I am having a problem with metallic thread. I read somewhere about it breaking, but cannot remember why this was.

I was at a Floriani show and if it is a cone shaped spool, turn it upside down to run. I dont use this thread, it does look nice in the pic supplied below.
Other idea, do you have a stand alone threader? I have a Babylock and was having all kinds of issues with a thread I purchased online. Bought the threader and I use it for any type of thread.

If you put a small line of "Sewers Aid" on your spool of thread, it will lubricate it as well as the tension disk and needle. You will need to add more when you notice it starts to give you problems again. Also, if a metalic needle doesn't do a good job for you, try using a topstitch needle.
I have tried this and have told many friends about it. It works! :)

Metallics were such a problem for the Bernina series 8 machines that bernina devised an attachment for these machines that has a tiny grooved sponge in it and it came with a bottle of special oil. You thread the metallic thread through the groove in the sponge and then through the machine and you keep the sponge lubricated with the oil.....I have not had any breakage with the metallic since using this system.......before this I could not go but 5 or 6 stitches no matter where I put the tension, using a metallic needle, without it breaking, I just gave up and figured after spending all this money on this machine that I would have to live with the fact that I could not use metallic threads. Can you imagine the dissappointment. Bernina gave this attachment free about a year after these machines were being used by the public...so that tells me that sometimes the manufacturer does not take all threads into consideration when designing their machines.

I was at the local machine dealer shop today and spotted this gorgeous embroidery done in metallic thread. I asked what thread they had used and was told BROTHER.
So then I asked if I could take this photo and share the information with my online friends.

So with permission from Sewing Machine Warehouse at Penrith I share this info with you all.

If they can get these results with Brother metallic thread then I will be buying some to try.

Hugs and roses, Meganne

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Okay, I have taken on board everything which has been said. And I shall start making the adjustments one by one.
Firstly. I am dumb, because I never knew the was such a thing as a 'metallic needle' So I will ensure I get one of those straight away.

Secondly, I am using a Brother Innivos 900 and I have learnt it will NOT do a lot of things that other machines do. For instance. It will not sew without thread, so I have to run the first line for applique on paper as a template, if I do it that way. (which I always think blunts the needle, but I may be wrong)
Thirdly. Believe it or not, when my machine is in Embroidery Mode. There is NO way to slow the machine down! (ridiculous)

I will have to look for one of those thread stands and try placing the spool away from the machine, to see if this helps.

I only use metallic lettering for silver, ruby and golden anniversary text, as I think adds a special finish, but if I cannot overcome this, then I will have to do without it.

I have been using Anchor thread on all my designs, with quite good results. I always use Brother thread in the bobbin. I do use Brother for the top, but my colours here are limited. I have never heard of the threads you Cuties use. Remember THIS IS ENGLAND and we still go to the river to wash our clothes on the rocks. :0) We squeeze the water from our garments between 2 wooden rollers and when we hang it on the line to dry, it take a month, coz we never have any sunshine. So unless it is blowing a storm it is likely it will stay there forever :0)

I am off now to read the links some members have kindly added in their response. I am waiting for my 'Great Niece' to be born, (sadly there are complications) so forgive me if there is a delaying in replying or thanking you.

Warm wishes and many thanks

Another thing to consider is whether the thread is too dry or has too many kinks in it(kinky thread,hehe) One thing that made a difference for me was putting the spool in the freezer-it seems to soften the thread by adding humidity, thus, few kinks. Is your head spinning yet?

1 comment

by wishfulthinking 31 Mar 2011

Yessssssssssssss. lol
~x~

Yes, it is the tension, if you haven't loosened it..

and yes, it could very well be the needle, if it isn't a SPECIFIC Metallic thread needle.

and yes, some brands of metallic stitch way better than others, Madeira is one I have found to be better than others.

And yes, if you don't slow down the machine it will break more often

And yes, if you move the spool to a stand away from the machine, it may help prevent the breakage (on some brands)

But yes, some brands perform better on the horizontal spool holder on the machine

And yes thread covers can make a huge difference because it prevents the thread unravelling too quickly off the spool.

So, how do you know what works and what doesn't???

You try EVERYTHING until you find what works for your machine.

OH and using metallic thread on dense designs is a no, no, because most metallic thread is made up of a central, very fine, core of polyester thread with the metallic thread wrapped around the outside, so when the needle and thread has to push through previous stitches, it tends to push the outside metallic coating back, (shredding it) until eventually the inner core breaks too. Of course if you are stitching very fast and not watching every needle penetration (who does) all this happens in a matter of seconds and is extremely frustrating.

If you insist on using metallic thread for text, the ideal would be to stitch the underlay in very fine 90 wt thread first, then only use the metallic for the top layer of stitching, but of course text isn't digitised like this so you need to choose text that is not too dense.

Lastly, if any of the designs you are trying to stitch with metallic thread, were digitised by me, let me know and I will alter them to make them more suitable to metallic thread.

HUgs and roses, Meganne

3 comments

by lbrow 31 Mar 2011

Ahhh my dear Meg I do admire your expertise! I have learned so much from you in the past & thank you for it./Lillian

by airyfairy 31 Mar 2011

Thank you Meganne for this. I do not use metallic very often but with the help of Cuties in the past I have now got the knack. I have found the best way for me is to have the spool far away.

by meganne 31 Mar 2011

My brain is full of so much trivia, it's a wonder it doesn't burst. LOL!!!
And yet I still forget people's names, where I put my keys and heaps of everyday things! Go figure. hahahaha!!!

My MIL said I only remember things that are important to me, I think she could be right.:-)))
Just glad I can help out sometimes.
Hugs n love, Meg

You have gotten a lot of varied answers, all good. I think a lot depends on the brand you use, the density of the design & I always use a metallic needle, I use the packing foam peanut the last thing I run my thread through before it goes through the machine, this works for me. simply thread a reg needle with the metallic & poke it through the peanut begore it goes through the machine, this gets the kinks out. Always use slowest speed, the heat from friction causes the thread to break. BTW my machine will not sew the sulky metallic thread either as someone else has commented/Lillian

This seems to be one of life's little mysteries in the machine embroidery world. Some of the earlier posts on here have mentioned special needles for metallic thread; I have tried them but have still had problems. Also mentioned is putting the thread on a spool further away from the machine; I have tried this, too, and there did seem to be some improvement. Don't try to use it if you are doing a design with lots of layers, it cannot penetrate through several thicknesses. I think it does depend on which make you use, the smoother the thread the better. Go to www.emblibrary.com - there are some useful tips on there for using metallic thread.

Good luck!

Here is a post I wrote that might help.
Alice.

Try putting the matallic thread on a thread stand and place the thread stand away from the machine. I have friends who literally put the threa stand on the floor. I was told it gives the thread time to cool down. It works for them. I haven't tried it.

Things to try: Metallic thread needle larger eye for less abrasion of the finish on the thread, metallic thread in the bobbin, metallic thread is heavier than normal embroidery thread so the writing can't be too small, run the machine on slow speed for the writing. My machine hates most metallic thread but does beautifully with Madeira, hates Sulky no matter what I do. Hope something helps!

I know you replaced the needle but are you using a metallic needle? You probably are but that was the only other thing I could think of. I also use a thread stand like Shirlene and have no problems with metallic. Hope you find a solution as it can be so aggrevating when thread keeps breaking.
Carol

Don't have a problem i just turn the dials to loose and it sews great and never breaks ???carolyn

Chrissie, I don't have trouble with Metallic thread - but I really haven't done any lettering with it - but have used it a bunch on regular designs and FSL designs. I use a thread stand that is to the side and in front of my machine and a net over the outside of the thread spool - this seem to work for me. We have had lots of post on this - mabye you can findt them METALLIC or METALLICTHREAD or TIP - might bring them up. Here are two of them:

1 comment

by wishfulthinking 31 Mar 2011

Thank you so much for this information.
~x~

It is such a shame! And I meant to place this in cuteembroidery

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