Metallic Thread Tricks and Tips

Madonna showed us a great trick to try when using metallic thread. This thread can be hard to keep from breaking when you sew as it tends to kink up while unwinding off the spool.

Use a straw and a safety pin to create a traveling tube area for your thread. Tape it to the side of your sewing machine and drop the spool of thread into a mug on the floor. This give the thread a long distance to relax before it enters the needle on your sewing machine. 

Speaking of needles. Do not use a metallic needle on your machine when sewing with metallic thread. Metallic needles were actually designed for sewing metallic fabric!!  These needles are sharp Nand are meant to cut the metallic filaments, so they probably will cut your metallic thread too!!  Just use a 14/90 universal, top stitch or embroidery needle. It will work much better. And don't forget to lower your top thread tension so you don't see the bobbin thread!!

Here is the safety pin in the straw.
The metallic thread will go through the circle in the bottom of the pin and down through the straw.

To get the thread through the straw, thread it through a needle and drop the needle down through the straw.

Now the thread travels from the mug on the floor, through the straw, through all your regular thread tension guides.
The thread has a long way to go allowing it to relax and not kink.  Works like a charm.