Guide from Eagle Digitizing: Embroidering with Metallic Thread

Embroidering with metallic thread can be challenging, even for experienced machine embroiderers. Problems like fraying, looping, tension issues, and thread breaks can discourage anyone. However, metallic thread offers a beautiful shimmer that everyone loves, and anyone with any machine should be able to stitch with it successfully. In this article, Eagle Digitizing will guide you through the process of embroidering with metallic thread and recommend solutions to common problems. As a professional digitizing company, Eagle Digitizing specializes in embroidery digitizing and vector art, providing high-quality digitizing services to its clients.

The Process of Embroidering with Metallic Thread

Firstly, it's important to ensure your machine is set up correctly. Metallic thread can get snagged up in three areas: at the spool, inside your machine, and at the needle. For instance, when using a spool of metallic thread, use the vertical spool pin, and if your machine doesn't have one, use the Superior Thread Holder. Also, remember to loosen your top tension when stitching with metallic thread and override your automatic tension settings all the way down to 1.0. Metallic thread is delicate, so a loose top tension is necessary for frustration-free stitching. 

The Way Metallic Thread is Made Follows a Unique Process.

Thin metal foil strands are adhered to a film and wrapped around a nylon core. When embroidering, you have a high number of stitches per minute rapidly creating tiny stitches in a dense design. The thread moves back and forth through the eye and groove of the needle, rubbing against the metal surface in a fast manner. To prevent thread breakage, use a needle with a larger eye and deeper groove, such as a Topstitch #90/14 needle. Superior Topstitch needles have a longer and wider eye, deeper groove, and a thin layer of titanium-nitride that resists friction and keeps your needle sharper much longer.

Now that we've addressed the most common problems and recommended solutions, we're ready to stitch! Metallic threads come in a spectrum of colors, so it's time to have some colorful fun.

Once you become a metallic thread master, look for opportunities to showcase them in your embroidery, quilting, and sewing projects. You will find that metallic threads add a lot of dimension to a stitched design when mixed with other types of threads.

Overall, by following the guidelines and recommendations provided by Eagle Digitizing, you can successfully stitch with metallic thread and add some extra sparkle to your embroidery projects. If you encounter any problems, please feel free to contact Eagle Digitizing. We provide 24-hour service and specialize in vector art and digitizing services. We are dedicated to helping your business and will do our best to assist you.