60 Weight Thread Offers Digitizers Unique Opportunity
From corporate logos to school spirit, one individual piece to hundreds,the expectations placed on the embroiderer today varied and challenging. Now embroiderers can expect the world from their embroidery thread and create it down to the finest detail through the use of 60 weight thread that can produce intricate details, artistic shading and letters down to 4mm high.
Madeira Classic #60 is approximately 60% finer than Classic Rayon #40. It comes on 1500 meter spools and boasts the same color fastness (to 95 degree washing temperature) as Classic Rayon #40. Like its Rayon cousin, Polyneon #60 comes in 1500 meter spools. The 100% polyester version of 60 weight thread is also colorfast to 95 degree wash water temperature, but can also hold up to bleaching.
Madeira Classic Rayon #60 is available in 60 colors; Madeira Polyneon #60 comes in 45. Both 60 weight threads offer embroiderers and digitizers the ability to see and produce – designs with greater intricacy and more personality than ever before.
Melinda Dement is a digitizing educator in North Carolina who looks to 60 weight thread to enhance her designs. "You can liven up your embroidery by adding dimension -- highlights & shadows -- with the 60 weight thread," she points out. For digitizers who are after a realistic representation in their work, shading that was impossible before is now readily available.
"From an artist’s standpoint," continues Melinda, "using a broad range of thread weights and textures (thread content) can set you apart from the ‘run-of-the-mill digitizer.’ If you want clarity and detail in your designs, 60 weight thread and small needles should be added to your toolbox."
For Pat Williams, whose digitizing practice is in Arizona, 60 weight allows her the ability to create detail that would not be possible with #40. “I do a lot of police badges and emblems,” begins Pat, “and combine the use of 40 and 60 weight. The lettering, without question could only be achieved with Madeira’s Classic Rayon #60. I’m finding I can provide my clients with greater detail in their logos than I ever could before.”
"I often combine thread weights in a design to achieve the desired effect,” points out Pat Williams. “The fill areas of my badge designs are regular 40 weight thread. The fine detail in the center is possible only with 60 weight thread."
A digitizer in Washington, Rich Medcraft is an admitted car guy. According to Rich, “I love 60 weight thread and use it for the fine detail. I often have customers amazed at how I can create such fine detail in the spokes of the wheels!” He is experimenting more and more with #60, and encourages his corporate clients to specify it in order to enhance their attention-to-detail image.
Rich adds, “I am seeing more designs with tiny lettering or intricate detail than ever before. As I explain to my customers, it’s like comparing the use of a fat, felt tip marker to a sharpie. The finer the thread, the sharper the detail.”
“The 60 weight thread was the solution to one of my collector car design challenges,” points out Rich Medcraft. “The grille slats and wheel spokes are very difficult to create in a realistic way. I would have had to simplify the design for 40 weight, leaving out most of the detail. The 60 weight allowed me to create detail that really enhanced my final design.”
Q&A
I’m having trouble getting this fine thread through the small eye of a #65/9 needle. Why do I need to use this size needle?
Try laying a piece of white backing on the sewing arm or over the design you have in the hoop. It makes it easier to see the eye of the needle! Also, if you are operating more than a single head machine, try setting up one needle on each head with the 60 weight. It will save you time in changing needles back and forth. The finer needle makes a smaller penetration in the garment and allows this fine thread to fill that hole. The finer thread and penetration point are what provide the greater detail in your design.
How can I get the best coverage with the 60 weight?
Increase your density by about 25%. The 60 weight is a finer thread, so it needs more density.
Any special tips for working with 60 weight?
You may find it useful to reduce machine speed down slighty when you are doing lots of small lettering or intricate details.