Impressions - March 2015 - 58

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Embroidery Production

Embroidery Thread Update
Instead of overlooking the obvious, take notice of all
the threads available to today's embroiderers.
By Alice Wolf, Contributing Writer

w

e all know that 40 weight is the
embroiderer's every day, go-to,
general-purpose embroidery
thread. But if you are looking to turn out
designs that are unique, customized and
considered beyond the norm, it's important
to know the other thread types that are at
your disposal.
Following is an overview of different
types of threads that are on the market;
since they are not general purpose, each
would be considered a specialty thread.
But don't let the "S" word scare you. Some
require little to no special attention, and
having an arsenal of ideas will ensure you
are known for your creativity and problemsolving abilities.

beginning a project that presents a challenge in the size of the letters in a logo, or
the detail that is expected, 60- or 75-weight
thread is ideal for problem solving.
Make your digitizer aware of any detail at the beginning of a project, since
tweaking density may be necessary. Since
a smaller needle will give the best results, some embroiderers will "assign" a
single needle to the increasingly popular
60-weight thread in black or white for
stitching the lettering in a logo, thus saving
the time of switching needles.

FINE DETAIL &
SMALL LETTERING
Turn to 60-weight embroidery thread,
available in both rayon and polyester, for
ﬁne detail and small lettering that can
go less than 4mm. It requires a smaller
needle, but will allow you to produce lettering, shading and other ﬁne detail where
general-purpose, 40-weight thread may
not. It is available in a variety of colors,
often Pantone matched and matched to its
40-weight equivalents.
Fairly new to the market is a 75-weight
thread, available in polyester, for when a
design calls for really small detail. When
58

Impressions | March 2015

Rayon #40 is a lustrous general-purpose
embroidery thread that will lay into any
stitch direction.

The most delicate, intricate of logos,
such as this for high-end clothier Daniel
Hanson, can be produced with 60-weight rayon
embroidery thread. All images courtesy of
Madeira USA.

SPARKLE & SHINE
To jazz up designs, metallic thread
comes in smooth, twisted, solid and variegated types, as well as many different
weights and colors. Some will hold up to
industrial-strength laundering, while others are designed for intricate, one-of-a-kind
home décor. When choosing a metallic
thread, always consider the product you
are embroidering, and choose the durability and weight of your thread accordingly.
You can turn an ordinary uniform into a
very sophisticated wearable, or create a
throw pillow that is a focal point of a home.
Metallic threads are ideal for mixing
into a standard design to add an element of
surprise and ensure that both you - and
your client - stand out from the crowd.
Combined with general-purpose rayon or
polyester thread, a shiny metallic makes a
bold statement. And for a more theatrical
look, there is the shimmering effect of a
different type of metallic thread, where
the unique twisting gives a more textured
and sparkling effect.
The manufacturers' recommendations
impressionsmag.com
http://www.impressionsmag.com
Impressions - March 2015

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