I visited a local quilting shop this afternoon in search of Madeira PolyNeon 40. They don't carry it anymore.

I did find Mettler Polysheen (which I have read about here) plus two others that I hadn't heard about. They are Isacord Polyester which is made in Germany and Fujix King Star which is Japanese. They both were 40 wt threads. Has anyone ever used these threads for decorative wraps or accents? Given that they are machine embroidery threads, should I automatically assume that they have a silicone coating?

The shop owner said she had stopped carrying the Madeira because the King Star was as good and cheaper. It did come in a lot of colors and from what I found on the web, they are Pantone color coded.

thanks

-john

John,
It may be cheaper for her to buy,and even sell perhaps. I personally can't complain with the price I have paid for Madeira thread. It can't be that bad. At least you have a place you can go to check out the colors in person. I bought the Madeira color cards so I know exactly what I am buying. The Madeira threads are also color coded by Pantone.
After you have used them,please let us know how these threads compare to the Madeira products.
Best wishes,
Chuck

Yes, always assume that machine threads are silicone coated and use CP.

Bill in WV

I've had great luck with Coats and Clark Trilobal polyester. It is in a 40 wt, and I have used about 10 colors, and never had the first problem with fisheyes. According to C&C, it is not coated with anything.
Last night I was wrapping a rod with regular A nylon, and it was so much more difficult that the polyester. I guess I have gotten used to the way it acts.
Steve Broadwell

I just started using Madeira and was really surprised how much easier it was (for me, at least) to work with!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Mettler is similar, as is C and C, Superior, and others. Probablly anything used for high speed embrodery machines would work well. I checked the local Yellow Pages for "sewing machines" and came across a couple high end privately owned shops that are a gold mine for threads. Tip: If you visit one of these shops (especially the ones that have embroderiery classes) go in the shop dirty, and with filthy hands start checking out thread. The looks you get from the women in the class are priceless, and speaking for myself, I swear I got some great deals strickly based on getting my cash in their register AND, my dirty hands off their thread!! Stay clear of rayons.

The Isocord Poly 40 is actualy slighly thinner than Polyneon 40, but thicker than the 60. I'd rate it at about 45 or 50 wt compared to MAdeira. Not that it makes a difference at all. Consider them all teh same size.

"cheaper".

John;
Another brand you can use is Robison-Anton. It's a bit stronger than most of the others, acording to my wife, and comes in a zillion colors. I've just started using them for my grandaughters first rod, pink 'n purple don't ya know! The colors will knock your eyes out!!!

Fred Crum
Dixon, Ca.

mark @ @#$%&, a sponsor on the left is now selling the maderia thread. give mark and colleen a shout, they'll take good care of you!