[rayon thread vs. polyester thread]

The Pros and Cons of Each

Often embroiderers ask what the differences are between rayon embroidery thread and polyester embroidery thread. Both are commonly used and both are good products, but each one has its own attributes, which should be kept in mind with respect to applications.

Pros of Rayon Thread

Color Selection: Rayon embroidery threads started out as the most commonly used thread in the embroidery industry. More colors are offered in rayon than with polyester, therefore if an embroidery business requires them to have the highest amount of colors available than this may be a reason to choose rayon thread.

Sheen: Rayon thread has a silkier sheen than polyester and therefore, embroiders who are looking to project an image of a soft smooth "silky" like product should opt to use rayon.

Wear & Tear on Machine: Rayon thread is gentler on embroidery equipment than polyester because it is less fibrous than polyester thread.

Cons of Rayon Thread

Not Bleach Resistant: Rayon threads are affected by bleaching agents, while Polyester threads are less affected. Rayon thread is made from cellulose; therefore, it is unable to resist the harshness of bleach.

Ultra Violet Radiation: Rayon thread is less resistant to ultra violet radiation (sunlight) than polyester embroidery thread.

Strength: Rayon thread is not as strong as polyester thread.

Pros of Polyester Thread

Color Selection: Polyester thread use to be less attractive than polyester embroidery thread due to the fact there was not as high a color selection in polyester as there was in rayon thread. This fact still holds true today, but the selection of colors in polyester thread has increased drastically over the past 2 years and is no longer a significant issue.

Sheen: Polyester thread used to be darker and less shiny than rayon thread. In recent years, especially with FuFu's threads, polyester threads have a higher sheen. FuFu's polyester thread is shiny and even has a quality of sparkle.

More Bleach Resistant: Polyester threads are more resistant to bleach, therefore, they can be used in a wider variety of applications.

Resistance to Ultra Violet Radiation: Polyester threads are more resistant to ultra violet radiation (sunlight) than rayon threads, therefore they can be used more readily for outdoor applications.

Strength: Polyester threads are stronger than rayon threads, therefore, embroidery operators often have less difficulty running polyester embroidery thread.

Resistant to Flames: Polyester thread is more resistant to flames than rayon therefore, it is a better thread to use on infant wear.

Cons of Polyester Threads

Color Selection: While the selection of polyester threads has improved drastically in recent years, rayon still offers a wider selection of colors.

Elasticity: Polyester thread is more elastic than rayon thread therefore some find it is necessary to work with their tensions a bit. Fortunately, there is a small tension difference between FuFu's rayon and polyester. So, it is quite easy to use either.

For more information please feel free to email your questions to mescoltd@aol.com