Quick answer: Embroidery thread is most often made of cotton, polyester or rayon. Hand embroidery floss is usually 100% mercerized cotton, treated to give it strength and a soft sheen. Machine embroidery thread is typically polyester or rayon (viscose), chosen for shine, strength and colorfastness. Other embroidery threads are made from silk, wool, linen and metallic fibers, each giving a different look and texture.
The fiber your thread is made from affects how it looks, feels, washes and wears. Here's what embroidery thread is made of, how each type compares and how to choose the right one for your project.
Common Embroidery Thread Materials
Cotton
The classic choice for hand embroidery. Most stranded floss is long-staple cotton that has been mercerized, a treatment that strengthens the fiber and adds a subtle sheen. Cotton is soft, matte to lightly glossy and easy to work with.
Polyester
The most popular thread for machine embroidery. Polyester is very strong, bleach-resistant and colorfast, making it ideal for uniforms, kids' clothing and items washed often.
Rayon (viscose)
A plant-based fiber with a high, silky shine. Rayon gives machine embroidery a luxurious look but is less durable than polyester under bleach and heavy washing.
Silk
Luxurious and very shiny, silk is used for heirloom and fine hand embroidery. It's beautiful but more expensive and delicate.
Wool
Used for crewel embroidery. Wool thread is thicker and fuzzier, creating a raised, textured look.
Linen
Strong with a natural matte finish, often used in traditional whitework and rustic designs.
Metallic
A polyester or nylon core wrapped in a metallic film. It adds sparkle but can tangle and fray, so use short lengths.
Embroidery Thread Comparison
- Cotton: soft, versatile, best for hand embroidery
- Polyester: strongest and most colorfast, best for machines and everyday wear
- Rayon: highest shine, best for decorative machine work
- Silk: luxury sheen, best for heirloom pieces
- Wool: textured and warm, best for crewel
- Metallic: sparkle, best for accents
How to Choose the Right Thread
- Hand embroidery: mercerized cotton floss or perle cotton.
- Machine embroidery on apparel: 40-weight polyester.
- Extra shine: rayon or silk.
- Texture: wool or perle cotton.
- Frequent washing: polyester for colorfastness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is embroidery floss 100% cotton?
Most standard stranded floss is 100% mercerized cotton, but polyester and rayon floss also exist.
What is the strongest embroidery thread?
Polyester is generally the strongest and most resistant to bleach and fading.
What does mercerized cotton mean?
The cotton has been treated to make it stronger, smoother and shinier, and to help it absorb dye.
Can I use sewing thread for embroidery?
For small details yes, but embroidery thread offers better coverage, sheen and color choice.
Keep Learning
Now that you know your fibers, learn how to use embroidery thread and how embroidery machines work.
Our embroidered pieces use durable thread made to last; browse our embroidered T-shirts.
