Sulky Thread Effects: Poly Sparkle
Welcome to Sulky Thread Effects, a new series devoted to the Sulky Threads that can completely transform a project.
In each installment, we’ll put one Sulky thread in the spotlight—exploring what makes it special, when and why to use it, and tips for getting great results. Then, we’ll take that thread to the sewing machine and show off its best qualities in a project designed to let it shine.
And for our very first Thread Effects project, we mean shine quite literally.
Meet Sulky Poly Sparkle™: a specialty thread that combines the durability and softness of polyester with a strand of shimmering Holoshimmer. The result is a hard-wearing thread with sparkle built right in. It’s perfect for machine embroidery, decorative stitching, quilting, costumes, holiday projects and more.
With Halloween on the horizon, there couldn’t be a better time to put Poly Sparkle to work. We’re pairing the Haunting Halloween Poly Sparkle™ 6-Pack Sampler with an embroidered rope basket and a bewitching machine embroidery design to create Halloween décor that’s equal parts spooky, sophisticated and sparkly.
THREAD EFFECTS: SULKY POLY SPARKLE™
Poly Sparkle is a 30 wt. specialty thread made by twisting polyester thread with a strand of Holoshimmer. The polyester gives it strength, softness and durability, while the Holoshimmer catches the light to create that unmistakable sparkle.
That combination makes Poly Sparkle a fun choice when you want the thread itself to become part of the design.
Because it’s a heavier 30 wt. thread, Poly Sparkle also has more visual presence than a standard 40 wt. embroidery thread. That makes it especially effective for designs with open areas and lighter stitching, where each sparkling stitch has room to make an impact.
Why We Love Poly Sparkle for Halloween
Halloween practically begs for specialty thread.
The Haunting Halloween Poly Sparkle 6-Pack Sampler contains six 30 wt. Poly Sparkle colors selected specifically for spooky-season stitching, with oranges, purples, blacks and silvers that work beautifully for Halloween quilts, garments, home décor and gifts.
For this project, that sparkle adds just the right touch to an otherwise neutral rope basket. Depending on the light, the embroidery can shift from subtly shimmery to wonderfully witchy.
SHOP THE HAUNTING HALLOWEEN POLY SPARKLE 6-PACK SAMPLER
THE PROJECT: HALLOWEEN ROPE BASKET
For our first Thread Effects project, we’re making an embroidered rope basket featuring the Midnight Witches Wreath machine embroidery design from Urban Threads.
The design depicts a witch’s broom and hat framed by a crescent moon and ghostly wreath. Better yet for our Thread Effects experiment, the design incorporates sheer stitching and open areas. That openness gives the Poly Sparkle Thread weight plenty of room to fit in the stitch length and density without bunching and breaking during the stitchout. Plus, the subtle sparkle in the thread can catch the light without overwhelming the artwork.
The design is available in four sizes, ranging from approximately 4.85″ x 5.01″ to 7.55″ x 7.8″. Choose the size that best fits the basket you’re planning to make and the embroidery field of your machine.
GET THE MIDNIGHT WITCHES WREATH DESIGN
If embroidered rope baskets are new to you, the Creative Rope Baskets Sewing Session is a great place to begin. The Session covers the construction method as well as how to embroider directly onto a rope base. It also explores ways to customize your baskets with different handles, fabric strips and inserts, sturdy bases and finishing details.
REGISTER FOR THE CREATIVE ROPE BASKETS SESSION
POLY SPARKLE ROPE BASKET SUPPLIES
- Sulky Base Rope Basket Kit (includes Clothesline Rope, 80/12 Microtex Needles and a 1-yard pack of Sulky Ultra Solvy™ Stabilizer)
- Sulky Haunting Halloween Poly Sparkle 6-Pack Sampler
- Sulky 40 wt. Poly Deco™ Thread – Ecru
- Urban Threads Midnight Witches Wreath machine embroidery design
- Sulky 60 wt. PolyLite™ Thread
The Base Rope Basket Kit makes gathering the specialty supplies easy, as it contains the recommended rope for embroidery along with the proper stabilizer and needle.
STEP 1: CREATE THE ROPE BASKET BASE
Begin constructing the rope basket following the techniques taught in the Creative Rope Baskets Sewing Session.
Wind a bobbin with coordinating 60 wt. PolyLite Thread. Thread the machine with Sulky 40 wt. Poly Deco in Ecru.
Start the rope coil and stitch the rope together to form the basket base, keeping the coil flat as you sew. Continue building the base until it’s large enough to accommodate your chosen size of the Midnight Witches Wreath design.
STEP 2: PREPARE FOR EMBROIDERY
Before turning the flat rope base into a basket, embroider the Halloween motif.
Choose the Midnight Witches Wreath size that works best for your basket. The design was digitized with open areas and sheer stitching, which makes it an especially fun candidate for specialty thread.
Prepare the rope base for embroidery using the stabilizer and needle included in the Base Rope Basket Kit.
Hoop the project according to the rope-basket embroidery method demonstrated in the Creative Rope Baskets Session. Use Sulky Ultra Solvy for best results. Be sure to mark the stabilizer and the basket base and align those markings to ensure proper placement in the hoop.
Load the embroidery design into your machine, and then place the hoop onto the machine.
Install a size 80/12 Microtex Needle. A Microtex Needle (size 80/12) will produce the best results when embroidering on rope/clothesline. This needle has an extra sharp point that penetrates through the heavy structure of the clothesline. Make sure your clothesline diameter is no larger than 7/32″.
STEP 3: EMBROIDER
Now for the fun part.
Choose your favorite color, or colors, from the Haunting Halloween Poly Sparkle Sampler. Try black for an understated gothic shimmer, purple for a mystical look, orange for classic Halloween color or silver for a moonlit effect.
Or make more than one basket and experiment with a different Poly Sparkle color each time.
Thread the machine with Poly Sparkle and embroider the design onto the rope base.
POLY SPARKLE TIP
Whenever you’re working with a specialty thread, slow things down and let the thread do the work. Make sure the thread has a smooth path from spool to needle, and avoid unnecessary friction as it travels through the machine.
If you’re new to specialty threads, stitch a small test before beginning the final embroidery. Every machine has its own personality, and a quick test lets you make any needed adjustments before stitching the project.
STEP 4: CREATE THE BASKET SIDES
Once the embroidery is complete, return to Sulky 40 wt. Poly Deco in Ecru for basket construction.
Continue stitching the rope to the base, gradually tilting it to shape the sides. Refer to the method taught in the Creative Rope Baskets Session for video instruction.
Keep going until the basket reaches your desired height.
If you want to make more of a tray than a basket, refer to our Holiday Rope Tray tutorial, which is part of the Creative Rope Baskets Session.
STEP 5: ADD HANDLES
The Creative Rope Baskets Session covers options including different handles, fabric strips and inserts, sturdy bases and other finishing flourishes.
For Halloween, consider adding black, orange or purple fabric accents. Or keep the entire basket neutral and allow the Poly Sparkle embroidery to provide the only pop of color and shine.
POLY SPARKLE PERSONALITY
This project could certainly be stitched with standard embroidery thread, but Poly Sparkle changes its personality.
Against the natural texture of the rope, the shimmering thread creates contrast in texture, color and light. The sparkle emphasizes the embroidered motif without requiring a dense design or complicated color changes.
Gather your supplies and create your own sparkling Halloween rope basket!
Whether you go gothic black, shimmering silver, pumpkin orange or mystical purple, Poly Sparkle adds a little unexpected magic to every stitch.
Stay tuned for the next installment of Sulky Thread Effects, when we’ll put another Sulky Thread in the spotlight, explore what makes it unique and create a new project that shows exactly what that thread can do!
