Spectra Jewel
A highly reflective metallic polyester thread from Madeira
Colour 557
Madeira Spectra Jewel is a flat ribbon thread made from a special holographic foil that reflects light and gives a bright sparkle to embroidery. Decorative stitching is lifted by the gemstone colour sparkle the fine foil creates.
Spectra Jewel performs best when used as a decorative bobbin thread for reverse stitching (where you have the decorative thread in the bobbin and a monofilament thread in the top of your machine and sew with your work upside down).
It can also be used as the top thread on your sewing machine provided you reduce the thread tension and avoid sewing at high speed. Then, for best results, we recommend using a Schmetz Metallic 80 needle. Metallic needles have a specially shaped eye that is also teflon coated. This reduces the friction between the thread and the needle eye and reduces the risk of the metallic thread breaking. Alternatively, a Topstitch 90 or Embroidery 90 needle would be suitable. Use a fine thread in the bobbin, such as Madeira Bobbinfil or YLI Wonder Invisible.
For hand sewing, we recommend a John James Embroidery 9 needle. We also recommend using a silicon lubricant such as 'Thread Heaven' as that reduces the friction between the thread and the needle eye.
Madeira Spectra Jewel is safe to wash at up to 60 degrees centigrade and iron on 1-dot. It is not safe to tumble dry.
Available on 100m snap spools.