Using Elite to Create Stunning Embroidery Designs
We love to celebrate quilters and embroiderers who bring artistry and creativity to their projects. Janet Olivier is one such creative force. From vibrant lions to elegant succulents, her work reflects not only a love for embroidery but also a deep understanding of how thread, stabilizers, fabric, and software come together to create lasting beauty.
Janet has become a familiar face in the embroidery community, and today we're spotlighting her techniques, favorite designs, and the tools she uses, including her go-to embroidery threads from YLI Threads.
Before starting any embroidery project, Janet emphasizes the importance of preparation. She recommends regularly cleaning the thread path, bobbin area, and brushing the needle plate and feed dogs to prevent lint buildup. After a long session, it's helpful to start with a new high-quality needle. Depending on the type of thread, a Topstitch #90/14 needle will help keep the thread from fraying or snapping, thanks to its extra-large eye and deep groove. Some embroiderers prefer a slightly smaller needle, such as a #80/12 or #75/11 needle. Proper hooping and stabilizer choice also play a significant role in achieving balanced, consistent results. These small habits, Janet says, help avoid common issues like thread breaks, skipped stitches, or misaligned designs before they even start.
Getting Started with Embroidery
"I've always been drawn to beautiful embroidery, especially on clothing and wall art," Janet shared. "I started sewing my own clothes when I was young, and over time, I wanted to explore more creative techniques." Her embroidery journey began over a decade ago with a 4" x 4" combo machine and a starter pack of threads. After watching dozens of YouTube videos, she found a rhythm, supplementing online advice with hands-on classes.
“YouTube is great, but in a class, you can ask questions and really understand why something works. That’s when it starts to click.” She now stitches on a Baby Lock Vesta machine and uses Palette 11 software to customize designs, adjust density, and create her own lettering and motifs.
A panel of embroidered succulents featuring Elite trilobal polyester thread.
Favorite Projects and Embroidery Designs
Janet is a devoted fan of SweetPea embroidery designs and often uses their tutorials to create multi-block wall hangings, bags, wallets, and more. “I love being able to choose my own fabrics and thread colors, then personalize each design,” she said. Here are just a few of the standout pieces she’s completed:
- Welcome Banner, Teacups, and Succulent Cactus: Embroidered appliqué blocks stitched individually, then pieced together with sashing and borders.
- Vibrant Lion and Elephant: The lion alone required 68,118 stitches, 129 minutes of stitch time, and 39 colors. The elephant had 58,899 stitches, 104 minutes of stitch time, and 34 colors.
- Pretty Poppy Free-Standing Lace: Made with matching bobbin thread on sticky back stabilizer that dissolves, leaving only the elegant stitched flower.
- Moonlit Desert Scene: Finished with a decorative wave-stitch decorative hem using her serger and YLI's decorative threads.
Janet gravitates toward bold thread colors because they bring energy and personality to her designs. She sees embroidery as a way to tell a visual story, and vibrant colors help those stories stand out. Whether she's stitching a watercolor lion or layering floral appliqué, bold threads let her highlight detail, create contrast, and add dimension that catches the eye from across the room. “Color is what gives the design its voice,” she might say. “It’s how I make each piece uniquely mine.”
A colorful lion embroidered with 39 different colors.
A beautiful flower is embroidered onto a water-soluble stabilizer, then dissolved.
Tools of the Trade
Janet stitches with purpose. She chooses stabilizers based on each project’s needs, such as cut-away, tear-away, sticky back wash-away, mesh, and soluble types, all of which serve a purpose. For batting, she often uses inexpensive felt in wall art, and Soft & Stable for bags and backpacks. Her favorite hoops are magnetic, and she prefers pre-wound bobbins for convenience. Our Precision 60 wt. prewounds are lovely for embroidery projects thanks to their lint-free and fine nature.
Janet also shared one of the most important lessons learned through trial and error: “I’ve learned from buying cheap fabric that it makes a big difference with embroidering.” She now prioritizes high-quality materials and appreciates shops like Fab Fabrics for their extensive fabric selection and knowledgeable staff.
Why Janet Trusts YLI's Threads for Embroidery
“I’ve attended many of Bob Purcell’s Thread Mastery talks and learned something new each time. He really gets into it!” She also improved her needle game after attending the sessions. “The YLI titanium-coated top-stitch needles are amazing. They last much longer than my regular needles.”
When it comes to thread, Janet is just as particular. “I've really come to enjoy YLI's Elite and Variations threads for embroidery. I’ve never had problems with these like I have with some of the other trilobal or high sheen threads I've used.” She appreciates more than just the color and performance: “The spool caps on Elite help keep thread ends in place for storage, and the color booklet makes planning projects easy. I organize my spools by number to quickly find what I need. Storing threads away from dust and sunlight helps keep them in perfect condition.”
Cones of Elite: high-sheen, high-strength trilobal polyester thread on the moonlit cactus design.
The "E" panel from Janet's "Welcome" wall hanging panel.
Why Trilobal Polyester Threads are Excellent for Embroidery
Trilobal polyester is specially designed for brilliance and durability. Each filament has three sides instead of the usual round shape. This unique design reflects light beautifully, giving Elite thread its distinctive high-sheen look. These three-sided filaments are then twisted together into a smooth, round thread, ready for embroidery, quilting, and decorative stitching. Unlike cotton or spun polyester, trilobal threads are filament-based, meaning they are continuous, smooth, and incredibly strong, even at high stitching speeds.
Because Elite is made from high-sheen, high-strength trilobal polyester fibers, it resists fraying and shredding during dense or detailed embroidery. This makes it perfect for machine embroidery, monogramming, quilting motifs, or any project where rich color and precision are key. Additionally, its colorfast quality ensures your work remains vibrant over time.
If you're looking for a high-sheen, color-rich thread that performs reliably through intricate stitch patterns, Elite is a perfect fit. For multi-color and variegated effects, Janet also recommends the vibrant tones in our Variations collection, which offer stunning transitions and movement thanks to its 3-inch color change intervals.
Final Thoughts
Embroidery is more than just a single element; it’s the harmony of fabric, design, hooping, and the right materials all working together. Janet's process reflects the belief that quality tools lead to quality results, and that attention to detail at every stage makes a visible difference in the final stitch.
These stunning examples of embroidery showcase artistry and creativity: thoughtful, precise, and expressive. With the reliable performance of Elite and the vibrant artistry of Variations, ideas come to life with vibrancy and detail. If you’re looking for threads that provide lasting beauty, smooth stitching, and bold color, these collections are an excellent starting point.
A colorful pumpkin patch shows how layering different colors adds depth and dimension.
Janet's Tips for Beginning Embroidery
- Take a class or join a workshop whenever possible. “YouTube is great, but in a class, you can ask questions and really understand why something works.”
- Invest in the right tools and thread from the beginning. Quality materials make stitching easier and more enjoyable.
- Use a titanium-coated topstitch needle. These reduce breakage and last much longer. I particularly like the Topstitch #80/12 needle.
- Stay organized. Janet arranges her spools by color number and keeps a color reference chart nearby.
- Give yourself time. “It takes many hours, but watching the embroidery come to life is always worth it.”
Helpful Advice For Troubleshooting
Occasional fraying or thread breakage can occur with any embroidery thread, particularly during high-speed stitching or when working with dense designs. We suggest starting with the basics: if your thread frays at the needle, it may indicate that the needle tip is dull or has developed a microscopic burr. Using a fresh needle, such as our Topstitch #80/12 titanium-coated needles, can help fix the problem if it's caused solely by the needle.
If the thread frays before reaching the needle, it often signals excessive top tension or an issue somewhere along the thread path. Try loosening the top tension and ensuring the thread is correctly seated in all guides and tension points. If you’re experiencing the issue with a particular fiber type of thread collection, switch to a second cone or spool from the same thread line if available. If the new spool works well, the first may be damaged; this is rare, but it can happen. If it's one of our threads, please let us know, and we'll replace it so you can keep stitching.
One friend mentioned that after experiencing repeated fraying, simply rethreading her machine completely fixed the problem. It’s a good reminder that even minor adjustments, like rethreading the top thread or changing a needle, can quickly restore smooth, reliable stitching.
About YLI's 40 wt. Elite Trilobal Polyester Thread
Elite is designed for quilters and embroiderers who want their stitches to shine with color, clarity, and confidence. This 40 wt. trilobal polyester thread offers a luminous, high-sheen finish combined with exceptional strength, providing smooth, consistent results even in dense or high-speed stitching. With 200 vibrant colors available on 5,470-yard cones and 1,094-yard mini cones, Elite adds bold expression to every design. It’s the thread that doesn’t just complete your project; it inspires your next one.
Discover the bold colors of Elite
