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Member since 9/17/11
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Posted on: 5/1/12 2:05 PM ET
I am looking to purchase the Brother SE400 and was wanting to get thread at the same time. I went to a dealer the other day who said that the best performing thread is the thread made specifically for the brother machines by brother. I noticed it is a little more expensive and wanted to know if it is actually necessary to buy the brother specific thread or could I buy another brand and if so which brand is suggested and what material i.e. rayon, polyester?
  
Member since 12/3/06
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Posted on: 5/1/12 2:17 PM ET
In reply to tdisibio
Some Brother users will swear by this brand and others have opinions that differ.

I prefer Madeira or Robinson-Anton.

Be sure to buy bobbin machine embroidery thread as this is a different weight (wt) than the machine embroidery thread used for the top thread.

Rayon is the most available and polyester the best for items that are going to be washed a lot (children's clothing) or may come in contact with chlorine bleach.

Most of the supplies sold at the dealer will be more expensive as they cannot purchase in the same quantities (for lower prices) as on-line stores or chains such as JoAnn Fabrics.

Buy a few basic colors and see how the machine "likes" what you have chosen.

You can get a bad spool even with the most expensive brand.

This site offers many tutorials that are very helpful for beginners as well as "seasoned" machine embroiderers.
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Member since 6/24/06
Posts: 2472
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Posted on: 5/1/12 2:25 PM ET
In reply to tdisibio
Welcome to PR! It's best to use the bobbin thread from Brother in your machine because the tension on a combo machine's set to work with both sewing & embroidery. Polyester thread is good for small childrens garments that get washed a lot. I use Marathon embroidery thread without any problems. Some thread dosn't work well in machines (same thread can hate your machine while 5 others don't have any issues.) When purchasing thread get a couple of spools to try and see what works best in your machine before investing in a large collection. Some thread shreads easily, others is thinner resulting in the machine stopping with re-thread upper thread error.
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Janome10001, Babylock ESG3, Brother ULT 2001, White 634D serger, Pfaff 1472, Singer featherweight, Singer 14T957Dc, Bernina FunLock 009DCC coverlock, Brother PQ1500S, Janome CP900.
  
Member since 12/15/02
Posts: 8690
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Posted on: 5/1/12 4:24 PM ET
In reply to tdisibio
Most thread is made in factories in China you don't have to use machine specific thread.
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 7941
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Posted on: 5/1/12 4:45 PM ET
In reply to tdisibio
I have a very early Brother, PE150, embroidery only machine and I've been using regular cotton thread in it for almost all the time I've had it. I like the matte look of cotton thread and find it doesn't unroll as easily as the rayon. However, I do use a different type of thread in the bobbin; I buy it at ThreadArt and it's wonderful--no jamming, no breakage. Item #: THBWHT Link is here

I seriously considered buying the Brother brand thread, but realized that the only reason why I would need to buy it would be because the color numbers on that brand are what is listed in the machine. I can make my own color combinations using cotton thread and save some money.

-- Edited on 5/1/12 4:47 PM --
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Member since 12/3/06
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Posted on: 5/1/12 5:06 PM ET
In reply to quiltingwolf
The embroidery thread may all be made in China, but each company has their own formula.



-- Edited on 5/1/12 11:34 PM --
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OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
  
Member since 8/28/08
Posts: 6569
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Posted on: 5/1/12 7:14 PM ET
The woman at the Brother company told me that Brother bobbin thread should be used. If there is a problem with the machine, and you have used a different brand, it could negate your warranty. Mine is old enough so I don't have to use that thread but do because I got large spools at a good price.
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Oops, forgot what I was going to put here.
  
Member since 12/3/06
Posts: 10072
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Posted on: 5/1/12 11:36 PM ET
In reply to GlButterfly
Quote: GlButterfly
The woman at the Brother company told me that Brother bobbin thread should be used. If there is a problem with the machine, and you have used a different brand, it could negate your warranty. Mine is old enough so I don't have to use that thread but do because I got large spools at a good price.


I have never read this in the warranty. I think the dealer/sales staff is just trying to make a few extra bucks.
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Member since 6/7/05
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Posted on: 5/1/12 11:55 PM ET
I use Marathon poly and bobbin mostly in my Brother 8500, but there is a large dose of Maderia Polyneon in the collection along with random Coats and Clark, Brother and Sulky. The only thread my machine truly despises is Ultima poly (it is thinner and slicker, needs +2 tension to feed properly.)

I generally order from Marathon online, but have picked up assorted other brands locally when needing an exact color match. I find very little difference between rayon and poly or the different brands.
  
Member since 8/28/08
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Posted on: 5/2/12 4:50 AM ET
In reply to PattiAnnJ
You're probably right, PattiAnn, but it did put a scare in me. LOL. I don't remember getting a long warranty, so I really had nothing to read on the subject.

The woman I was talking to was at the Brother company, not at a dealer's, so it sounded more convincing.
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Oops, forgot what I was going to put here.
  
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