What Thread Weights Should I Use For Machine Embroidery?
The topic for today’s article is very interesting, i.e. what thread weights I should use for machine embroidery?
What Thread Weights Should I Use For Machine Embroidery?
Thread weight is not only a number; it is the thickness of thread that is utilized for sewing. From premium to heaviest, the weights vary from eight to forty weights. A lot of factors affect the selection of the optimal machine embroidery threads. These include the type of material, size of the needle, stitch type, and other aspects such as condition and age of the machine. A machine embroidery kit includes different thread weights and bands so that you can find the best embroidery thread for your embroidery machine. Though, understanding the basics of thread weights is important to select the right one. That is where we can help you. Continue reading this article to understand what thread weights you should use for machine embroidery.
Embroidery machines generally come with a range of suggested thread weights for the different features. The finest way to decide which thread weight you want is to test them out. Selecting the wrong thread weight could outcome in badly sewn seams or a machine that won’t sew at all. The most common thread types are polyester, nylon, and mercerized cotton threads. Mercerized cotton threads are firm which makes them ideal for jeans stitching where they must withstand poking by a sharp object such as a needle or pin. Polyester threads are firm, but not as firm as mercerized cotton. Machine embroidery threads are a set of threads, often 2 strands, twisted together. Machine embroidery threads could differ in weight, and there are a lot of different kinds of threads to opt from regular sewing thread, heavy-duty sewing thread, and extra-heavy-duty sewing thread.
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What Is Thread Weight?
The measurement of the thickness of a thread is called thread weight. The weight must correspond to the fabric being sewn. The bulkier the fabric, the thicker a thread needs to be. It is significant to select the right thread weight for the type of Embroidery machine sewing that you would be performing. If you sew light-weight materials then use a light thread weight, if you sew heavy-weight material then use a heavy thread weight – as simple as that.
How Can You Read The Thread Weight?
When 40 km of a thread weighs 1kg, it is allocated as 40wt Thread. Because it takes only thirty kilometers of thread to weigh one kilogram, a thirty-weight thread is bulkier. Generally, when you look at the number of thread weights, it would look like 50/2 or 40/3. The delusion that the thread weight is a fraction is pretty common! Though the thread weight is only the first number, the second number is perhaps the ply of a thread. So, if you notice 50/2 printed on a cotton thread, it shows that the weight of the thread is fifty and the ply of the thread is two. In another word, it is a thin and strong cotton thread. It is worth noting that if the ply is two or greater, the thread would be pretty strong and would stand up well to normal usage.
Types Of The Thread Weight:
Normal sewing thread is generally used when utilizing a regular needle or when utilizing decorative stitches like cross-stitching or backstitching. It is not suggested to use bulkier materials like upholstery material or denim jeans. Instead, heavy sewing threads must be used in these cases. Few machines could use up to four threads spools at one time, each with a different weight (generally 2). This means that in total there are 8 possible combinations of thread weights to select from.
40 WT Thread Or 60 WT Thread – Which You Should Choose?
Threads are often available in a range of thread weights, the most common being 40wt Thread, followed by the finer and lighter 60wt. 40wt Threads must be your go-to thread for usual needlework. Use a 60wt thread when creating designs with fine details. When a design demands small text or fragile detail, select traditional rayon number sixty or poly neon number sixty threads. When stitching with a sixty-weight thread, always use a sixty-five needle and raise density.
40 WT Thread:
If you want a glossy embroidery thread, a 40wt Thread would be your best choice. But there are some machine embroidery tasks for which a 40wt Thread is not the best choice.
The most common substitutes for 40wt Threads are polyester and rayon. Formerly, rayon was thought to be the finest choice as it provided more shine and color choices. On the contrary, it is not as strong, would break quickly during stitching, and would not hold up to normal laundering.
Though, the polyester thread has continued to grow in terms of color choices and shine and now offers almost as must range as the rayon thread. For professional sewers who work on embroidery projects, this has made it the go-to thread for machine embroidery tasks.
50 WT. Threads:
The most common thread utilized by most sewers is 50 Wt. Threads. Cotton- polyester or polyester combination is most widely used. They are suitable for a vast variety of sewing projects and are pretty reliable.
But there is more story than that. There are 50 Wt. Threads (all-purpose) and high-quality 50-wt cotton quilting threads to select from. However, neither would disappoint you when it comes to stitching into quilts or clothing, the end would be more amazing, specifically for quilting projects.
This is because of the high-quality 50 Wt. Threads are thin and flexible, enabling you to piece a quilt without bulking the seam, outcoming in amazing results while working on quilting tasks. These threads, on the contrary, are amazing for hand appliqué, hand piecing, and machine quilting.
Atypical Thread Weights Information:
1. 12 – 18 WT Threads:
The 12 – 18 wt threads are not vastly used, but they have a specific function. They are a must-have for sewers who do a lot of topstitching and hand stitching work.
When working on sewing projects that need hand quilting or hand embroidery, the 12 – 18 wt thread is the best choice. It would not fail you when it comes to topstitching denim material.
2. 28 WT Threads:
This thread is utilized for hand quilting and hand stitching tasks as a substitute for the 12 – 18 wt threads. It could be more reliable for sewers who prefer not to use a heavy-weight thread for hand stitching projects.
3. 60 WT Bobbin Threads:
60 wt bobbin threads are the very thin and strong thread that is used in the bobbin for embroidery projects that do not need the back of the project to be seen.
Thread Weights In Digitizing:
The majority of digitized designs are made with 40wt Thread. This assures enough embroidery coverage. When utilizing a 30 wt thread, the bigger width of the thread might give a lumpy look or cause the thread to bind on itself, jamming the machine or breaking the thread. Lessen the density by 1/3 or extend the design size by 125% of the original to cure this. Extending the stitch length would as well be advantageous.
Wrapping Up:
Selecting the right thread for embroidery is essential as it would affect the quality of the product. The thread weight would decide how easily it could be threaded through a needle and how fast it would break if extreme tension is applied.
The material and project you are embroidering will decide what thread weight would be finest. The most commonly used thread weights for machine embroidery are 40wt Thread cotton, 60wt thread cotton, and 100wt thread cotton.
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