Barbara Antman

I have fallen in love with machine embroidery on quilts, shirts, everything! This adds such a personal touch to everything you make. I have been working on a Victorian Tea Cup quilt that will include Tea Pots. The choices are endless, hence my quilt may end up as big as a tent!
Many designs from well known companies, some from the internet, and yes, okay, ebay.
Now, here is my only problem: Colors! My collection of embroidery thread is growing rapidly, but I must admit I am substituting some colors for a close look-a-like. Example: Billowing Sail, Ruby Glint, Really?
Many shades from many embroidery thread companies are in my collection, but if I collect all stated colors, I will have to rent a house for storage of embrodery thread and fabric stash!
So, I make sure all the thread is rayon, polyester, etc. before I mix and match the fiber content. I have started to print the manufacturers thread color list and compare shades.
Okay, just last night I went into desperation mode and used a verigated polyester not meant for embroidery, but it was one flower, and it worked fine. Is there such a thing as Embroidery Thread Police too?
Would love to know how others deal with color names?
Barbara


Love to know how others deal with this problem.

Sandra in Minnesota

Good thing I don't machine embroider. It's bad enough to have the Quilt Police, without Embroidery Thread Police too. Sounds like you are having a lot of fun with your machine.

WandaVA

I have become addicted to embroidery on quilts and can relate to the thread color issue. All of my thread is Madeira Polyneon. I use the Madeira thread conversion chart - http://threadchart.info/threadchart.php?f=MADPOLY7. Most of my designs are from emblibrary.com - I can get the Madeira Rayon thread colors from that site, and use the conversion chart to determine which polyneon thread to use. It often takes longer to figure out the "right" thread than it does to do the design!

I can emphatically tell you that there are no Embroidery Thread Police--if there were, I would be in chains.

Mitch's mom

I use any 40wt thread. I don't use rayon on things that are for babies or will need to be bleached, aside from that I will mix and match depending on what color I need. I don't expect any of my creations will be hanging in the Smithsonian in 100 years so why stress over what thread I embroider with.

Liz92B

I use whatever colour strikes my fancy ... red roses could be pink or yellow or even purple ...

MaryLane

I use whatever I want AND I mix thread types. Sometimes I want part of the design to have more sheen than the other or a part to fade to the background. Sometimes it is just what I have on hand!

Enjoy.

LTeachergeorge

I'm with Liz92B!!! However, I do a practice stitch out to make sure it comes out all right. Sometimes you think a color is (for example) a mouth and it turns out to be a chin. The practice one will help you catch that. I'll put the practice ones in a sampler/scrap quilt some day!! Just have fun with it!!

ann31039

use whatever you want. i have used some of the serger cones when i don't have what i want. it still looks good. and i rarely follow the colors listed. i just find something close. alot of times i've found mistakes in the color lists. i was doing some tinkerbells and the color list wound up giving her red hair and black eyes. if its something like a shirt that can't be changed, then i test stitch if it's a new pattern. can't go wrong that way.

Lori S

Use what you like and works! Why complicate it .... or keep getting more "stuff" if you are happy... use it.

mighty

I use what ever thread and color that works for my project.