Composed of a wool and acrylic blend, thick threads are fun and interesting to work with. They are strong, because of the acrylic component, and soft and lush because of the wool component. It's always interesting to explore a new product to see how it can be applied to embroidery art.
The "thick thread" designs at the Embroidery Library are digitized for 12 weight thread. Read on for ideas and tips with that will help when you are working with "thick thread" designs.
About the Thread:
Let's start with the thread. There are a couple of different brands on the market. This guide uses Madeira's Burmilana line.
Madeira's Burmilana thread is 30% wool and 70% acrylic. The thread is sold in 1090 yard cones, 437 yard spools, and 220 yard spools. The 220 yard spools are called "Lana" thread.
Needle Choice:
When embroidering with thick thread, you'll need to use a needle with a large eye. The thick thread needs more room to move through the needle, which lessens the friction (and also makes it easier to thread the needle!).
We recommend using a size 110/18 needle, titanium or universal. Madeira makes special needles for embroidering with thick thread, known as the Lana needle.
You might notice "fuzz" building up on your machine or under the throat plate as you work with this thicker thread. This is normal -- it's a result of the thread passing through the eye of a needle. You can use a small vacuum cleaner designed for cleaning keyboards to remove the fuzz.
Threading the needle with thick thread. If you're using a 110/18 needle, then you will likely have little trouble threading the needle with the thick thread. But, if you do, here's a little "shortcut" using a 40 weight thread "lead:
Tie the 40 weight thread to the thick thread that you want to use. Then, thread the needle with the 40 weight thread.
Pull the 40 weight thread so that thick thread comes through the needle.
Whenever you need to change thread, just tie the new 12 weight onto the "old" color, and pull it through.
Adjust the thread tension to account for the thick thread. The "normal" tension on embroidery machines is set for 40 weight thread. Because the 12 weight is much thicker, you may find that you need to loosen the upper thread tension. You can also open the upper thread tension plates as much as possible; you may find that you get good results with a lesser degree of change.
After you have the right needle and good tension, embroidering with thick thread is just like embroidering with any other kind of thread. The same rules about hooping and stabilizer apply (i.e. hoop the fabric with the stabilizer, choose the stabilizer according to the fabric weight, regular bobbin thread).
Remember that a design needs to be specially digitized for thicker thread. If you use thick thread with a "regular" embroidery design, you won't get very far. You'll find that the thread will ball up underneath and jam the hoop. Designs at the Embroidery Library that are digitized for "thick thread" are clearly marked with the words "thick thread" in the name.
Conversely, designs that are digitized for thick thread shouldn't be used with 40 weight thread. The coverage won't be sufficient.
Above all, enjoy working with thick thread. It really adds a beautiful component to embroidery projects.
