Polyneon polyester
The workhorse. Bright, high-shine polyester that holds its color through chlorine bleach, industrial laundering and sun.
- Fiber
- 100% polyester
- Put-up
- 5,500 yd cones
- Best for
- Uniforms, polos, caps, sportswear
Buckets of Ink · Madeira Authorized Distributor · Tempe, Arizona
Embroidery Thread EmbroideryMadeira machine embroidery thread: 1,269 colors on the shelf
Every embroidered logo, monogram and patch is only as good as the thread in the needle. This embroidery thread embroidery guide covers everything that goes through a machine needle, and it is also the shop for it: ten Madeira thread lines from #12 to #150 weight, a thread finder that matches the right line to your job, and the reference charts our counter uses every day.
1,269Madeira thread colors in stock
10Madeira thread lines
#12–#150Thread weights stocked
Same DayPickup in Tempe · Phoenix metro delivery
What is embroidery thread?
Embroidery thread is a smooth, lustrous thread engineered to form decorative stitches on the surface of fabric. Machine embroidery thread is a single twisted strand wound on cones or spools, most often 40-weight polyester or rayon, built to run at high speed through a 75/11 needle. Hand embroidery uses stranded cotton floss instead, which is separated into strands and stitched by hand.
Interactive
Embroidery thread finder: match the thread to the job
Pick what you are embroidering. The finder recommends the Madeira line, weight, needle and backing our counter would hand you, and jumps straight to those colors in the catalog below.
Shop Madeira embroidery thread
Embroidery thread catalog: 10 lines, 1,269 colors
Search by color name or Madeira color number. Search runs inside the selected line and tells you if the color also exists in another line. Account pricing appears in your cart after login.
Types of embroidery thread
Every Madeira embroidery thread line, explained
Madeira has made embroidery thread in Germany since 1919. Each line below is a different fiber or construction, which is what changes how the thread looks, how it washes and how it runs. Counts are colors and put-ups we currently stock.
Classic Rayon
The deepest sheen and softest hand of any embroidery thread. The traditional "embroidery look" for fashion and monograms.
- Fiber
- Viscose rayon
- Put-up
- Cones and spools
- Best for
- Fashion, monograms, décor
Frosted Matt
Polyester with a flat, no-shine finish that reads like a printed graphic. Pairs well with glossy Polyneon for contrast.
- Fiber
- Polyester, matte
- Put-up
- Cones and spools
- Best for
- Vintage, athletic, tone-on-tone
Supertwist
A twisted metallic-effect thread that sparkles without the breakage of flat metallic. Heavier #30 weight for bold coverage.
- Fiber
- Twisted metallic effect
- Needle
- 80/12 or metallic
- Best for
- Sparkle lettering, spirit wear
FS Metallic
Smooth metallic thread for a true foil look on outlines, crests and logos. Run slower and use a metallic needle.
- Fiber
- Metallized
- Needle
- Metallic 80/12
- Best for
- Crests, outlines, awards
Polyester CR Metallic
Madeira's newer metallic construction on a polyester core, developed to run with fewer breaks than traditional metallic.
- Fiber
- Polyester-core metallic
- Needle
- Metallic 80/12
- Best for
- Metallic logos in production
Fire Fighter
Flame-resistant embroidery thread for FR garments, so the logo does not become the weak point of the garment.
- Fiber
- Flame-resistant
- Backing
- FR cutaway
- Best for
- FR coveralls, utility workwear
Monolon monofilament
Invisible nylon thread for applique tack-downs, quilting and bobbin work where the stitch should disappear.
- Fiber
- Nylon monofilament
- Colors
- Clear, smoke
- Best for
- Applique, invisible stitching
Burmilana & Sensa Green
Burmilana #12 is a thick wool-acrylic blend for a hand-stitched, textured look. Sensa Green is Madeira's lyocell thread for sustainable programs.
- Burmilana
- 100/16 needle or larger
- Sensa
- Lyocell fiber
- Best for
- Texture, eco collections
Polyneon #40Classic Rayon #40 · #60Frosted Matt #40Supertwist #30FS Metallic #20 · #30 · #40CR Metallic #40Fire Fighter #40Monolon #40 · #150Burmilana #12Sensa Green
Polyneon #40Classic Rayon #40 · #60Frosted Matt #40Supertwist #30FS Metallic #20 · #30 · #40CR Metallic #40Fire Fighter #40Monolon #40 · #150Burmilana #12Sensa Green
Which embroidery thread is best?
Polyester vs. rayon vs. metallic embroidery thread
For most machine embroidery, the best embroidery thread is a 40-weight polyester. It is strong, colorfast and bleach-resistant, which matters because most embroidered garments are uniforms, polos, caps and team wear that get washed hard. Rayon has a softer, silkier sheen and is the traditional choice for fashion, monograms and home décor, but it should not see chlorine bleach. Metallics add shine for accents and need slower speeds and a metallic needle.
A useful rule at the counter: if the garment will be laundered commercially or worn outdoors, use Polyneon. If the customer is paying for the look and will care for the piece, rayon earns its place. Frosted Matt covers the in-between, when the design should look printed rather than stitched.
- Madeira Polyneon No. 40 is two plies of 135 dtex polyester, printed on every box label (visible on the boxes in the photo at the top of this page).
- Each line has its own color numbers: Emerald Black is 1000 in Classic Rayon, 7800 in Frosted Matt and N1800 in Fire Fighter.
- Keep the lot number when reordering large jobs; dye lots can shift slightly.
| Thread | Fiber | Finish | Bleach safe | Needle | Machine speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyneon #40 | Polyester | High shine | Yes | 75/11 | Full speed | Uniforms, caps, sportswear |
| Classic Rayon #40 | Viscose rayon | Highest sheen | No | 75/11 | Full speed | Fashion, monograms, décor |
| Classic Rayon #60 | Viscose rayon | High sheen, fine | No | 65/9 | Full speed | Lettering under 5 mm |
| Frosted Matt #40 | Polyester | Matte | Yes | 75/11 | Full speed | Vintage, tone-on-tone |
| Supertwist #30 | Metallic effect | Sparkle | Check care | 80/12 | Reduced | Accents, spirit wear |
| FS / CR Metallic | Metallized | Foil | Check care | Metallic 80/12 | Reduced 20–30% | Crests, outlines |
| Fire Fighter #40 | Flame resistant | Satin | Follow FR garment care | 75/11–80/12 | Full speed | FR workwear |
| Burmilana #12 | Wool-acrylic | Textured | Gentle care | 100/16+ | Reduced | Hand-stitched look |
Reference
Embroidery thread weight explained
Thread weight runs backwards: the higher the number, the finer the thread. #40 is the standard for logos and lettering. Move to #60 for small text and fine detail, and to #30 or #20 for bold coverage with fewer stitches. Match the needle to the weight or you will see fraying and breaks.
#12Burmilana · 100/16+ needle
#20FS Metallic 20 · 90/14 needle
#30Supertwist, Rayon 30 · 80/12–90/14
#40Standard · 75/11 needle
#60Fine lettering · 65/9 needle
#150Monolon clear · invisible
Relative thickness, not to scale.
| Weight | Typical use | Needle | Satin column | Fill density (start) | Thread used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #60 | Lettering 3–5 mm, fine outlines | 65/9 | 1.0–3.0 mm | 0.35–0.40 mm | About 5 m of top thread per 1,000 stitches. A 5,000 m cone holds roughly one million stitches. |
| #40 | Logos, lettering 5 mm+, fills | 75/11 | 1.5–8 mm | 0.40–0.45 mm | |
| #30 | Bold text, numbers, heavy coverage | 80/12–90/14 | 2.5–10 mm | 0.50–0.55 mm |
Hand vs. machine
Embroidery thread vs. embroidery floss (DMC)
"Embroidery thread" means two different products depending on who is searching. Hand embroiderers and cross-stitchers usually mean six-strand cotton floss such as DMC. Machine embroiderers mean cone-wound polyester or rayon like Madeira. They are not interchangeable, and this is the difference.
| Machine embroidery thread (Madeira) | Hand embroidery floss (e.g. DMC stranded cotton) | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Single twisted strand, used as one | Six loosely twisted strands, separated before use |
| Fiber | Polyester, rayon, metallic, specialty | Usually 100% cotton; also silk, rayon, metallic |
| Put-up | Cones (thousands of yards) and spools | Short skeins of about 8 m |
| Weight system | #30, #40, #60 (higher = finer) | Number of strands used (1 to 6) |
| Needle | Machine needle, 65/9 to 90/14 | Hand embroidery or crewel needle, tapestry for cross stitch |
| Speed | Engineered for 800 to 1,200 stitches per minute | Hand stitched |
| Use in an embroidery machine? | Yes, designed for it | No, too thick and loosely plied for machine needles |
| Sold at Buckets of Ink? | Yes, 1,269 Madeira colors | No, find floss at craft and needlework retailers |
How-to
How to thread a needle for embroidery
The method depends on whether you are hand stitching with floss or threading a machine head. Both take under two minutes once you have done it a few times.
How to thread an embroidery needle by hand
- Cut a working lengthCut 12 to 18 in. of floss. Longer lengths tangle and wear thin as they pass through the fabric.
- Separate the strandsPull one strand at a time straight up out of the cut end, then lay back together the number you need: two or three for outlines, all six for bold fills.
- Pick the right needleUse an embroidery (crewel) needle with an eye that fits the strands: around size 7 to 9 for two or three strands, size 3 to 5 for all six.
- Fold, don't lickFold the floss tightly over the needle shaft, pinch the fold flat, slide the needle out and push the folded edge through the eye. A needle threader works too.
- Pull a short tailDraw about one-third of the length through the eye so the needle does not slip off while you stitch.
- Anchor the threadKnot the long end, or use a waste knot or loop start for a flatter back on fine work.
How to thread an embroidery machine needle
- Seat the conePlace the cone on the thread stand behind its needle position and pull the thread straight up through the top guide.
- Route the upper guidesFollow the path through the pretension disc, main tension disc and each guide hole in order. A skipped guide is the most common cause of breaks after a color change.
- Wrap the take-up leverHook the thread through the take-up lever eye front to back, then down through the lower and needle-bar guides.
- Thread the needle front to backPass the thread through the eye front to back with the needle scarf facing the rear, leaving a 3 in. tail.
- Check tension by handPull the tail. Light, even resistance means the thread is seated in the tension disc; no resistance means rethread with the presser foot raised.
- Run a test stitchSew a short satin column on scrap. Bobbin thread should show as a line about one-third of the column width on the back.
Care
How to store embroidery thread
Embroidery thread ages. Sunlight fades it, heat and dry air make it brittle, and dust drags through the tension discs. Stored well, a cone runs as clean in year two as it did the week it arrived.
Keep it dark
Store out of direct sun and away from bright windows. Rayon and cotton fade faster than polyester.
Keep it cool
Avoid storage near heaters, dryers and hot warehouse walls. Heat and very dry air make thread brittle and break-prone.
Keep it covered
Leave cones in their boxes or a closed cabinet. Dust on the cone ends up packed in the tension discs.
Rack by number
Organize by Madeira line and color number, not by hue, so pulls always match the digitized file.
Net slippery cones
Put thread nets on polyester and metallic cones so loops do not slide off the base and snag.
First in, first out
Date new cones and run the oldest first. Keep lot numbers with large-job colors.
Troubleshooting
Embroidery thread problems and fixes
Replace the needle first and make sure it is fully seated with the scarf to the rear. Recheck the thread path for a missed guide. Loosen top tension a quarter turn. For metallic thread, slow the machine and switch to a metallic needle. Old, dry thread breaks more; test a fresh cone of the same color.
Fraying means the eye is too small for the thread or the needle is burred. Go up one needle size, replace worn needles every 8 to 10 run hours, and check the needle plate hole for nicks.
Top tension is too loose, or the thread has jumped out of the tension disc. Rethread with the presser foot raised and tighten top tension slightly.
Top tension is too tight or bobbin tension too loose. Clean lint from under the bobbin case spring and check the bobbin case with a drop test before adjusting top tension.
Let metallic feed off the top of the cone from a stand behind the machine, add a thread net, slow the head 20 to 30 percent and use a metallic needle with an elongated eye. Supertwist is the easier alternative when sparkle, not foil, is the goal.
Where to buy embroidery thread
Buy embroidery thread in Tempe, or have it shipped
Buckets of Ink is a stocking Madeira distributor. Shops across Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale and Glendale can walk in with a color list and leave with it, or get it on our delivery route. Everyone else gets the same stock shipped from our Arizona warehouse. For local stock and hours, see embroidery thread near me.
Buckets of Ink
906 S Priest Dr #101
Tempe, AZ 85281
480-229-7806 · bucketsofink@gmail.com
Monday to Friday · 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Wholesale embroidery thread for shops
- Account pricing shows in your cart after login; case quantities are quoted directly.
- Counter pulls while you wait from a printed color list or digitized file sheet.
- Phoenix-metro delivery on our route; call for your day.
- Nationwide shipping from in-stock Tempe inventory.
Stocking up on the rest of the kit? See embroidery supplies, embroidery scissors and Happy Japan embroidery machines.
Questions we answer at the counter
Embroidery thread embroidery FAQ
For most machine embroidery, 40-weight polyester such as Madeira Polyneon is the best all-round thread. It is strong, colorfast and bleach-resistant, runs at full machine speed on a 75/11 needle, and holds up on uniforms, caps and sportswear that are laundered hard.
Machine embroidery thread is a single twisted strand wound on cones or spools and sized by weight (#30, #40, #60). Embroidery floss, such as DMC stranded cotton, is six loosely twisted cotton strands sold in short skeins that you separate and stitch by hand. Floss is for hand embroidery and cross stitch; machine thread is for embroidery machines.
No. Six-strand cotton floss is too thick and too loosely plied to pass cleanly through a machine needle at embroidery speeds. Use machine embroidery thread; Madeira and other brands publish color charts if you need to match a floss color.
Polyester is better for anything washed hard, bleached or worn outdoors: uniforms, workwear, caps and team apparel. Rayon has a softer, silkier sheen and is preferred for fashion, monograms and home decor, but it should not be exposed to chlorine bleach.
Use #40 for most logos, lettering and fills. Use #60 for lettering under 5 mm and fine detail with a 65/9 needle. Use #30 or #20 for bold text and heavier coverage with fewer stitches on an 80/12 to 90/14 needle.
A common estimate is about 5 meters of top thread per 1,000 stitches. An 8,000-stitch left-chest logo in one color uses roughly 40 meters, so a 5,000 meter cone holds about one million stitches.
It will stitch, but all-purpose sewing thread is less lustrous and less consistent at embroidery speeds, so fills look dull and break more often. Embroidery thread is engineered for high-speed needle penetration and even sheen.
Keep it out of direct sunlight, away from heat and very dry air, and covered from dust, ideally in the original boxes or a closed cabinet. Organize by line and color number, use thread nets on slippery cones, and run the oldest cones first.
Buckets of Ink stocks 1,269 Madeira embroidery thread colors at 906 S Priest Dr #101 in Tempe, AZ, open Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with delivery across the Phoenix metro and shipping to every state.
Yes. Buckets of Ink is a Madeira distributor. Registered shops see account pricing in the cart after login, and case quantities are quoted directly. Call 480-229-7806 to set up an account.
No. Buckets of Ink stocks machine embroidery thread and supplies for embroidery machines. For DMC floss and hand embroidery kits, a craft or needlework retailer is the better source.
Madeira thread is labeled with an article number for the line and put-up and a color number, for example 918-1800. Each line has its own color numbering, so Emerald Black is 1000 in Classic Rayon but 7800 in Frosted Matt. Use a conversion chart when switching lines.
References and further reading
- Madeira USA, thread line specifications for Polyneon, Classic Rayon, Frosted Matt, Supertwist, FS Metallic, Polyester CR Metallic, Fire Fighter, Monolon, Burmilana and Sensa Green: madeirausa.com
- Madeira Polyneon No. 40 box label: Art. No. 918, dtex 135 x 2, 10 x 5,000 m (photographed in the Buckets of Ink warehouse; see the photo at the top of this page).
- Buckets of Ink: Embroidery Supplies, Embroidery Thread Near Me, Embroidery Scissors.
Cite this page: Buckets of Ink. "Embroidery Thread Embroidery: Madeira Machine Embroidery Thread Guide and Catalog." bucketsofink.com/page/embroidery-thread-embroidery. Updated September 28, 2026.
