Building Your Stash - PolySheen Embroidery Thread

PolySheen embroidery thread is an excellent choice for machine embroidery because it is strong, shiny, and colorfast. But once you know you've chosen a quality thread for your embroidery, how do you go about picking out colors?

Most of us can't purchase the entire range of colors at once, so here are some guidelines on how to add to your collection methodically!

1. Start with the basic colors. Think the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple), plus neutrals - (Black, White, Gray, Brown). Most people also add a pink to the mix. Here are some recommended shades of PolySheen for these basic colors:

White: 0015

Black: 0020

Gray: 0142

Brown: 1055

Red: 1902

Orange: 1102

Yellow: 0600

Green: 5422

Blue: 3600

Purple: 2920

Pink: 2550

2. Add a tint (lighter) and a shade (darker) of each of the colors from step one. For example, you'll want several shades of green. If you start with 5422 as your base green, you can add 5740 as a lighter green, and 5326 as a darker green.

3. Add in specialty colors. This will vary from person to person depending on what you like to sew. Here is where you will add colors like flesh tones, teals, dusty colors, neons, or others that are your personal favorites.

4. Add tints and shades of your favorite colors. You may want up to six or seven shades of colors you use often in your clothing or decor so you can create monochromatic designs.

5. As you build your thread collection based on these guidelines and your personal favorites, keep track of what you have at home. You can download a thread chart for PolySheen by clicking here. Print it and mark which colors you have and keep it with you when shopping for thread. Or, even better, download our iPad app, where you can inventory your thread right in the app!