Staff Answer
Jun 08, 2026 - 09:39 AM
Yes, with some designs. Virtually all embroidery designs are digitized for 40 wt. thread. Metallics are considered a 30 wt. thread. So that's basically asking your machine to fit 1/3 more thread into each stitch. With patience and some small adjustments it can be done. I'm attaching an information sheet on this for you, but basically you need to do the following:
• Lower your top tension to about a 3 or 2 (maybe lower on some machines)
• Use a 90/14 needle (or a 90/14 topstitch - which gives it a little more room in the eye of the needle)
• Reduce your speed way, way down. At least to 1/2 and I go down to my lowest
• Position the thread so that it comes off the spool flat without twisting (usually a vertical spool pin, without use of a thread tree)
• Sometimes, if you experience breakage) you might need to use a product called Sewer's Aid on the needle and run a bead down the spool, too
• Digitizing plays a big part in the success with metallics. If the design is too dense, packed with more stitches than necessary (which you can find buying designs on random sites, which we all do occasionally), it makes it more challenging. Try using designs only from trusted, respected sites for your first venture into metallic use in embroidery designs.
Clearly, you want to use it for special accents and not an entire design, unless it's perhaps a redwork type outline design, or deliberately digitized for metallics. The denser the fill, the more challenging it is for the thread. Please check out the tip sheet I've attached for best results.
• Lower your top tension to about a 3 or 2 (maybe lower on some machines)
• Use a 90/14 needle (or a 90/14 topstitch - which gives it a little more room in the eye of the needle)
• Reduce your speed way, way down. At least to 1/2 and I go down to my lowest
• Position the thread so that it comes off the spool flat without twisting (usually a vertical spool pin, without use of a thread tree)
• Sometimes, if you experience breakage) you might need to use a product called Sewer's Aid on the needle and run a bead down the spool, too
• Digitizing plays a big part in the success with metallics. If the design is too dense, packed with more stitches than necessary (which you can find buying designs on random sites, which we all do occasionally), it makes it more challenging. Try using designs only from trusted, respected sites for your first venture into metallic use in embroidery designs.
Clearly, you want to use it for special accents and not an entire design, unless it's perhaps a redwork type outline design, or deliberately digitized for metallics. The denser the fill, the more challenging it is for the thread. Please check out the tip sheet I've attached for best results.
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