A lot of people believe that because embroidery thread is so thin, it isn’t strong enough to sew with. The truth is, that embroidery thread is much stronger than regular sewing threads and can be used in a wide variety of applications. Some people argue that it has more strength than sewing thread because it’s composed of a special type of cotton called mercerized cotton that’s been treated to reduce shrinkage and increase durability.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the strongest embroidery threads, what they’re used for and how to use them, as well as some general tips on using embroidery threads.
Embroidery Thread Types And Uses
Many companies produce various types of embroidery thread. Because of their different functions, they should be used in different applications. For example, most cotton embroidery threads are used for general sewing and decorating purposes such as adding decorative stitching or appliqué. They can also be used for hand-stitching a garment or embellishing an item with stitches.
On the other hand, silk embroidery threads are much more delicate and should only be used for general sewing or to add decorative stitches. They shouldn’t be used for appliqué or garment stitching as a single stitch can pull out the entire thread.
Here is a brief overview of some of the most common embroidery threads and what they’re used for.
General Embroidery Threads
These are considered to be the most versatile kind of thread. They’re made of 100% cotton and come in many different thicknesses, colors, lengths, and filament counts for smoothness. These threads can easily be substituted for regular sewing thread with no adverse effects on your finished project.
Satin Thread
These threads are made of organza or satin-making thread. They are very soft and should only be used for general stitching purposes such as adding decorative stitches because they’re too delicate to be used for embroidery.
Embroidery Silk Thread
Silk threads are more durable than most other types of embroidery thread because they’re made out of a thicker silk thread. They’re still delicate and shouldn’t be used for general sewing or hand-stitching due to their fragile nature.
Can You Use Embroidery Thread For Sewing?
The fact is, embroidery thread is usually used for decorative purposes and small projects at home. Therefore, under normal circumstances, you shouldn’t even try to use it for general sewing. However, if you happen to be making your clothing or altering an item you own, you can use embroidery thread for sewing. Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to use embroidery thread for sewing.
Sewing with embroidery thread can be a bit tricky, especially for those who are new to the craft. Many stitches can be used for stitching as well as decorative stitching. However, there are also some basic stitches that you can use to make sure your project looks professional when you’re done.
Is Embroidery Thread As Strong As Sewing Thread?
You can use embroidery thread for sewing any time you want as long as you choose the right kind of thread. However, if you’re using polyester, your embroidery thread won’t be as strong and durable as regular cotton-based threads, which is why you should use it with care. It’s really up to you whether or not to use polyester for sewing but it’s not recommended unless the quality of your fabric is extremely important.
You shouldn’t try to sew polyester onto nonpolyester materials, such as silk. The two materials don’t mix well and could create a fraying effect in your project. You could try sewing with silk thread, but that could get quite expensive.
What Is The Difference Between Sewing And Embroidery Thread?
Most threads are made out of many different materials. They’re most commonly made out of cotton and nylon, which are combined to make the thread stronger. However, sewing threads are mainly composed of cotton and nylon, while embroidery thread is mainly composed of rayon or silk.
The main difference between sewing and embroidery threads is that embroidery thread is used for stitching. If you can get polyester, you can use it for regular sewing, but it’s not quite as strong as cotton-based threads. You should use polyester only if your fabric is very thick or extremely delicate and needs more strength.
Drawbacks of Using Embroidery Thread For Sewing
There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t use embroidery thread for sewing:
- Many beginner sewers find that embroidery thread is more difficult to use than regular thread when trying to make a garment. This is because embroidery thread doesn’t stretch much and doesn’t have any give. Therefore, the needle may skip stitches and break easily when working with it.
- Embroidery thread is not made to be used for general sewing. It’s made to be delicate and is therefore quite delicate. The more beautiful and delicate the embroidery thread is, the more delicate it is. Therefore, you should try to use it for small, delicate projects but not for a long-term project such as making a shirt.
- Because the thread is so thick, you’ll end up using a small thread than usual to obtain the same thickness of stitches compared to regular thread. Instead of using just your regular weight of thread, you’ll probably end up using a heavier thread to get your stitches to appear thicker.
- Embroidery thread is generally more expensive than regular thread due to the high demand for it and the delicate nature of it being a specialty item. This could end up costing more than using a regular thread.
- If you make a mistake, you’ll end up having to start all over instead of just fixing the error like you could with a regular thread.
Tips for Using Embroidery Thread for Sewing
The main benefit of using embroidery thread for sewing is the fact that it’s so thick. This means that it adds much weight to your project and can not be used for very lightweight projects. It also means that you can use less of it, which will ultimately save you money.
- Because embroidery thread is so delicate and thick, you should remember the following tips when using it for sewing to get better results:
- Make sure to use a needle that’s appropriate for the thread, with a long eye and a long point.
- Use a finer weight of thread for any projects that require more strength. Fine threads have fewer strands and give you more flexibility.
- Just make sure to tie them together at the end. This will give you less fraying as well because there won’t be as many ends sticking out. Another benefit is that the stronger thread will allow you to achieve a thicker stitch but with less frequent stitching because there’s less pulling on the fabric.
- Keep your stitches small and even, so they don’t pull on your project too much afterward; this could cause the thread to break.
- Keep the tension loose and use even stitches. This will help the thread to keep from breaking. Make sure not to keep pulling the thread too tight or else it will fray and break easily from being pulled so hard.
- Leave an extra thread on each end of your project, as it’s easier to take it up than to add more. This can be done by using running stitch stitches around the entire edge of your project and then pulling them up before cutting off the extra thread.
Can You Use Polyester Embroidery Thread For Regular Sewing?
Polyester is a synthetic fiber. It’s used primarily in many different fabrics and specialty items such as dressings, dyes, and plastics. However, it can be used for sewing due to its durability, strength, and versatility. It’s not just a glorified version of thread made out of plastic but it’s quite durable in its own right.
Compared to embroidery thread, polyester doesn’t have as much give and strength; therefore, you shouldn’t use it for regular sewing unless you’re using a really small sewing needle or using very fine stitches. Otherwise, you may have to make adjustments to your project later on due to fraying.
Can Embroidery Thread Be Used For Hemming Pants?
If you want to use embroidery thread for sewing, it’s best to use it for hemming pants. It is necessary to first make sure that the pants you want to hem match up with the thread that you want to use. For example, if you’re using a light color of pants and you want to use some sort of dark color of thread, it won’t look too nice.
Alternatively, if you’re using thin cotton material and want to use a thicker embroidery thread, the stitches may end up popping out. Using such materials for sewing is quite challenging and you should use a suitable material for the thread that you want to use. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an unattractive project.
The first thing to do is to decide on a pattern that you want to make and stick with it. You can either start from the top or start from the bottom of your pants, depending on where you want your pocket to be.
Can You Use Regular Sewing Thread For Embroidery?
Some threads are better suited for specific functions, such as embroidery. For example, if you want to use some type of thread to stitch onto your fabric and then iron it afterward, you should use rayon or silk thread. On the other hand, if you want to make fancy stitches or take a picture then you can choose stitching threads such as cotton.
But in general, regular sewing thread is not the best choice for most projects. The reason why is that it’s quite thin and weak compared to embroidery thread. The quality of work would also be greatly affected by using this type of thread instead of an embroidery needle because it could easily break apart when being used.
How Do You Sew With Embroidery Thread?
To begin sewing with embroidery thread, you must first start with a needle that’s the right size for your thread. If you’re using a thick thread then you must have a hole in your needle that’s large enough.
As long as your needle is sharp and the size of your thread is correct, sewing with embroidery thread should be a lot easier than sewing very thin threads. You must use a needle that’s sharp enough to cut through your thread.
Once you’ve got your needle and thread ready, you can start stitching with your embroidery thread. The most common stitches used for stitching are simple straight lines, tight zigzag stitches, and running stitches. If you want to sew something complicated or do a very intricate stitch then you’ll need some sort of long-needle or darning needle.
If you want to add extra detail to your project, such as an edge around the fabric, then hand embroidery threads are the best option for such tasks. You should also use them alongside natural threads or fibers for added texture and details.
How Do You Sew With Polyester Thread?
You can also use polyester thread and needle, but it will probably not be as strong as a cotton-based thread. It’s simply not good enough to be used on its own by itself. When you’re using polyester, you should use a thicker needle and you might need to make adjustments to your project later on due to fraying.
Polyester is also not the best choice for sewing clothing or for creating hems because the threads normally end up being very noticeable in the final product. It’s better suited for making decorative stitches such as zigzag, running stitch, satin stitch, and slip stitch.
Final Thoughts
When you go out to buy thread for sewing, you’ll realize how many choices you have. There are so many types of thread and each one is made for a different purpose. You can use embroidery thread for sewing or simply use it for decorative purposes. The most important thing is that you know what type of thread to use in any given situation.
If you want your project to look nice and perfect, then it’s a good idea to follow the given guidelines when choosing threads.
SOURCE:
- Reddit – Is embroidery floss appropriate for mending garments or is r/visiblemending gaslighting me?
- Reddit – Is cotton thread ever used for machine embroidery?
- Quora – Can you use embroidery thread in a sewing machine? If so, what is the best embroidery thread to use?
- MissouriQuiltCo – Embroidery thread
- Reddit – Have I been using embroidery thread this whole time? I am so confused on what thread from hobby lobby I’ve been using