by letvia 01 Mar 2008

What kind of thread do you prefer? Or which is better, polyester, cotton or rayon? Thanks

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by cutiepie 02 Mar 2008

It all depends on the look you want and what you are embroidering on.

Polyester tends to be stronger, and it is the most color-fast of the three. Rayon has the best sheen, although some of the newer polyesters are getting pretty close, and is softer to the touch. Cotton will give more of a hand-sewn look, but since it has shorter fibers (being all-natural), it tends to leave behind a lot more lint in the bobbin case and thread tracks. Cotton will also tend to pick up colors from other things in the wash, and neither cotton or rayon takes well to being bleached. As for the complaint of the large spools being clunky and hard to use, consider buying a free-standing thread stand. The ones I have weigh about 6 pounds, so are very steady, and allow me to use as large or small of a spool as I want. If my thread is spooling off twisted, I just move the stand further away from the machine to allow the thread to relax before it hits the thread tracks. Hope this helps you with your thread shopping. =]

1 comment
letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

Thank you very much. Flower

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by crsntn 02 Mar 2008

I use Isacord because sewing for grandchildren sometime their mom needs to bleach their clothes and you can bleach Isacord thread. But I have also used RA. I prefer polyester to rayon.

1 comment
letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

Thank you. Flower

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by katydid 01 Mar 2008

Thread nets too much trouble!! I bought the acc holder which is higher than the machine holder. I use both polyester and rayon. Never tried cotton.

1 comment
letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

Thank you. Flower

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by ruthie 01 Mar 2008

Jrob, and everyone else, I use *thread nets* on my spools, and find this stops the thread from twisting, or unwinding too loosely. Have a fun day everyone.

1 comment
letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

Thank you ruthie. Flower

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by lr2008 01 Mar 2008

I only use sulky but have robison anton also..I have all the threads they make in both but the robison anton comes in the big spools and I guess I just find them clumbsy. when I first got all my threads I bought all of the big spools, then went back and bought all of the sulky small spools. I got 2 of each so I would always have enough..crazy!! cost me a fortune but I do have thread to do any project..I just got another Husqvarna Designer 1..Im so excited, now I can run embroiderys 2x well actualy on 4 machines...lol but the number 1 plus doesnt do them so well..lol i could start a factory!!! lol and never sleep!! lol then go crazy ..they could call me the crazy embroidery lady up the hill who never sleeps and her house buzzes and rumbles from all those machines going all the time...WOW! scarry thought ..hee hee..maybe not!!

1 comment
letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

You are so busy, jaja thank you. Flower

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by ruthie 01 Mar 2008

Letvia, I don't think it's a case of one being better than another. I think preference, and buying convenience, plays the major part. I use Isacord (poly) mostly because my dealer gave me heaps of spools, all different colors, when I bought my machine. I also use Robison-Anton (rayon), because I can buy it locally, and a few other brands (poly, rayon and cotton), because I picked them up for a special price, and I don't have any problems with any. Usually, like jrob, my problems are because I need to use a new needle. Flowers and hugs.

1 comment
letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

Thank you ruthie. Flower

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by jrob Moderator 01 Mar 2008

I hardly ever have thread breakage problems unless I have let trash get in my bobbin case or let my needle get dull. I'll tell you another secret here: when sewing with a large spool, use a sewing needle to put your thread through a "packing peanut" and let it come up to the back of your machine where the thread first comes in contact and your thread will not break. It stops all of the twisting mess that will cause breakage.;)

2 comments
marjialexa by marjialexa 01 Mar 2008

Thanks, Jrob, going to try that! M

letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

Thank you for your tip jrob. Flower

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by raels011 01 Mar 2008

I use both but Pokyester for kids things because they need more washing. Also I find the darker coloured threads break more then light ones. Dealer says this is because they have to be treated more

2 comments
marjialexa by marjialexa 01 Mar 2008

True about darker colors, Raels. "Treated more" actually translates to some manufacturers make black out of other colors that didn't turn out 'right on'. So, they have been dyed once, say blue, then dyed again black. It weakens the thread, thus more breaks. M

letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

Thank you. Flower

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by marjialexa Moderator 01 Mar 2008

I use polyester, my dealer sells Robison-Anton and is now carrying Floriani. The Floriani is really gorgeous, with a very high sheen like rayon, but with the strength of polyester. I also use Isacord poly, because my dealer used to sell that, too, and it's very good. Floriani is made by RNK Distributing, I don't know if they sell it on the website, but Nita's Thread Nest sells Floriani spools for a very good price, if you can't get it locally. I guess I'm very lucky to have a wonderful dealer so close to me! Wish you could all come to her place, it's like a second home to me, they're all so friendly and helpful (and patient with me, lol). Good Luck, Letvia. Marji

1 comment
letvia by letvia 02 Mar 2008

Thank you Marji. Flower

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by dlmds 01 Mar 2008

I have used many different brands of the thread, however, I prefer Robinson Anton over any others I have tried. With their thread I can use mostly rayon and have good results. It even has a nicer, soft feel to it. H. and *"s for all.

1 comment
letvia by letvia 01 Mar 2008

Thank you dlmds. Flower

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by josyane48 01 Mar 2008

polyester

2 comments
josyane48 by josyane48 01 Mar 2008

cotton or rayon breaks too much.

letvia by letvia 01 Mar 2008

I agree. Flower

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by jrob Moderator 01 Mar 2008

I use both polyester and rayon because of the sheen factor. The way that I choose polyester over rayon is if the object that I am embroidering on is going to be bleached, I use polyester, otherwise, I prefer the rayon. I use Sulky brand. The USA factory is less than 100 miles from my home and I can order online and get my thread the next day. ;)

3 comments
letvia by letvia 01 Mar 2008

I use both too but I really prefer polyester, I use coat for polyester and sulky for the rayon. Thanks and Flower

marjialexa by marjialexa 01 Mar 2008

Jrob, take a look in person at Floriani for the sheen, it's just dynamite! Marji

jrob by jrob 01 Mar 2008

I'll do that, thanks!

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by dlonnahawkins 01 Mar 2008

I use both polyester and rayon - I prefer the rayon, but was told the polyester is better if on something that is washed a lot. I have never used cotton, as I like the sheen of the other two. It is users preference, but what do the rest of you "Cute girls" think?

2 comments
letvia by letvia 01 Mar 2008

Thank you for your answer. I use polyester and rayon but I think rayon breaks too much, or maybe is just me. Flower

dlonnahawkins by dlonnahawkins 01 Mar 2008

I found certain manufactured threads have a tendency to break, but I do not have too many problems. I use both Sulky and Robinson Anton - have tried others, but always go back to my preferred.

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