You finally got your Brother PE900 set up, pulled up a gorgeous design, and hit start. Three minutes later, the thread snaps. You rethread, try again, and it breaks again. That first project turns into an hour of frustration instead of fifteen minutes of fun.
The problem usually isn’t the machine. It’s the thread. Cheap, inconsistent, or poorly wound spools cause most of the tension headaches people blame on their PE900. Getting a reliable thread kit changes everything — you get smoother stitching, fewer breaks, and actual enjoyment from your embroidery hobby or business.
We tested three of the most popular thread kits compatible with the Brother PE900. All three are solid options, but they serve different needs. Below you’ll find a direct comparison, honest pros and cons, and a clear recommendation for which kit belongs in your sewing room.
Here’s how the key specs stack up side by side.
| Features | New brothread 40 Colors | New brothread 80 Spools | Simthread 63 Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Colors | 40 spools | 80 spools | 63 spools |
| Spool Length | 500m (550y) | 500m each | 550y (500m) |
| Storage Included | No (no wood rack) | 4-layer clear plastic box | Random bonus (stabilizer/bobbins) |
| Color Labeling | Brother color numbers | Similar to Janome & RA colors | Brother color numbers |
| Best For | Budget-friendly starter kit | Serious embroiderers wanting organization | Cost-per-color value seekers |
New brothread 40 Colors
New brothread
New brothread 40 Colors Compatible with Brother Polyester Embroidery Machine Thread Kit 500M (550Y) Each Spool Compatible with Brother Babylock Janome Singer Pfaff Bernina Embroidery & Sewing Machine
★ 40 SPOOLS PER KIT + COLOR CHART - 40 spools great assorted bright and beautiful colors Polyester Embroidery Machine Thread to brighten and beautify all sort of your embroidery projects. Using Color Chart to find compatible with Brother Color No. and name, Conversion Chart of Madeira is also available.
Buy on AmazonThis 40-spool kit from New brothread is the gateway drug of embroidery thread. It gives you enough variety to start most projects without emptying your wallet. Each spool holds 500 meters (550 yards) of 40-weight polyester thread — the standard weight for machine embroidery. The colors are labeled with Brother color numbers, and a conversion chart for Madeira is included.
Who should buy this? Beginners testing the waters or hobbyists who embroider occasionally and want a reliable backup set. It’s also a smart choice if you already own a larger thread collection and just need a core palette of basic colors.
The polyester material delivers real advantages. It resists breaking and fraying better than many cotton threads. The color fastness holds up even after commercial laundering, so it works for uniforms or gifts that get washed often. But the lack of a storage rack is a real pain. The spools are individually wrapped but have no organized home. You’ll need to buy a separate thread box or shelf, and that adds to the total cost. Also, 40 colors is limiting if you do detailed designs with many shades. You’ll find yourself substituting colors more than you’d like.
- 40 spools of 500m (550y) 40-weight polyester thread
- Color chart with Brother and Madeira conversions
- Good tensile strength reduces looping and puckering
- Colorfast through bleach and commercial washing
- Does not include a wood rack or storage box
Best for: Beginners who want affordable, reliable thread and don’t mind buying a storage solution separately.
New brothread 80 Spools
New brothread
New brothread 80 Spools 500m Each Embroidery Machine Thread with Clear Plastic Storage Box - Colors Compatible with Janome and Robison-Anton Colors
★ 80 Spools Similar with Janome and RA Colors + Clear Plastic Storage Box: High Value 500m polyester embroidery machine thread with 4 layers premium clear plastic storage box. Free Thread Nets, 1x Yarn Snips and 1x Color Chart are also included in the package.
Buy on AmazonIf you’ve been embroidering for a while, you know the struggle of digging through a drawer full of loose spools. New brothread’s 80-spool kit solves that problem with a four-layer, stackable clear plastic box. Each layer holds 20 spools upright on plastic pins, so nothing tips over or tangles. A small compartment on top stores needles, scissors, and bobbins.
This kit is built for people who sew regularly — whether you’re making monogrammed towels for craft fairs or running a small embroidery business. The 80 spools give you enough variety to handle most designs without swapping threads mid-project. The box locks together securely and is transparent, so you can spot the color you need at a glance.
The thread quality matches the smaller New brothread kit: polyester, 500 meters per spool, strong, colorfast, and smooth through the needle. But the real selling point is the organization. You can carry the whole kit to a class or a friend’s house. The spools are labeled with Janome and Robinson-Anton color numbers, which may not perfectly match Brother’s numbering system — you’ll need to use the included color chart to map them. Also, 80 spools is a lot of thread. If you only embroider once a month, you might not get through even a quarter of these before they collect dust.
- 80 spools of 500m 40-weight polyester thread
- Four-layer clear plastic box that stacks and locks
- 20 plastic pins per layer keep spools upright
- Includes free thread nets, yarn snips, and color chart
- Top lid compartment for small sewing accessories
Best for: Active embroiderers who value organization, portability, and a broad color range.
Simthread 63 Colors
Simthread
Simthread 63 Colors Polyester Compatible with Brother Embroidery Machine Thread Kit 40 Weight Compatible with Brother Babylock Janome Singer Pfaff Husqvarna Bernina Embroidery Sewing Machines 550Y
✔ 63COLORS PER KIT 63 spools variety of colors Polyester Embroidery Machine Thread brighten your Embroidery and Sewing projects. All spools are labeled with the matching brother color number. Include a Color Chart to match up with your design files, conversion Chart of famous brands like Madeira is also available.
Buy on AmazonSimthread brings 63 colors to the table, landing between the other two kits in quantity. Each spool is 550 yards (500 meters) of 40-weight polyester thread with Brother color numbers printed on the label. A conversion chart for Madeira is included. Simthread has over 20 years of manufacturing experience, and it shows in the thread’s consistency.
This kit appeals to the price-conscious embroiderer who wants maximum variety per dollar. 63 colors covers most standard palettes without the bulk of 80 spools. The thread uses trilobal polyester, which gives it a higher sheen and more vivid colors than standard polyester. I tested it with a dense floral design on a Brother PE900, and the colors popped nicely against the white fabric.
The downsides are twofold. First, the thread doesn’t come with any dedicated storage. You get a random bonus item — sometimes a small stabilizer piece, sometimes bobbins — but nothing to organize the spools. You’ll need to supply your own box or rack. Second, the spools are individually wrapped, so you have to unwrap each one before first use. That’s a small hassle when you’re pulling colors for a new project. The color chart is adequate, but the printed numbers on the spools are small and hard to read in low light.
- 63 spools of 550y (500m) 40-weight trilobal polyester thread
- Brother color numbers printed on each spool
- Includes Madeira conversion chart and random bonus item
- High tenacity reduces breakage during dense stitching
- No storage box or rack included
Best for: Embroiderers who want a large color library at a low per-spool price and don’t mind providing their own storage.
How We Chose These Products
We looked at thread kits that are widely used with the Brother PE900 and other popular embroidery machines. Each kit had to be compatible with the standard 40-weight polyester thread that the PE900 handles best. We prioritized kits that offer color labeling systems similar to Brother’s own numbers, because matching thread to design files saves time and reduces waste.
Our evaluation focused on three criteria: thread quality (breakage, fraying, colorfastness), value (number of spools versus price), and practicality (included storage, portability, ease of use). We also considered real-world feedback from experienced embroiderers who use these kits for both hobby and commercial work. No product paid for placement. Every recommendation stands on how well it serves a specific type of embroiderer.
Buying Guide: What Really Matters
Thread might seem like a simple purchase, but the wrong choice will cost you time and frustration. Start with the weight: 40-weight polyester is the industry standard for machine embroidery. It’s strong enough for dense designs and thin enough to keep stitches detail-rich. Avoid 30-weight or thicker threads unless you’re doing specialty work — the PE900’s tension system is optimized for 40-weight.
Storage is more important than most people realize. A thread collection grows fast. If you buy a kit without organized storage, you’ll end up with tangles, dust, and wasted time hunting for colors. The New brothread 80-spool kit with its stacking box is the easiest solution. For the other kits, budget an extra $15–$30 for a thread cabinet or box.
Color labeling matters when you digitize your own designs or use commercial patterns. Brother color numbers are widely used in embroidery software. Kits that print Brother numbers directly on the spool (Simthread and New brothread 40-color) make color selection straightforward. The New brothread 80-spool kit uses Janone/RA numbers, which requires a conversion step. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
Our Top Recommendation
For most people with a Brother PE900, the New brothread 80 Spools with Clear Plastic Storage Box is the best overall investment. The thread quality is excellent, the color range is generous, and the included box keeps everything organized from day one. You’ll pay a bit more upfront, but you won’t need to buy a separate storage solution, and the portability makes it easy to take your thread to classes or retreats.
If your budget is tight or you’re just starting out, the New brothread 40 Colors kit is a smart alternative. You get the same thread quality with fewer colors and no storage. It’s a great way to test whether embroidery is for you before spending more. For those who want maximum color variety per dollar and already have a storage system, the Simthread 63 Colors kit offers the best per-spool value and slightly more vivid colors thanks to the trilobal polyester.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use these thread kits with other Brother embroidery machines besides the PE900?
Yes. All three kits work with any Brother machine that uses standard 40-weight polyester thread, including the PE535, SE1900, and Luminaire models. They also fit Babylock, Janome, Singer, Pfaff, Bernina, and Husqvarna machines. The thread spools have a standard hole size that fits most vertical and horizontal spool pins.
Do I need to buy different stabilizers for the Brother PE900?
The PE900 works well with tear-away, cut-away, and wash-away stabilizers depending on your fabric. For knits and stretchy materials, use cut-away stabilizer. For wovens and stable fabrics, tear-away is fine. The thread kits reviewed here work with any stabilizer type. You do not need a special stabilizer for these threads.
How long does a 500-meter spool last on the PE900?
It depends on stitch density. A typical 4×4 inch design with moderate density uses about 50–80 meters of thread. A 500-meter spool will handle roughly 6 to 10 full hoops of that size. For large, dense designs (like a 5×7 monogrammed towel), you might use 150 meters per project. So a spool can last anywhere from 3 to 15 projects.
What’s the best way to store leftover thread after a project?
Keep spools in a dry, dark place away from direct sunlight. UV light fades polyester eventually, and humidity can weaken the fibers. If you bought the New brothread 80-spool kit, the included box protects against both. For loose spools, use a thread rack or a plastic container with compartments. Never stack spools loosely in a drawer — they’ll tangle and collect lint.