What is the best thread weight for embroidery?
Embroidery threads are often available in a variety of thread weights, the most popular being 40wt, followed by the finer and lighter 60wt. 40 wt. threads should be your go-to thread for general needlework. When creating patterns with fine details, use a 60wt thread.
It is also OK to use different fibers top and bottom. Therefore, it is OK to use a polyester 40 wt. thread on top and a cotton 50 wt. on bottom.
When discussing weight of thread, the smaller the number, the thicker the thread. The weight is determined by how many meters of thread it takes for a skein to weigh one kilogram. In this case, the 40 wt thread is slightly thicker (heavier) than the 50 wt thread.
40 weight thread is the most commonly used embroidery thread and will cover most projects, from free-hand embroidery to quilting, digitizing to clothing construction.
40wt is a thread that is significantly heavier than 60wt, and noticeably heavier than the 50wt.
It is the method used to describe the density (thickness) of the yarn and is traditionally given in “cotton count” e.g. 16's, 30's, 40's. In this system the lower the count, the thicker the yarn, so a 16's yarn will be thicker than a 40's yarn.
Needle size:
We recommend a size 90/14 when sewing with a 40 wt. thread and a 100/16 needle when sewing with a 30 wt. or 12 wt. thread.
Aurifil 40 wt thread is ideal for machine quilting, applique, embroidery, and hand-stitching a binding. 100% cotton 40 weight thread is the most popular machine embroidery thread and is perfect for precise work on fine fabric.
The 60-weight polyester filament thread is ideal for smooth embroidery and friction-free sewing. Bobbins are a standard Size A Class 15 (SA156) that fit most home embroidery and sewing machines.
Machine embroidery bobbin thread is different from regular thread. First of all, It is a lot thinner. Typically, it is either 60 or 90 weight, whereas standard embroidery thread is typically 40 weight. And, a higher weight number means a thinner thread.
Is it better to go with lighter or darker thread?
If you have a choice of two different threads which are very close to the fabric colour, always go for the darker thread. A lighter thread will be more visible whereas darker threads will tend to blend in to the seam. With patterned materials the best advice is to go with the background colour.
– For general sewing 50/60 weight thread is good for usual sewing and piecing and the thinner thread won't bulk up your seams. For quilting: – A lot of people only use 100% cotton thread in every part of the quilting process. – Thicker thread weights, like 30/40, make the quilting stitches stand out more.
Your standard thread will often come in a medium 40 or 50 weight. But a huge variety of other threads exist in super fine 100 weight, or super chunky 3 weight options too.
Choosing the right thread for embroidery is important as it will affect the quality of the finished product. The weight of a thread will determine how easily it can be threaded through a needle and how quickly it will break if too much tension is applied.
A heavier thread in top and bottom will increase both tensions, and you'll probably need to set a lighter tension to accommodate heavier fabrics.
If you use an embroidery machine for sewing, the best embroidery thread to use is polyester or cotton thread. If you are looking for a different appearence or texture, try using wool or silk threads for embroidery.
Perle cotton is by far one of the most common hand embroidery threads you'll come across. The most popular size is a #8 as it is the perfect weight to comfortably do pretty much every hand embroidery stitch.
Choose thread based on the type of fiber, look, feel, and thickness and not by the printed weight size. Trust your eyes and fingers more than the label. You'll get better results and be much happier with your selection. Choose fine threads to blend and medium and heavier threads to show.
If the tension is too tight, the fabric can pucker and the bobbin thread may be visible on the top side of the fabric. If the tension is too loose, you may see visible loops on the top side of the fabric and the spool thread might be visible on the underside.
Embroidery threads are usually available in several different thread weights, with 40 being the most common followed by the finer and lighter 60wt. The higher the number, the thinner the thread. #40 wt thread should be your go to thread for all around everyday embroidery.
Which yarn is finer 40s or 60s?
To look at it the other way, lower the count, the heavier and coarser it is. Thus 40s thread count yarn is coarser and heavier than a 60s yarn and so on.
Count refers pound (453.6g) raw material spun into yarn total length of a few 840 yards (1 yard = 91.4 cm). The total length of 16,800 is 20s, a total length of 33,600 is 40s. Very complicated, right? In fact, we just know, s previous higher the number, the finer the yarn.
A 30-wt. thread is a “heavier” thread, meaning a thicker cross section, because a much shorter thread weighs the same as the 40 wt. In length measurements, higher numbers reflect thicker or heavier threads.
It is helpful to remember that a 50 weight thread should be paired with a size 80/12 needle. (80 is the European size, while 12 is the American needle numbering system.)
Large needle sizes – 100/16 and 120/18 – These are for heavyweight, tough fabrics, like thick leather, heavyweight canvas, and dense upholstery fabrics. They are used with heavyweight threads such as upholstery and topstitching threads.