Embroidery threads: types, colors, manufacturers

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:35

Embroidery is a fascinating process. It includes the possibility of using various techniques and their combinations in one product to obtain the desired result. As a rule, in the first stages of development in this applied art, few people think about anything other than drawing and stitching techniques. Therefore, a beginner may be confused when he comes to the store for embroidery threads. After all, today many outlets have a large assortment of all kinds of threads for creativity. They differ from each other in many parameters that directly affect the final result of the work.

Views

To make it easier to navigate among a variety of materials, you need to understand what kind of threads are used in this type of applied art. All embroidery threads can be classified according to several criteria: purpose, manufacturer, price, color and composition. Depending on what the final result should be, there are severalparameters, after which they select the threads that match most of the criteria.

By composition

Let's take a closer look:

• Cotton. Classic and familiar threads, as a rule, having a slight twist. They fit well into the stitches, become fluffy when rubbed in the eye of the needle, break quite easily.
• Woolen. A little fluffy, thicker than cotton. As a rule, the thread consists of two rather tightly interwoven parts. Looks good in animal embroidery, giving the characters a more natural look.
• Acrylic. Most often they look like wool, but unlike the previous ones, they have a looser structure and creak when wet. This is a budget option.
• Linen. This type of embroidery thread goes well with natural linen, and is actively used when sewing Russian folk costumes or products in a rustic style.
• Satin. The composition of these threads is 100% viscose. Such threads have a silky structure, and embroidery acquires a noble sheen and resemblance to silk.
• Silk. These threads are used for embroidery of national oriental costumes. They are very thin, but durable, with a stable color. Recently, they are not as popular as satin, since the cost of silk thread is many times higher.
• Polyester. Embroidery threads have a fairly dense twist and a smooth structure, which facilitates the embroidery process, but when making elements with a satin stitch, the slightest flaws are visible, which, when using cotton orwoolen threads would not be visible.
• Kreinik. The combination of nylon fibers with a metal component. Rarely seen on sale.

By manufacturer

The most popular types of embroidery thread can be divided into two categories.

Domestic:

• The most popular are "Gamma", which are produced in Solnechnogorsk, Moscow Region. The skein contains 8 meters of thread, which can be divided into 6 separate threads. Enough budget material with an extensive color palette. It is difficult to separate the threads from the skein. When working, the thread is very fuzzy and often breaks. The colors are stable, but skeins of the same number may differ in color in different batches.
• JSC "Spinning and Thread Mill named after S. M. Kirov". This manufacturer has an extensive history and has been operating since 1833. It is located in St. Petersburg. In one skein - 10 meters. The thread is strong, smooth, almost fluffy. It does not tangle when working, but is slightly thinner than other manufacturers. The colors are persistent, the palette is extensive, but there is not only a discrepancy in tone in different batches, but also a discrepancy between the real color and its number on the package. Manufactured according to GOST.
• Squirrel. In fact, this is not entirely domestic material, as it is made to order in China. It is an analogue of DMS.
• Euron embroidery threads of the company "Evronit". Produced in Moscow since 1995. In a skein of 6 threads of 8 meters, bright enough, do not fade. ATSets show "Mix" instead of color numbers.

Imported:

• VHI (France). 6 strands of 8 meters. Even, smooth, with a wide color palette, do not fluff, do not twist, easily separated. The cost is about 2.5-3 times higher than that of domestic, less common in stores, you can encounter a fake.
• "Ankhor" (England). High-quality threads with stable paint, in a skein of 8 meters. Very rare, no matching colors in the map.
• "Madeira" (Germany). Somewhat matte, not very bright colors in a convenient package, where the threads are arranged in a spiral package. Suitable for comfortable work, however, the color numbers do not match the numbers of other manufacturers, which is why only an approximate selection of products from this company is possible.
• "Ideal" (Taiwan). Budget variation of imported threads, similar in quality to PNK, but with a smaller color palette, twisted in work, knots are often found.

As intended

These are:

• For hand embroidery. It is produced in skeins or other forms, has a weak winding, usually consists of 6 threads combined into one.
• Threads for embroidery machines. It is a bobbin with a uniform solid thread.

By coloring

Here are the threads:

• Plain dyed. The classic version of the threads has a fairly small step in the color spectrum.
• Multicolor. On thethroughout the thread - a smooth transition of color, it can be both close colors, for example, yellow and green, or a combination of several more distant ones (red and blue through purple)
• Melange. Different color intensity throughout one strand.
• Metalised. They have a metallic sheen and are actively used in both national and modern embroidery.

Also there are phosphorus, neon threads, with the effect of pearl shine, antiquity and others.

Colors

Embroidery threads of each company are provided in a large assortment of both materials and colors, as a rule, it is from 300 to 600 shades. Although this makes it easy to match the desired color, problems often arise, especially for beginners who select threads according to the numbers indicated on the diagram. Therefore, there is a very handy online calculator that allows you to easily compare numbers of the same color from different manufacturers.

The use of embroidery threads, different in composition, color and shade, allows you to create realistic panels and paintings, embroidered by hand or on a typewriter. And the presence of a large number of manufacturers and types of material implies the most comfortable selection both for tactile sensations, the necessary characteristics and effects, and for the price category, which makes the hobby even more attractive for needlewomen.