Machine Embroidery Thread
 

I am new to machine embroidery. I was wondering how people buy their thread, decide which colours yo collect etc. also big or small spools?

I don't do much machine embroidery - just occasional labels for my quilts - but I do use this thread for longarming - http://www.metroemb.com/store/. They have lots of colors, the pricing is great, and there are even packages of the mini-spools.

Small spools (can be replenished anytime). I like Mettler Polysheen and Fil-tec Glide. I've also used some Coat's trilobal that was just fine. I just think of projects and look for colors that would work well with those.

My sister and I each bought a different set of all colors off Amazon when we got our machines. We just add to it if we need something different than we have. The only ones we have had trouble with are the color twist from thread art. Those sew fine in a regular machine but not the embroidery one. Just get a basic set to start with so you have a variety to practice with, then add as you need.

Even though I don't have an embroidery machine, I use machine embroidery thread for my FMQ, I absolutely love it for the actual quilting. I get my embroidery thread from http://www.metroemb.com/store/ also. I personally try to get the big spools, as far as deciding what colors, I pick colors that work with the fabric colors that ,I work with on the average, I don't work with "earthtone" colors a lot so I just have a couple spools of "earthtone" threads, but have quite a few purples, pinks, reds, blues, etc.

I like the floriana(sp?) thread. Depends on what kind of designs you are doing some colors you'll need more of. If the shades are to close they don't show up. Some that look awful just looking at them together really look nice when it's all stitched out

I try to keep a variety of rayon and polyester colors. I try to keep a light, medium and dark of each main color I use and you can't go wrong with extra blues and greens. The thread websites themselves offer sales but I've had good luck on eBay especially for larger cones, prices are great. You can search the particulars of what you're looking for as "nylon blue embroidery thread" or "poly yellow embroidery thread" to narrow your search. Usually for most sites, the more you order, the cheaper the S/H is. A sweet addiction it is!!

I started with the tiny spools and soon decided I needed to have the opportunity to not run out every time I started a project! I have tried Robison Anton, Sulky, Coats and Clark, Floriani, etc. all worked well in my Viking DIamond, however when I found Metro thread, I ordered the big selection (about 69 cents per spool) and have been very pleased. You do need a large selection to do a design with shading (4 shades of green, 3 pinks, 2 reds just to do a rose) so I don't think having a great selection is overrated. I also use the large Sulky spools for the basics, and I use them for utility colors....logos green and blue can be replaced and they will be the same "dye lot" as the last spool. Price, availability, shipping costs, color selection all play a part in what threads you will use, don't limit yourself to one brand if you want variety, however some folks only use one kind and are happy. Do what makes you happy!

When I bought my machine I had the opportunity to go to a Floraini workshop. They have their their top selling threads in sets. I bought the top 100 most popular colors set of king spools and have never regretted it. While it was a leap for for me to do that, the price was very good and I wasn't always needing more spools in a color I didnt have yet. I love their thread and their stabilizers. Since I didn't have anything, it seemed like a good idea to have a great selection that were all the same kind of thread. They are wonderful products, and their customer service is excellent. What ever you choose I like having the same brand. Now several years later, I'm very glad I made the choice.I did.

When I purchased my first machine, I bought a huge thread set off of Ebay. When I bought my most recent machine (a Pfaff) it would not stitch with the thread I had. It only likes the Robison Anton or other expensive thread(lol).

So my recommendation is try out a few manufacturers first. As far as colors - From the large lot I purchased, I used a handful a lot and the rest were never opened. I now purchase the colors for my designs as I need them. I always keep the usual primary colors on hand as well as Christmas red and green and other colors grow as I need them.

I buy mine from Designsbysick.com. They have a sale...50 spools and they send you an assortment of colors. Their thread is just fine and you don't break the bank buying them

When I buy emb thread I always try to get two or three in the same color scheme because just about all designs end up using shades a little different for shading effects. The size of the spool depends on the cost, the amount I'll use or its popularity and the size of my wallet on that day. I try to keep some in all color schemes so that I dont' have to worry about having the right colors for a design. My software allows me to use the thread manger to enter in all of my thread and then I tell it to pick the closest colors from what I own to match what is called for in the orginal design. I really love doing this when I use varigated thread (which I love) because it will show me how it'll look stitched out. This is important depending on the design. At a retreat this weekend there was a pine tree in the design and the person used varigated thread on the tree. It would of been cool if the stitches went side to side but it went from top of tree to bottom and that didn't look to good. Good luck with your new adventure. I love doing it and I'm doing another retreat the end of the month for a quilt called Oh la la, its so pretty.

I love that from Metroemb.com. It is affordable and it works well.

If you are unsure about a certain thread company, order one spool of black thread. That is usually the most difficult color to stitch because it is over dyed. When a company has "oops" dye colors, they will take the extras and dye them black. Those are your tests. I like Marathon and Floriani the best, but I have no problem sewing with any style or brand of thread. I have a Brother Quattro and I swear I could sew with bailing twine, it handles everything without ever changing any tension.

When I first bought my embroidery machine 9 months ago I was overwhelmed by the colors and types of threads. I first looked at the designs that came with a machine and the required colors. Figured I would go by the book so to speak before being creative and changing colors. I ended up purchasing 5 small spols of Sulky embroidery thread using coupons from Joanne's. Each time I went to the store I would pick up one or two different color spools depending on the design I wanted to stitch out.
My machine is finicky and only likes Sulky. I have tried other brands but it's not worth the frustration.
by now I have a slimline case and a half of various shades of different color threads that meet my needs. If you try different thread brands my recommendation is to buy only one spool as your machine may not like it. You can always you the thread for regular sewing. Good luck

I prefer Robison Anton thread, I am using polyester more than rayon because of its durability. I bought 27 spools of polyester from discountembroiderysupply.com for $100, free shipping. It's about $3.65 a spool for 1100 yards, which is considerably cheaper than Sulky from Joann's at 4.99 for 250 yards. You really need to look at the size of the spools in relation to the amount of thread you're getting. Even when Sulky is on sale at Joann's, which isn't that often, it's still usually at least $3 for 250 yards. It's good thread, but it's not worth the cost, IMO.

dunster]I don't do much machine embroidery - just occasional labels for my quilts - but I do use this thread for longarming - http://www.metroemb.com/store/. They have lots of colors, the pricing is great, and there are even packages of the mini-spools

Did I interpret this correcting? You use the threads that are recommended for embroidery machines to QUILT the final project.

I started with a couple of color sets from Amazon and I've added to them with Gutterman, Sulky, Robison Anton or whatever from JoAnn. I like the 1000m spools for colors, but have ordered 5000m spools of white ThreaDelight as white was the first thing I ran out of. Rayon thread seems to sew the nicest in my Brother machine, but it is also more subject to fading than Polyester thread. I try to use Poly thread for anything that is going to be used a lot and washed frequently.

I try to make sure that I have the rainbow covered twice. By that I mean two shades of each. Also some neutrals like tan and brown, and the old standys black and white. I get the smaller ones, as they seem to have plenty for me.