Use Specialty Threads to Spice Up Embroidery

June 5, 2009

By Steven Batts, Contributing Writer

Embroidery legend Walt Floriani once said that embroidering with just one type of thread is like a chef trying to prepare a gourmet meal with salt and pepper as the only seasonings. Don’t limit yourself; take advantage of the many thread choices out there that can spice up your embroidery.

The best thing is that most of these threads sew just like regular thread and require very little, if any, tension adjustments. When you mention “specialty thread” to most embroiderers, the first thing that comes to mind for many of them is metallic thread, which is one of the few specialty threads that does not always tension easily. However, metallic isn’t the only specialty thread out there that can help you put a little style in your stitching. Some are relatively new, and others have been around forever.

One of these long-available types is variegated thread. You can get variegated thread from most thread suppliers. It is the thread color you see on your thread card that looks like they put three colors on one swatch. That is because they put three colors on the same thread. It is dyed a different color every foot or so. It creates the effect of stripes in your embroidery. This can be very useful in situations where clients want striped letters and you don’t want to have to digitize it that way. It also makes interesting monograms.

Another well-known specialty thread that’s a bit like variegated is twister tweed thread from Robison-Anton. The thread’s name comes from its tweed-y appearance. The thread manufacturer achieves this look by twisting a ply of one color thread with a ply of another color. It is available in several color combinations and can be used to jazz up monograms or to make fur look more realistic. Personally, I have used it to make a sunset look more glowing and water look more sparkling. There are many situations that you may need to digitize to blend colors of thread to create a certain effect. In other cases, you might try tweeded thread to achieve that type of effect.

Of course, it isn’t always coloring that puts a thread into the specialty category. Some are pretty high-tech. New technology and chemicals have produced some neat new threads that might not be as well-known as some of the ones that have been around a while. One such that’s gaining popularity is glow-in-the-dark. It works like those little toys you used to get as a kid. You expose the thread to a light source and it will literally glow in the dark.

Glow-in-the-dark is available from several manufacturers but doesn’t come in many different colors — mainly white and some pastels — but any of the colors give a really cool effect in the dark. What I have discovered about this thread is that it helps move product, particularly with kids. I substituted glow-in-the-dark thread for white on some caps that I did for a camp. Caps that had been selling OK starting flying off the shelf and the camp had to order more.

Another high-tech thread is UV-sensitive thread manufactured by Solar Active Intl. In normal lighting, it appears white. When exposed to ultraviolet light, it changes colors. In case you think you have to walk around with a black light to make your thread change colors, think again. There is enough ultraviolet light in normal sunlight to make the thread change colors. So while you are inside, the embroidery looks white. Step out into sunlight, and it changes.

These are just a few of the specialty threads that are available to embroiderers. There are thinner threads, thicker ones, threads with matte finishes or opaque finishes, and many other sorts of threads. Some take more effort to run properly than others, but you can find a thread for nearly any effect you want to achieve.

So if you want to spice up your embroidery and possibly move more products, you might try some of these different types of thread. 

Steven Batts, a consultant with 17 years experience in the embroidery industry, owns Righteous Threads, Greensboro, N.C., which offers digitizing, embroidery and machine maintenance services. Steven regularly leads seminars at ISS shows, and is an industry speaker and consultant. For more information or to comment on Steven’s article, e-mail righteousthreads@gmail.com.

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