Polyester Embroidery Thread
The most common type of embroidery top thread, valued for its strength, colorfastness, and resistance to bleach and abrasion.
Polyester embroidery thread is the workhorse of commercial embroidery. It accounts for the majority of professional production because it withstands industrial laundering, holds color under bleach and UV exposure, and resists shrinking and stretching. For workwear, uniforms, healthcare apparel, and athletic gear, polyester is the default.
The standard weight is 40, with 30 used for bolder coverage on caps and 60 for fine detail. Major brands (Madeira Polyneon, Isacord, Marathon, Robison-Anton Super Brite) each offer a thread library of 400 to 600 stock colors, identified by code, that digitizers reference when assigning design colors.
Polyester thread has a slightly matte sheen compared to rayon. Premium polyesters like Madeira Polyneon Sheen and Isacord Trilobal use a trilobal cross-section filament that catches light more like rayon while keeping the durability of polyester. For most customers, the visual difference is negligible.
Polyester is also significantly more abrasion-resistant than rayon, which is important on garments that rub at collars, cuffs, and chest areas. It is also the standard choice for any item that will be bleached, since rayon discolors under chlorine. The trade-off is a slightly less luxurious hand, but for commercial use this is rarely a concern.
Related Terms
- Top Thread →
- The decorative embroidery thread loaded on the top of the machine, which is the thread the customer sees in the finished design.
- Rayon Thread →
- A glossy, high-sheen embroidery top thread valued for its luxurious finish, used on premium goods that do not require harsh laundering.
- Bobbin Thread →
- The thinner thread loaded in a small spool beneath the needle plate, which locks the top thread on the back of the fabric.
- Color Change →
- A command in the stitch file that pauses the machine to switch from one thread color to the next, or signals an automatic needle change on multi-needle machines.
- Satin Stitch →
- A dense, glossy stitch made of long parallel threads, used for borders, columns, and lettering up to about three-quarters of an inch wide.