Rayon Vs. Polyester for Embroidery Thread
Rayon and polyester threads are the most popular filaments for commercial and home machine embroidery. Strong, able to withstand the stresses of high-output machines and more affordable than silk, both fibers are readily available to industrial and home users. Their strong points far outweigh their minimal drawbacks.
-
Rayon Thread Pros
-
In industrial embroidery, rayon is favored for its ability to withstand the demands of high-speed machines with minimal breakage or fraying. In addition to its manufacturing durability, rayon is well-known for its high sheen, comparable to more expensive silk threads. Embroidery stitches made with rayon tend to be smooth and even as well. Its wide availability in the commonly used 40-weight makes it attractive to industrial and home users. Rayon accepts a wide range of dyes, thus it is made in a large number of colors and shades.
Rayon Thread Cons
-
There are very few drawbacks associated with rayon. Most rayon threads are not colorfast but a few, non-fading,non-bleeding brands are on the market. Its lack of colorfastness makes rayon a poor choice for embroidering items that will be laundered often or bleached. Additionally, the colors and the fiber itself tend to break down over time. Appropriate storage of the thread and items embroidered with it are required to retain rayon's high-quality appearance.
-
Polyester Thread Pros
-
An inexpensive thread to produce, polyester is strong and withstands frequent laundering and light bleaching with little loss of color. It is somewhat elastic and won't shrink or fade. Like rayon thread, polyester is available in an extensive range or colors and weights. It is most often found in the 40-weight used for embroidery but 30- and 50-weight threads are also available.
Polyester Thread Cons
-
There are few cons associated with polyester embroidery thread. It lacks some of rayon's sheen but still exceeds that of cotton. The color range is wide but due to chemical differences between the fibers and the way they accept dye, polyester lags behind rayon in color availability.
-
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
