The Sewing Place
Tools of the Trade => The Haberdashery => Topic started by: Jo on June 10, 2017, 08:15:59 AM
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Looking to buy some embroidery thread. What should I look for?
I've never been a thread purist. I just can't pay 1.85 gbp for 100m of Gutermann sewing thread when I can buy 1000m of Coats Moon for about 0.7 gbp and I can honestly see no difference :)
Found [u=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simthread-Brother-Polyester-Embroidery-Machine/dp/B01CAOC3AI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1497011307&sr=8-7&keywords=embroidery+machine+thread]this[/u] on Amazon. Seems like a good variety of colors and a good price.
My other option would be Madeira thread. About the same price for 60 reels at 400m, but a very weird assortment of colors (for example no white thread!).
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For embroidery it is worth having the more expensive/quality threads as the cheaper ones are liable to snap, have inconsistent colouring that you'll notice in a chunk of embroidery or they don't have quite the right look once embroidered.
I always use madeira embroidery thread and have always have a lovely stitch out from them. Lots of lovely lustrous colours. And you can get thread boxes which the cones fit in nicely.
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Madeira make several types of machine embroidery thread (and umpteen different threads for hand embroidery).
https://www.barnyarns.co.uk/madeira-embroidery-quilting-threads/ (https://www.barnyarns.co.uk/madeira-embroidery-quilting-threads/)
Polyester will be stronger than rayon but both are shiny. Cotton will be more matte.
Threads designed for machine embroidery are 2-ply which allows the fibres to spread out more. Most threads intended for sewing seams are 3-ply which is stronger but doesn't spread across the surface as well.
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I've been using Simthread (from Doris Darby at www.emboideredjust4u.co.uk- I think that's what the website is). It's so much cheaper than Madeira etc, and seems to work fine for me.
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Thank so much, Bodgeitandscarper! Those are actually the threads I was interested in.
I wanted to buy Madeira poly thread, but since the sets they sell locally have a very weird assortment of colors, and I'm just too lazy to go through all the colors and buy one by one, I'll just buy a set of Simthread. Price - wise there's not that much of a difference.
By the way, how fast does the thread get used when embroidering? Would 500m cones be allright or should I go for the 1000m ones?
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I've been using Simthread (from Doris Darby at www.emboideredjust4u.co.uk- I think that's what the website is). It's so much cheaper than Madeira etc, and seems to work fine for me.
I use that as well and find it really good, as good as any of the "branded" threads
Website is
https://www.embroideredjust4u.co.uk
( think there was an "r" missing from your link Bodgeitandscarper)
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Thanks Didi for putting the correct linky - using my phone without my reading glasses isn't always successful!
I'd probay go for the bigger reels, I expect they work out better value thougn I can't remember.
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I will second Doris Darby - I buy nearly all my embroidery stuff from her now :)
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Awesome! Thank you all :) I shall buy 63 1000m cones. And now to figure out where I'll store them :|
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I've never heard of these embroidery threads. Where are they made? There doesn't seem to be a lot of info about them.
As regards Moon threads. They are really meant for overlocking. There is a vast difference between them and Gutermann. Moon thread is very fluffy and thicker. I never use it on my machines as it puts a lot of lint into the machine. There is a reason it is so much cheaper. With sewing you do get what you pay for.
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Awesome! Thank you all :) I shall buy 63 1000m cones. And now to figure out where I'll store them :|
Hot glue gun, some golf "tees" and a plastic box 0_0
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Bargain (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Madeira-Rayon-Embroidery-Thread-5500yd/dp/B01KBBG41G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497217059&sr=8-1&keywords=thread+madeira) thread here - I don't think so!
I keep mine in one of these (http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/kitchen-products/kitchen-organisers-shelves/variera-spice-rack-white-art-20204685/) (http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/images/products/variera-spice-rack-white__0163990_pe319134_s4.jpg)
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They call that a 'Spice Rack' >< Haha it looks like a cat litter tray 0_0
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Hot glue gun, some golf "tees" and a plastic box 0_0
Great idea Bodgeit :) I will get some golf tees! :vintage:
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As regards Moon threads. They are really meant for overlocking. There is a vast difference between them and Gutermann. Moon thread is very fluffy and thicker. I never use it on my machines as it puts a lot of lint into the machine. There is a reason it is so much cheaper. With sewing you do get what you pay for.
I agree that Moon is fluffy and not good for regular machine use, but I'm not sure that it's designed for overlocking. Most overlocker threads - the stuff on big cones - is quite a lot thinner than Moon; it's purpose being to neater the edges of seam allowances without adding bulk.
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Bernina recommend Moon thread for their overlockers.
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I've seen it marketed as a sew-all thread in most places, so surely it's not only for the overlocker. I have a few cones of Gutermann Mara thread (from before buying Coats). They are...well, exactly the same to my eye. Neither of them leaves too much lint in my machine and the both look the same regarding the fluffyness factor.
Whatever works, I guess :)
There is no way I'm paying 9.5 gbp for 1000m of Gutermann, so Coats will have to do for me.
In regards to overlocker thread, mine is a lot thinner as well. But I only use it in the loopers as it's not strong enough to use in the needles.
As a small side note: what else should I order for embroidery? Some stabilizer? What kind?
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I'm not an expert on stabilizer, but you'll want at least 3 kinds, tear-away, soluble and iron on (essential for jersey). Hoping those with more knowledge will chime in 0_0
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I agree that Moon is fluffy and not good for regular machine use, but I'm not sure that it's designed for overlocking. Most overlocker threads - the stuff on big cones - is quite a lot thinner than Moon; it's purpose being to neater the edges of seam allowances without adding bulk.
Brenda you're quite right. Should have said it is better used in overlockers Rather than sewing machines. I've seen lots of machines using this and they have to be cleaned out. The fluff gets right in the works.
I don't like using the large cones as they are not easy to come by and I don't want a massive amount of one colour. I do have some wonderful Gutermann thread which is designed for overlockers. It makes wonderful flat seams. But it was pricey. Not sure if it is still made.
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Bernina recommend Moon thread for their overlockers.
Are you sure?
There are some retailers which sell Bernina machines and also sell Moon thread, but that doesn't mean that Bernina recommends Moon.
In my Bernina 1150 manual it says:
BERNINA recommends the use of high quality thread such as Mettler Metrosene® (http://www.amann-mettler.com/en/products/details/action/show/product/metroseneR/), Poly Sheen® (http://www.amann-mettler.com/en/products/details/action/show/product/poly-sheen-multiR/), and Isacord. (http://www.amann.com/en/products/isa-embroidery-threads/isacord/)
All of those are made by the Amann-Mettler group. Moon is made by Coats - or so some of the labels say, but I cannot find anything about Moon on the Coats website (http://www.coats.com/).
The Bernina Sewing Shop sells Tysew (https://www.berninasewingshop.co.uk/haberdashery/threads/tysew-black-sewing-machine-polyester-thread-10-x-1000m) for overlocking.
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Should have said it is better used in overlockers Rather than sewing machines.
When I bought my overlocker she said you can use 'any old rubbish' in the loopers, but use a good thread in the needles!
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f I do have some wonderful Gutermann thread which is designed for overlockers. It makes wonderful flat seams. But it was pricey. Not sure if it is still made.
Probably Tera 180 (https://www.guetermann.com/shop/en/view/content/Consumer-Products-Universal-and-Overlocking-Threads?node=Consumer-Universal-Overlocking-Threads) which is quite a bit thinner than the regular 120 size, which is what most of the cones of overlocker thread are.
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That's the one BrendaP. So fine it doesn't take much to catch it and get it hooked up everywhere. :o. But nice to use.
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Are you sure?
There are some retailers which sell Bernina machines and also sell Moon thread, but that doesn't mean that Bernina recommends Moon.
Missed this question, so catching up now.
When went to London for the free tutorial that came with my overlocker Bernina recommended Moon. That's what they used there. They suggested buying it as it came in so many colours.
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Official Bernina recomendation or just the opinion of the tutor?
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Lyn, when I got my embroidery machine I bought a sample pack of stabilisers to play with. I then bought tearaway by the metre from someone on EBay. I thought it was ok until I bought a roll of Janome iron-on, tearaway. It was a few pence more but much, much better in use. Sometimes you gets what you pays for! If you cost out the thread, the fabric, time, frustration etc a few pence more on the stabiliser is well worth spending. You don't HAVE to iron it on, and I economise a bit by sewing together the large pieces which I've torn away to reuse. I wouldn't do a big, dense design using recycled stabiliser but it's fine for outlines and the light, sketchy designs I like to use.
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Official Bernina recomendation or just the opinion of the tutor?
hmmmmm 0_0
That's what they were using, so it must have gone higher than the tutor.