Choosing the Right Threads for Your Sewing and Embroidery Machine: A Guide for Users

You already know the importance of selecting the right materials for your projects. From fabrics to needles, every element plays a crucial role in achieving the desired results and you can spend hours selecting the right fabrics and matching threads. However, one aspect often goes overlooked in the choice of threads. Believe it or not, using the wrong threads can lead to significant issues with your sewing and embroidery machines, potentially requiring costly visits to the engineer. We'd like to help you avoid that and in this post we'll explore why selecting suitable threads is paramount and provide recommendations to help you avoid common pitfalls.

Understanding the Difference Between Sewing and Embroidery Threads

Before diving into thread selection, it's essential to understand the distinction between sewing and embroidery threads. While both serve the purpose of stitching, they are tailored to different tasks.

Sewing Threads: These threads are designed for general stitching purposes, such as constructing garments or mending fabrics. They come in various materials, including cotton, polyester, and silk. Sewing threads are typically thinner and more flexible, making them ideal for seams and hems.

Embroidery Threads: On the other hand, embroidery threads are specifically crafted for decorative stitching. They are often more vibrant in colour to enhance embroidery designs. Embroidery threads can be made from cotton, rayon, polyester, or specialty materials like metallic or glow-in-the-dark fibres. Their strength and sheen make them perfect for intricate embroidery work.

The Pitfalls of Using Incorrect Threads

Using the wrong threads in your sewing or embroidery machine can lead to a myriad of problems, ranging from frustrating thread breaks to potential damage to your equipment. Here are some common issues you may encounter:

1. Thread Breakage: Low-quality or incompatible threads are prone to breaking, causing interruptions in your stitching process and frustration.

2. Machine Jamming: Some threads may not feed smoothly through your machine, leaving fibres and oils in their wake, which may lead to jams and potentially damage your machine.

3. Tension Problems: Different threads have varying elasticity and thickness, which can affect the tension settings on your machine. Using the wrong thread may result in snapping, uneven stitches or puckering.

4. Needle Damage: Rough or abrasive threads can wear down your machine's needles more quickly, necessitating frequent replacements.

Why Overlocker Threads Aren't Suitable for Embroidery or Sewing Machines

It's worth noting that overlocker threads, also known as serger threads, are not suitable for use in sewing or embroidery machines. Overlocker threads are designed for sergers, which have different tension mechanisms and stitch formations compared to standard sewing machines. Attempting to use overlocker threads in your machine may result in tension issues, thread breakage, or damage to your equipment.

Recommended Threads for Sewing and Embroidery Machines

To help you get started, here's a list of threads that are widely recognised for their quality and suitability for sewing and embroidery machines:

• Gutermann
• Brother 
• Coats & Clark
• Mettler
• Aurifil
• Madeira
• Sulky
• Isacord
• Floriani
• Robison-Anton

By selecting threads from reputable brands that are specifically designed for your machine's intended purpose, you can ensure smooth and successful stitching every time.

We see far too many machines come in for repairs as a result of the wrong thread being used, and it's an easy mistake to make when you're focused on matching colour or getting a good deal. The cheap threads might look tempting but if they're not up to the job, they're going to end up costing you far more in time and repairs (and headaches) in the long run. 

So, if you are having problems with snapping try changing the thread to a recommended one and giving the bobbin area a bit of a clean. And make sure the thread on your bobbin is a recommended brand too. It might just sort out the problem.