free motion embroidery - the thread

In my last blog I wrote about using an embroidery hoop or quilters gloves to help you move your fabric around under your needle.

This blog is about your thread. As we know there are so many different threads on the market with lots to choose from.

I started out using a cheap black thread - it caused me so many problems with breaking, getting snagged up underneath my work and lots of lint. I was so frustrated and didn’t really know that good quality thread matters. It actually put me off free motion embroidery for a while as I was having to rethread so many times.

Here I have used an Aurifil 28wt thread in grey. It is a thicker thread and I love the texture of it stitched out.

I would say experiment with the thread that you have got. Start off with a good quality black thread, as this will give you great results from the start. You will be able to get that doodle/sketchy feel with your FME.

Start off by using the same thread in your bobbin and you don’t need to worry about tension at this stage.

In the sampler above I have used an Aurifil 40 wt thread in a dark purple, and I love the luxuriousness feel about this sampler.

When you progress a bit further with your FME start to use different colour threads in your bobbin. You can create some great effects by changing the tension and drawing up the bobbin thread to the top of you work. So for example of you are stitching out some leaves, use a dark green thread and have a lighter green thread in the bobbin.

I think that you are now ready to start stitching our your designs. Please do share with me your pictures as I love to see what you are all making.

I hope you are enjoying this short series of FME blogs. If so please do subscribe to my newsletter as I always mention a new blog in there first.

The Free Motion Embroidery Club will be starting soon. If you are interested sign up to the wait list.

Happy stitching,

Tracy

xx