Embroidery Threads: 5 Best Embroidery Thread Brands

What to look for in the best thread for embroidery?

There are so many threads around but not all of them are ideal for machine embroidery. Correct thread not only gives a vibrant look to crafts but is less likely to break and maintain the smooth embroidery process.

You must know what thread material you want for your project before selecting. Some recommended threads are:

• Polyester
• Rayon
• Cotton thread
• Variegated thread
• Metallic thread
• And a less common silk thread

Rayon was considered the best embroidery thread because of its silky smooth texture that can pass out of the needle easily but then polyester replaces it. At first, it was tough to deal with its sturdier nature but with the technology, now 40 wt polyester has become a universal choice for its softness, strength, and sheen.

But how to make sure our thread choice is right according to the project? Well, there are some questions to ask yourself before finalizing the embroidery thread:

Does this thread weight go well with the design nature and garment?

If you want embroidery thread for making patches, or logos on jackets or accessories, 40 wt polyester is the best choice.

Does this thread provide you with enough sheen you want in embroidery?

If you are buying thread for decorative purposes such as quilts, freestanding lace, or applique, you can choose metallic thread. Likewise, Rayon is also a gorgeous thread that provides color-reflecting sheen and prevents thread breaks.

Does this thread maintain durability in your crafts?

Are you buying thread to make outdoor crafts such as bags? Polyester is a durable option for you. It can endure wear and tear which makes it the best pick for machine embroidery.

Does the thread separate easily?

A good quality thread can be easily separated. The fibers of poor floss stuck together and felt rough. But if your selected thread undergoes no twist or tangle, it’s a good quality thread you must buy.

After reviewing these queries, we narrowed down some qualities of the good thread:

• Premium quality
• Capable to bear the weight of your fabric and design
• Lustrous effect for decorative embroidery
• Fade and bleach-resistant
• Avoid color bleeding
• It is easy to separate its strings
• Quality threads have a smooth ending (Avoid using thread with frayed edges and rough texture)

If the thread complies with all these basic embroidery qualities, your selection will bring fruitful results.

5 best embroidery thread brand

Let’s check out the most prominent brands that have been providing high-quality embroidery threads to fulfill their client’s demands for a long time.

1- Sulky

An American brand that has been operating for 30 years and has made an exceptional contribution to providing quality threads and embroidery education.

Brand’s specialty

They have characterized their thread list based on fiber content (cotton, rayon, polyester, metallic) and specialty thread including petites and invisible threads. Recommended threads from the sulky thread list are:

• 40 wt sulky rayon is suitable for digitized embroidery pattern
• 40 wt poly deco provides resistance to bleach and constant sunlight exposure.
• 60-wt sulky bobbin thread is recommended to be used for embroidering designs from the wrong side. You can choose either white or black color depending on the fabric color.
• If you want myriad color bobbins, polyline will meet your needs.
• 30 to 12 wt sulky cotton petite thread is strong enough to endure fast embroidery speed.
• Sulky metallic silver, neon or glowy, and holo shimmer thread are also among its best embroidery thread collection that gives more shine to your crafts.

Want to try the Sulky threads for sewing and embroidery needs, click here.

Drawback:

Although sulky thread has the potential to deal with any kind of project, sometimes it gets stuck with needles making it difficult to work with machine embroidery.

Why choose Sulky?

They offer color conversion charts and cross reference guides for 40 wt rayon with other brands to give you an ideal match. Let’s explore what else they offer:

• A slimline box with 104 spools of embroidery thread
• Embroidery supplies (Stabilizer, scissors, hoops, etc.)
• Embroidery patterns
• Thread kits
• Books for embroidery and quilting etc.

The availability of a vast array of tools and accessories makes it an all-in-one brand for sewing, piecing, and machine embroidery needs. Sulky threads are also easy to work for free motion sewing and quilting.

Where to buy?

To buy specialized sulky kits for embroidery crafts and accessories at a discount, visit the Sulky’s clearance section and e-shop.

2- Madeira

The second top-of-the-list manufacturing brand originated in the USA for making standard-quality embroidery threads to cater to all the stitcher’s needs.

Brand’s specialty

Their luxurious thread ranges from lustrous rayon, cotton, metallic, and recycled polyester. This is the only brand that has monofilament nylon thread to maintain uniformity in crafts. The use of vibrant threads guarantees professional-quality embroidery designs. From these choices, Rayon is considered the most durable material and is available in 80 different hues.

Drawback:

It is more expensive than other brands due to its global value.

What else does the brand offer?

They offer a PANTONE® color reference guide and color card to allow matching your desired embroidery thread color. Beyond textile and thread manufacturing, Madeira offers embroidery kits with well-organized threads and starter packs which include embroidery accessories e.g., stabilizers, snipers, bobbin case, color guide, and maintenance tools for embroidery and sewing needs.

Where to buy:

You can directly buy a vast collection of Madeira thread and kits from Madeira officials. Now available at Amazon, Etsy, and wholesale retailers.

3- DMC

It stands for Dollfus-Mieg & Compagnie, a French corporation and a well-known embroidery thread brand that has been in the market since 1898.

Brand’s specialty

DMC thread is made up of long-staple cotton and double mercerized making the cotton softer yet stronger and adding a better sheen to your embroidered projects. It has 6 divisible strands that are easy to swap out and use according to the detail you want in your design. It is sold in 8.7 yards/8 meters which makes it easy to work and prevents frequent replacement for larger designs. Readily available in approximately 489 to 500 fade-resistant and standard colors for all embroidery enthusiasts and sewers alike. DMC Moulin cotton 25 and Perle cotton are two featured embroidery threads where the Perle cotton size ranges from 3, 5, 8, and 12. You can also search your project-related colors and hues with code from their integrated thread color chart.

Click here to explore the DMC thread and yarn range for your crafts.

Drawback:

Sometimes it takes too much time to swap its strings resulting in frayed edges.

Why choose DMC?

• The specialty of this brand lies in its commitment to providing a long-lasting thread that is resistant to fade, bleach, and color bleeding.
• The use of 100%pure cotton makes it eco-friendly for commercial embroidery projects and patchwork.
• It is available in craft and fabric stores worldwide.
• DMC is the cheapest embroidery thread than Sulky and Madeira.

Where to buy:

Find your nearest stockist at a DMC store or visit Amazon, Etsy, and sponsored websites.

I believe if you lay out DMC in the correct way, you will enjoy adding texture and transitions with the DMC colorfast threads in your artwork.

4- Mattler

This thread manufacturing brand originated in Switzerland in 1883 by the Amann group. It makes its name for providing both natural and synthetic threads with a silky mat finish.

Brand’s specialty

They bring 435 contrasting thread colors and shades for embroidery that have been used in more than 40 countries. These threads are available in different spool lengths, making them a great choice for home-based, outdoors-industrial sewing crafts. Among all types, POLY SHEEN® is best at reflecting sunlight and preventing thread breakage, hence providing greater strength for embroidery with any type of machine used. Whereas, SERAFLEX® provides stretchability for straight stitches and is best for sewing machines.

If you own any of the Bernina machine models, you must receive a Mettler thread set to try for a better embroidery experience. Click here to explore the Mattler thread collection in detail.

Drawback:

The absence of color charts for thread makes the thread selection difficult.

Additional accessories

They are providing thread kits (Mettler poly sheen, Seralon, Metrosene, Silk-finish cotton, Denim doc, etc) with different spools and cleaning sprays for neatly finished projects.

Where to buy?

Click here to buy Mettler threads at affordable prices ranging from 6 to 60$. You can also visit your nearby sewing stores for 

5- Floriani

If you want to choose a thread with high tensile strength and sheen, you must have Floriani thread in your sewing bag. They give good results in stitching without shredding and breakage. Available in magnificent thread colors. You can also cross-reference your thread color by utilizing their color conversion charts.

Explore more about the Floriani thread here.

Brand’s Specialty

• 60-wt perfect cotton thread is best for piecing and embellishment and micro thread is for monogramming.
• 100% polyester thread available in 1000 to 5000M cones.
• Glow-in-the-dark are 300-meter spools of polyester that add luminosity to your embroidered ornaments (Christmas and Halloween projects). Easy to charge up with little and they will give you a matt finish and a very cool look.
• Flouriani recently launched a new variegated rayon thread where each spool is of thousand meters in 7 camouflage colors that add pop to your projects.

Drawback

Although they are waterproof, the color fades gradually in strong sunlight exposure.

Price

If you buy a spool of a thousand meters, it will cost you 6 to 7 dollars.

Where to buy?

Available at Amazon and local authorized dealers.

Some other thread brand

The list of best thread brands is not limited to just 5, there are a lot to try who have been making quality thread and products for embroidery.

Candle thread:

Another large thread and yarn manufacturing brand established in the USA, famous for their premium quality thread shades with high tensile strength and bleed resistance. Their featured threads include viscose rayon and polyester. They ship their orders in a home embroidery thread bundle. Their brand uniqueness lies in the production of new superior thread colors (nearly 150 per day) and spools (100 million spools of thread per year).

Isacord:

It is primarily made up of trilobal polyester which is considered a universal embroidery thread. Its colorfastness quality makes it less prone to tear and sun rays for keeping durability for outdoor crafts. Isacord threads are also available in 27 multicolor spools to meet all kinds of decorative embroidery and quilting.

Anchor:

International brand, famous for producing cost-efficient and environment-friendly thread and craft.

The top-of-the-line thread collection includes 100% mercerized Cotton, Alcazar Rayon, and Metallic thread suitable for machine embroidery.

Robinson-Anton:

Another leading embroidery thread brand famous for its 40-wt rayon and polyester. These threads are bleach-resistant and provide a strong lustrous effect to machine embroidery patterns. Provide color matching and referencing guide.

Conclusion

Here is the list of best embroidery thread brands that got positive customer reviews worldwide due to their high-performance thread and accessories. The choice of thread brand may vary with personal preference and thread experience. Whatever you choose, look at your budget, find the brand and quality in their thread material, spool length, and machine compatibility, and read through the product description carefully for washing and ironing guidelines. Let your creativity run wild with the stunning threads and shades in needlework.