Embroidery Thread vs Sewing Thread: Can You Swap Them?

On this page (12 sections)

1. What is the main difference between embroidery thread and sewing thread?
2. Can you use sewing thread in an embroidery machine?
3. Can you use embroidery thread for regular sewing?
4. What does embroidery thread do better?
5. How do the spool lengths compare?
6. Do dense designs put more strain on thread?
7. How do you read the labels on embroidery thread?
8. How do you keep embroidery thread and sewing thread apart?
9. Which thread should you buy for each job?
10. How do you test a thread swap?
11. Does the needle change the choice?
12. Embroidery thread vs sewing thread: which to choose

Embroidery thread vs sewing thread comes down to the job, since the two look alike on a spool. You can try sewing thread on a test patch, but embroidery thread is the better match for machine designs.

If you're wondering whether a sewing machine can do the job too, can you embroider with a regular sewing machine answers that first. If you're still picking a machine, embroidery machines for beginners covers the basics.

What is the main difference between embroidery thread and sewing thread?

Embroidery thread is sold for machine designs, and sewing thread is sold for seams, hems and general sewing. Both can be polyester, so the difference is the weight, the length on each spool and the job the thread was made for.

How do embroidery thread and sewing thread spools differ?

The embroidery kits come as full color sets on 500 meter spools, and the Simthread spools carry Brother color numbers. The Gutermann set is 20 reels of 100 meters in popular basic colors, meant for everyday sewing.

Does thread weight matter?

Yes, weight describes how thick the thread is, and a higher number means a finer thread. The embroidery kits here are 40 weight, and Simthread calls that the standard weight for polyester embroidery thread.

The Gutermann set doesn't state a weight, so check the spool label before you swap it in. A heavier thread also shows more on the fabric, so the weight changes the look as well as the strength.

Can you use sewing thread in an embroidery machine?

You can try it on a test patch, but sewing thread may behave differently under the fast, dense stitching of a design. Check the test stitch on both sides before you commit to a full design.

Gutermann says its Sew-All thread is no-twist and lint free, with a silk-like gloss. Your machine's manual lists the thread types it accepts, and Brother USA hosts manuals and support pages for Brother machines.

Can you use embroidery thread for regular sewing?

You can on a test seam or for decorative topstitching, but embroidery thread is sold for designs. Use sewing thread for seams that take strain, such as hems on clothes you wear and wash often.

The 40 color and 63 color kits come with long 500 meter spools, which suit a design more than a quick repair.

What does embroidery thread do better?

Embroidery thread is made for the dense, fast stitching of a machine design, and the brands say it holds up for that job. Simthread says its trilobal polyester brings higher tenacity, higher sheen and more vivid colors.

New brothread says polyester's elasticity and tenacity reduce the risk of looping and puckering on machine designs. Both brands also say their colors hold up to washing and bleaching, which matters for shirts and linens.

Does the fiber matter, polyester or rayon?

Polyester and rayon are both common in embroidery, and the kits in this guide are polyester. Both brands describe their polyester as strong and colorfast.

SCHMETZ says its embroidery needles are made for rayon, polyester and other specialty threads, so the needle you pick doesn't lock you into one fiber.

How do the spool lengths compare?

A 500 meter spool holds five times the thread of a 100 meter reel. Forty spools of 500 meters add up to 20,000 meters, while the 20 Gutermann reels add up to 2,000 meters.

Longer spools mean fewer thread changes on a long design, which is a practical difference between the two. A design with many colors also needs enough spools on hand, so the number of colors in a kit matters as much as the length of each spool.

Do dense designs put more strain on thread?

Yes, dense designs stitch the same area many times, which puts more strain on each thread. A seam is stitched once, while a dense fill passes over the same spot again and again.

Run a dense test shape before you commit to a full design. If thread snaps on a dense design, why embroidery thread keeps breaking walks through the causes.

How do you read the labels on embroidery thread?

Read the weight, the length and the color system before you compare two threads, since those details tell you the most about a spool. New brothread's 40 color kit and the Simthread kit both come with a color chart that lists Brother color numbers, and both mention a Madeira conversion chart.

The 80 color New brothread kit follows Janome and RA shades instead of Brother. Keep the chart with the kit, so you can check a number before you start a new project.

To match a design file to your spools:

1. Read the color number or name in the design file.
2. Find that number on the kit's color chart.
3. Pull the matching spool, and set aside the closest shade if none matches.

Why do thread labels matter more than color?

Two spools in the same shade can differ in weight and length, so read the label before you compare colors. A matching color on a different weight can still behave differently on a machine.

The embroidery kits state their weight and length, while the Gutermann reels state a length but no weight.

How do you keep embroidery thread and sewing thread apart?

Store the two types in separate boxes or racks and label each by type, so a wrong spool never reaches the machine. The colors can look alike from a distance, which makes a mix-up easy.

Thread organizers and storage compares racks and boxes if you need room for both.

Which thread should you buy for each job?

Buy embroidery thread for machine designs and sewing thread for seams, hems and repairs. The thread you choose depends on what you're stitching, not on which spool looks nicer.

The New brothread 40 color kit is the plain option, with 40 weight polyester on 500 meter spools for machine designs.

If you're building a stash, the 80 color New brothread kit comes with its own four layer box, so the thread and storage arrive together.

How do you test a thread swap?

Test on scrap fabric with the same stabilizer, hoop and needle you plan to use for the project. A swap that works on a small sample can still behave differently on a dense design, so test the real stitch count if you can.

1. Hoop the scrap fabric with the stabilizer you plan to use.
2. Stitch a small shape with a fill and a line, since the two stress thread in different ways.
3. Check the top, the back and the edges for loops, breaks or fraying.
4. Note the thread, needle, stabilizer and result for the next project.

If the new thread breaks or sheds, switch back to embroidery thread for that design. If the test shows loops or puckers, how to fix embroidery machine tension problems has the checks.

Does the needle change the choice?

Yes, the needle has to suit the thread and the design, so don't change the thread without checking the needle. Gutermann recommends a universal needle in size 70 to 90 for its Sew-All thread, while SCHMETZ's embroidery needles have a medium ball point.

Unplug the machine before you change a needle, and keep your fingers clear of the needle area.

Embroidery machine needles explains the sizes and when to swap them. Check your machine's manual for the needle sizes it accepts before you buy a new pack.

Embroidery thread vs sewing thread: which to choose

Pick the right thread for the job, and test before you switch.

• Pick embroidery thread for any machine design, especially one with dense stitching.
• Pick sewing thread for seams, hems and repairs, where a set like the Gutermann fits.
• Pick either one for a design only after a test patch shows clean stitches on the back.

If the thread still breaks after the switch, read why embroidery thread keeps breaking next.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use sewing thread for machine embroidery?

You can try it on a test patch, but sewing thread may behave differently under the fast, dense stitching of a design. Use the same needle, stabilizer and hoop you plan for the project, and check the back of the test stitch before you commit.

Is embroidery thread stronger than sewing thread?

Not always, and the brands make different claims. Simthread says its trilobal polyester has higher tenacity, and New brothread says polyester's elasticity and tenacity lower the risk of breaking, so compare any two threads on a test patch with your own machine and needle.

Which needle should I use with sewing thread?

Gutermann recommends a universal needle in size 70 to 90 for its Sew-All thread. SCHMETZ's embroidery needles have a medium ball point and come in sizes such as 75/11, so match the needle to the thread and check which sizes your manual allows.

What does 40 weight mean on embroidery thread?

Weight tells you how thick the thread is, and a higher number means a finer thread. The embroidery kits in this guide are 40 weight polyester on 500 meter spools, which Simthread calls the standard weight for polyester embroidery thread.