want to make embroidery designs for cushion covers, bed sheets, and pillow covers, it’s advisable to use cotton threads to get a soft touch. One of the next things about this texture of cotton embroidery threads is that they get softer with every wash instead of losing their original texture and getting rougher on the skin.

Cotton embroidery threads are an ideal choice for large-scale textile manufacturers who need threads in different weights and thicknesses for their embroidery designs, as cotton threads have the largest variety of weights. Various thick and thin cotton threads are available in the market and you can pick a suitable one based on the requirements of your embroidery design. For instance, if you’re making an intricate design, pick a thin cotton thread to get better results. On the other hand, thick cotton threads will be better for funky or colorful designs that need to be visible on the clothes.

However, a huge downside to using cotton embroidery threads is that they’re weaker than rayon and polyester threads. These threads don’t offer a lot of elasticity, which is why they easily break if you stretch them too much. Additionally, it’s advisable to wash and dry cotton threads before doing embroidery with them as they can shrink, messing up the entire embroidery design on any fabric. If you decide to make too-complicated designs, these naturally-produced threads can produce a lot of fuzz, making your embroidery design look too messy.

It’s no secret that silk embroidery threads are one of the most expensive embroidery threads available in the market. Unlike polyester and rayon, silk threads are made from natural fibers, which explains their high costs. Probably one of the biggest advantages of silk threads is their aesthetically-appealing appearance. These threads are shinier than rayon threads and give a luxurious sheen and look that you can’t get with any other kind of thread. Additionally, silk threads are finer and thinner than threads in other materials, which makes them ideal for intricate embroidery designs.

They’re also soft and lightweight, which means that you can pair them up with any light fabrics that you don’t want to weigh down with heavy embroidery designs. Since they’re considered luxurious, you can use them to add embroidery designs to clothes that you want to wear on special occasions, like weddings, galas, and other high-end events. With the help of silk embroidery threads, you can add a certain kind of glamor and elegance to your dresses or upholstery.

Like all other industries, the world of textiles is also constantly evolving which means that new materials of threads and fabrics are constantly introduced in the market. One of these newly-introduced and innovative items is metallic embroidery threads. Even though metallic threads haven’t been around for a long time, they got very popular very soon! As the name suggests, these embroidery threads are made from metal. Despite being the newer launch in the market, many large-scale embroiderers and even beginner embroidery lovers use metallic embroidery threads.

These threads have a unique sparkling look that you can’t get with any other embroidery threads on this list. Therefore, metallic embroidery threads are used to create decorative embroidery designs on clothes, especially for children, and accessories. However, their stiff structure makes them difficult to use for embroidery. If you’re a beginner, it’s advisable to avoid metallic threads for some time until you get a hang of doing machine embroidery.

Now that you have enough information about the different types of embroidery threads available in the market, what’s stopping you from picking your desired option and starting your machine embroidery journey? However, pick wisely, as your thread will be one of your best helpers in creating embroidery designs and patterns on fabric.

It’s also advisable to start with one type of thread and once you know how it turns out on fabric and have a hold on using it to stitch different designs, you can explore more and try other types of machine embroidery threads too. The world of machine embroidery can be daunting but we hope that this little guide will make things easier for you and help you choose the right machine embroidery thread, based on your requirements. So, purchase a thread and other supplies, and get going on that embroidery machine. Good luck!