CarrieAnne

I am really new to this, lol, so I have a dumb question! Are all the machine embrodery threads the same?
Boyfriend works on a stock car, and we want to make the crew some name tags for their shirts. They will be washed lots and be greasy, and get really dirty...........
Is there a certain thread I should look for, one that can be washed more with out fading?
Hope someone knows!
Thanks!

grann of 6

You usually use rayon embroidery thread, but I have discovered polyester now. 40wt. is the customary, Sulky, Robison Anton, Madeira. Any are good. I have been doing machine embroidery for years and have never had any fade. They all hold up well to the laundry. The stabilizer you use is actually more crucial than the thread. Get one for knits if you are doing it on tee shirts. Read the packages and get yourself well informed; then practice on scraps; always do a test embroider. You don't want to ruin a good shirt. Also make sure you use the correct needle. I use embroidery needles in 75/11 for most, but 80/12 works well. Just make sure they are EMBROIDERY needles. Good Luck :!: :lol:

CarrieAnne

Aw, THANK YOU, grann of 6, you TOTALLY helped. I will look at stabilizers. I was only playing last night so I used some not good for quilting muslim as stabilizer, but I dont want to break my machine!

grann of 6

I don't think you have to worry about breaking your machine. But if you don't use the right stabilizer you can end up with puckering and unbalanced stitching. There are so many kinds out there, you will be bound to find the right one for you. Just remember, you need a couple different kinds depending on your fabric and what you're trying to do. It might help to get a book on the subject of machine embroidery for beginners.

thepolyparrot

I buy almost all of my embroidery threads from ThreadArt.com - I don't use rayon for anything I might have to press, someday - rather, I use poly, which stands up to laundering and ironing a lot better.

ThreadArt's threads are wonderful for machine embroidery, free-motion embroidery and quilting. They've got about a bajillion colors and the prices won't give you sticker shock. :)

They sell a beautiful poly bobbin thread, too. The bobbin thread helps keep the thread from building up on the back of the piece, because it's so fine - about the equivalent of a 60 or 70wt thread or maybe finer. Being poly, it's very strong, even as fine as it is.

grann of 6

I'll have to try your threadart thread. Right now I have so much thread that I am trying to use up before I get any more. I do like the poly bobbin thread though. I have never had any problem with rayon thread and ironing, etc. I have been embroidering since before all these fancy threads, back with the Singer Athena 2000 in the late 70s.

Candace

If you're laundering often and possibly using bleach, you need to use POLY embroidery thread as rayon thread is not colorfast. If you use bleach on it, the color will bleach out. I have both rayon and poly in my thread stash, but am only purchasing poly now.

the casual quilter

There are a lot of good threads on the market. I've ordered from Marathon Thread, Designs by Sick, and Superior and find that they all run well in my machine. I use both rayon and poly. I like the look of rayon better, but with rayon, there is always a risk of the thread color fading or changing if you launder the finished item with bleach or a detergent with bleach in it.

CoyoteQuilts

When I use an embroidery needle it shreds every type of thread I put in it. I switched to top-stitch needles and it doesn't happen any more. I have a Brother 2002D.

JanetM

Stay away from Rayon. While it is beautiful, it doesn't not hold up to frequent washing. It will fade.

You need to find Polyester thread. It will hold up to laundry detergent and bleach. Only one caution, avoid ironing the actual embroidery with a hot iron.

p.s. there are no dumb questions.