Machine Embroidery Bobbin Thread
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Welcome back to Day 14 of All About Machine Embroidery.
Yesterday, I talked about the two main threads for machine embroidery, Rayon and Polyester.
Today, I want to talk about bobbin thread. You would, naturally, think that your bobbin thread should match your top thread.
But, that isn’t always the case. Consider you are stitching out a design that uses 6 different thread colors. Are you going to make 6 different bobbins?
Me either. The first question to ask about bobbin thread for embroidery machines is this:
What type of bobbin thread does this machine use?
My first embroidery machine (Babylock Ellure) used Finishing Touch thread. This is all I ever used in the bobbin when I was embroidering.
Notice how it comes in basic white and black. This is a 60 weight thread which means it is very light weight. Because it is polyester, it is very strong. If you were to wind a full bobbin of this thread, it would go a long way.
Notice how it comes in basic white and black. This is a 60 weight thread which means it is very light weight. Because it is polyester, it is very strong. If you were to wind a full bobbin of this thread, it would go a long way.
This is a 40 weight thread meaning it is slightly heavier than the Finishing Touch. This thread is great for denser designs and I’ve never had it break.
Superior Threads also has a great bobbin thread that works well with my Bernina and other manufacturers. It is called Bottom Line. This is a lint-free thread that is very lightweight and very strong. It is currently what I use with most of my machine embroidery.
Babylock/Brother, Janome, Husqvarna, Singer, and Pfaff can all use pre-wound bobbins. Oh happy day!
Pre-wound bobbins are single use only. When the bobbin runs out, you toss the plastic (or paper) spool. When purchasing pre-wound bobbins, you MUST verify what type your machine takes.
Sadly, not all Bernina’s (like mine) can use pre-wounds. You may want to weigh this as an option when purchasing an embroidery machine. Almost all of these bobbin threads can be purchased through a dealer. I recommend this because cheaper threads can ruin your design and create damaging lint. Watch for sales and stock up.
Tomorrow we leave the topic of threads and delve into the mysteries of needles.
