A lot of guild members have the very expensive Brother or Bernina embroidery machines. I hear them discussing threads and designs a lot. I don't have one but I know from them not to use rayon thread of any brand. Use the best stabilizer that isn't stiff or makes the design stiff. They go in together to buy rolls of the stabilizer. I got tickled with another guild member who said Have you noticed the members that have the top of the line new machines are the ones that are now widowed? My friend has the Walmart Disney Brother and it does a really nice job. She does embroidery to sell using it.