Sewing and adding embroidery to a piece of fabric can be a hobby and a profession for others. The embroidery decorates the fabric and adds value to it. It is a lot of fun and easy to do when you do it with a fine needle and thread.
Can You Embroider With A Sewing Thread?
Ever wondered what options to use when you run out of embroidery thread? Have you ever thought of embroidering with sewing thread? If yes, then I have good news for you. Yes, you can embroider with a sewing thread.
Embroidery threads come in different varieties. For you to come up with a good embroidery design, you will have to use stronger threads when embroidering. This results in fine embroidery threads, also referred to as floss, substituted for normal thread.
How To Use Sewing Thread For Embroidery?
Sewing threads come in various weights, mostly determined by your intended usage. Due to their thickness and thinness, these weights can produce a variety of stitching looks.
Higher numbers represent thicker threads, while lower numbers represent thinner threads. Follow this simple guide on how to use sewing thread for embroidery.
28 wt Sewing Thread
Some embroiderers recommend using the 28wt sewing thread as an alternative for machine embroidery. Unfortunately, some people also mistake it for a stand of embroidery floss. However, a finer sewing thread may be a better option because it is thicker.
To thread your embroidery needle, cut three strands from your 28 wt thread and hold them all together to thread your embroidery needle. That’s all to it! As I mentioned, working with sewing threads is like working with embroidery threads.
But of course, it won’t be entirely the same because threads come in various looks and textures. So your finished embroidery will depend on how your sewing appears. Its appearance includes its texture, shine and thinness or thickness.
12 wt Sewing Thread
12wt sewing threads are commonly used for decorative quilting and stitching. It is no surprise how well it works since embroidery is considered a form of decorative sewing.
Sulky, fine-weight Perle cotton, and two strands of floss can all be compared to 12 wt. So you may embroider a 12 wt sewing thread with just one piece or a strand. Of course, the appearance of your thread will determine the results, but the thickness will pretty much be similar.
What Type Of Threads Are Commonly Used For Embroidery?
Although you can use various thread types, silk threads that range from 30 wt to 50 wt are the best for machine embroidery. Despite being costly and less available than other threads, they are worth considering.
Here are some additional thread types to put into consideration.
Polyester Embroidery Thread
Polyester embroidery thread is a popular and affordable choice. It displays a rayon-like appearance and is available in different tones. In addition, polyester does not shrink, fade or blink, making it best for use in children’s garments.
Rayon and polyester are interchangeable, and both will do well without breaking or fraying. Although rayon thread contains a higher sheen, it will be hard to tell the difference when used in a single pattern.
Rayon Threads
Rayon thread is the most used embroidery thread because of its widespread availability. This thread has vibrant colors and a lustrous sheen, creating a lovely impact on fabrics.
The rayon embroidery floss is one of the shiniest. However, this thread allows for a quick embroidery procedure with little fraying or breaking. Rayon threads give clothing a lovely perspective, while the colors in the set provide a color spectrum appearance.
Silk Threads
Silk threads are the most appropriate thread for your machine embroidery. It assimilates dyes more brilliantly than other fibers, one of its advantages. Its strength and stability also leave no chance of damage or fraying.
The silk thread comes in widths ranging from 30 to 50 wt, best for machine embroidery. The silk thread has several drawbacks, including ease of fading or bleeding, scarcity and high cost.
Cotton embroidery thread
Most embroiderers often disregard the use of cotton thread in automatic embroidery machines. All the same, the cotton embroidery thread can perform beautifully and as a soft, lovely sheen. In addition, it comes in weights of up to 100, which most consider as heirloom standard.
But keep in mind that finer threads tend to be weaker, so it is best for you to use 30 to 50 wt cotton thread for machine embroidery. You will find that these weights are stronger and provide the best coverage to your fabric.
Metallic embroidery threads
Although this type of thread requires to be handled with a lot of care, the metallic embroidery thread is an ideal option if you are looking for sparkling accents to your designs. They contain a center core wrapped with metal foil that produces colored polyester films.
If you want the most durable and desirable type, you need to find treads with rice paper coating. This coating over the center core blocks the metal from stripping away. Also, some threads have a silver alloy coating which adds to their strength.
To make it clear, some metallic threads may do better than others due to manufacturing complexities. Therefore, if you wish to try out this thread, I advise you to experiment with different brands to see which comes out the best.
Mylar embroidery thread
This type of thread is made up of flat filaments made up of film layered piles that are layered together ,then slit into slices to form a filament thread. These threads come in various colors and holographic hues. The hues collect light and color from surrounding objects and add a luminous accent to machine embroidery.
Brands design embroidery threads to be much more powerful than they originally were. But since they tend to break with high-speed sewing, you need to follow special handling guidelines.
Is Embroidery Thread The Same As Sewing Thread?
Sewing threads come in two categories: embroidery threads and sewing threads. The texture of sewing threads and embroidery threads differs significantly; embroidery threads are used for embroidery work and have a distinctive sheen, while most sewing threads do not.
