Introducing Razzle™ & Dazzle™: 8wt Rayon & Rayon + Metallic Threads

These juicy 8wt threads know how to show off boldly. Razzle™ 100% rayon and Dazzle™ rayon with metallic threads can be used for a variety of hand techniques, in serger loopers, and even in domestic sewing machines with specific techniques. They can add a totally new dimension to your projects that can’t be achieved with any other kind of thread. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Razzle™ and Dazzle™ threads so unique.

Razzle is an 8wt 100% rayon thread with a gorgeous and soft lustre, while Dazzle is an 8wt rayon with one strand of metallic running through it for when you just need a wink of sparkle.

When you think 8wt threads, one of the first uses that comes to mind is hand embroidery. Razzle and Dazzle are popular choices because unlike other 8wt rayon threads on the market, they have a tight twist that resists unravelling, making it ideal for pulling it through all kinds of fibres and fabrics. You can stitch confidently for beautiful and perfect hand embroidered embellishments.

Consider Razzle and Dazzle for other hand techniques like sashiko, big stitch hand quilting, visible mending, crochet, crafts, and tassels.

But these threads aren’t just limited to hand sewing. You can use these threads on the upper and lower loopers of your serger to create fantastic decorative edging on any project. Because these threads are made with rayon, they’ll leave a soft, silky, and shiny edging that is perfect for quickly finishing small quilts, panels, clothing, or any piece you want. We even made a tutorial to show you how to set up your serger and do this for yourself, which you can check out by clicking here.

While 8wt threads are too large to fit through the eye of your machine needle, that doesn’t mean you can’t use them on your sewing machine. Razzle and Dazzle make for an incredible couching thread that stands out from the fabric to create a gorgeous, touchable surface texture. You can also wind them on your bobbin to do bobbin work, which is a technique where you sew upside down to get away with sewing with these heavy 8wt threads in your machine. These techniques are perfect for adding that little extra bling and texture to any project.

Razzle comes in 46 solid colors in the WonderFil line, and 54 solid and variegated colors in the Sue Spargo collection. And Dazzle is offered in 34 colors in the WonderFil line, 36 colors in the Sue Spargo collection, and 35 unique twisted colors in the Starry Night Hollow collection by Kim Rado. These gorgeous threads are enough for anyone to fall in love with. 

Inspired to sew with Razzle and Dazzle? Shop the Sue Spargo collection at www.suespargo.com, or find all of these colors in one of your local stores at www.shopwonderfil.com/shop-local.

Rayon vs. Polyester – What’s the Difference?

Both rayon and polyester are an excellent choice depending on what you want to achieve in your project, but we’ll discuss when to choose one over the other as they both have their own unique qualities and benefits. We’ll discuss the finish, tactility, purpose, and additional factors to consider when sewing with each type.

WonderFil manufactures both rayon and polyester threads. We’ll be looking at the two with the most similar uses: Splendor™, a 40wt rayon, and Polyfast™, a 40wt trilobal polyester.

While rayon and polyester are used in many of the same techniques, they both have very different origins. Rayon is manufactured from wood pulp that is chemically dissolved and undergoes a multi-step process resulting in the soft, lustrous rayon fibres. Polyester on the other hand, is a synthetic material with long, stable fibres that gives it the strength it is best known for. It’s resistant to abrasion and many common household chemicals, including bleach, making it a reliable choice for almost any application.

Rayon is fairly universal in its appearance and finish, however polyester can come in many forms. You might come across terms such as “cottonized polyester”, “wooly poly”, “all-purpose polyester”, or “trilobal polyester”. While these are all polyester threads, they vary greatly from each other in terms of where they are used and how they appear. Trilobal polyester is the most comparable to rayon in appearance and use. Both materials are (usually) colourfast and safe to iron if it comes from a reputable manufacturer.

If you’d like to learn more about the different kinds of polyester thread out there, check out our other blog: Exploring Polyester Thread: Varieties, Differences, & Where to Use Them.

Let’s take a closer look at rayon. It has a natural gloss that carries across the stitching or embroidery. Whereas polyester has an artificial gloss where the light is more fractured in appearance.

Comparing their tactility, rayon is actually softer to the touch in comparison to polyester. This leaves your fabric more flexible if you were to densely stitch with it. Polyester is rougher to the touch compared to rayon, and leaves the fabric feeling stiffer when densely stitched.

So now that you’ve learned the characteristics of each thread, which thread material should you choose?

We don’t recommend using rayon if you require the project to endure abrasion, long periods of moisture or bleach/chemicals. This is because rayon is a material that weakens when exposed to moisture. Rayon will always make a beautiful impression wherever it’s sewn and is a popular choice for this reason. It’s a gorgeous choice when used for decorative purposes, such as appliqué or decorative quilting and not for holding quits together structurally, such as edge to edge quilting. Choose it for quilting small areas or appliqué on a bed quilt, or used in projects that won’t be subjected to a lot of washing and handling. For example, quilting wall-hung quilts or art quilts.

Polyester has resistance to bleach and can handle light bleaching. It can also handle abrasion, mildew, and most chemicals it encounters. However as it does have a tendency to feel less soft and smooth to the touch, and leaves fabric a little stiffer. This material also keeps its strength even when exposed to moisture and is a reliable thread to hold your projects together when used for construction. This makes it ideal for edge to edge quilting, piecing, or other structural purposes. You can also consider it if you plan on embroidery patches on a backpack or items exposed to the elements.

We hope this video helps you understand what to consider and create quality projects that will last! If you are unsure if a thread material will work for you, save your time and money by researching and being informed before you sew with it. Ready to start sewing? You can find a list of stores that carry these threads on www.shopwonderfil.com/shop-local/.