Heavy Metallic #SIL - Silver Cone

Yes, we highly encourage you to loosen your top tension more than you think you should. For home machines, we recommend starting with your top tension set to 1.0. For longarm machines, skip several of the thread guides (if your machine has a 3-or-4-hole guide, thread through only one), and keep the top tensioner very loose.

Here's the secret to happy metallic thread use: Topstitch #90/14 needles. Topstitch needles have an elongated eye and a deeper groove that protects the delicate metallic fibers from shredding and breaking. The larger eye lets the thread pass through with minimal friction, and the deeper groove prevents it from snagging on each stitch. You may benefit from slowing your stitches per minute, as metallic thread can shred when stitched at high speeds under stress. A loose top tension, set to 1.0-2.0, will also be incredibly helpful at reducing pressure applied to the thread with each stitch. These simple adjustments make all the difference between frustration and beautiful metallic stitching.

Use Precision 60 wt. polyester in your bobbin with metallic thread. The fine weight creates balanced stitches without competing with your sparkly top thread, and Precision's lint-free construction keeps your machine clean. Keep your bobbin tension at its normal setting; all the tension adjustments for metallics happen on the top. Choose a neutral bobbin color that won't show through to the front of your project. Precision prewound bobbins are especially helpful for metallic projects because their factory-wound consistency means one less variable to troubleshoot if you're having stitch issues.

Metallic thread breaking usually comes from too much tension, wrong needle, or speed issues. First, loosen your top tension dramatically to 1.0 (yes, that low). Metallic thread is less elastic than regular thread and can't handle tight tension. Second, use a Topstitch #90/14 needle with a large eye and deep groove that protects the delicate metallic fibers. Third, slow down your stitching speed. Metallic thread shreds when pushed through fabric too quickly. Finally, use a vertical spool pin so the thread unwinds smoothly. With these adjustments, metallic thread transforms from frustrating to fabulous.