Silk Road Needle Arts

                        St. Petersburg, Florida

Back to Tips        Home

Canvas Facts--

 It can sometimes be difficult matching the thread you like best with the appropriate mesh of needlepoint canvas. Although 18 count is quite popular in painted canvases, especially for detailed work, the best-selling size of canvas is #13. Many of us do not have the time to stitch a wall hanging on 18 count canvas! For this reason, most of the pillow-sized canvases we stock are on #13 canvas; almost all of our smaller pieces are on #18 in order to get more detail work and shading.

It should also be emphasized that mesh coverage is HIGHLY opinionated; some shop owners say that the very popular Silk and Ivory does not fit on #18, but I would disagree.

Listed below are various canvas mesh sizes with some recommendations for threads; you will most definitely want to experiment.

 

#5 Mono (Rug canvas)
9 strands of Persian (technically any strandable thread to cover, but consider the number of plies required!!) Really very few choices of thread, outside Persian and rug yarns.

 

 

 

#10 Mono: 40 & 54” widths; #18 needle.
Not suitable for fine, detailed work. Easy to see. Good for geometrics. Some stitchers consider it the most suitable canvas for rugs. Technically, you can use any thread and ply up to the number required for coverage.

            Appleton Crewel (6 strands)

            Appleton Tapestry (1 strand)
            Caron Impressions (4-5 strands)
            Paternayan (3 strands); 5-6 strands for Bargello patterns
            Rainbow Gallery Gold Rush 12

  Rainbow Gallery Splendor (Silk, strandable, 12-14 plies)

            Kreinik Heavy (#32) Braid

            Kreinik 1/8 in. ribbon

 

#12 Mono: 40 & 54” widths ; #20 needle.
Used in some Beth Russell designs. For Bargello: 2 strands Persian yarn. Not commonly used in painted canvases. Generally, start with 12 plies of silk or floss and adjust as needed.
 

Appleton Crewel—4 strands

Au Ver A Soie—Soie d’Alger

Caron Impressions (silk/wool)

Kreinik #16 braid

Kreinik 1/8 in. ribbon

Kreinik Heavy (#32) Braid

Kreinik Silk Mori (low sheen, strandable)

Kreinik Silk Serica (high sheen, strandable)

Pearl Cotton, #3

Rainbow Gallery Cresta d’Oro

Rainbow Gallery Gold Rush 12

Rainbow Gallery Splendor (Silk, strandable)

Thread Gatherer—Shepherds Silk (50/50 silk/wool)

Thread Gatherer—Silk N Colors (12 ply strandable silk)

 

Back to Tips        Home 

 

 

#13 Mono: 40 & 54” widths; #20 or 22 needle.
Many metallic and novelty threads fit #13 canvas; this is the best-selling mesh canvas because it works up quickly, but has a lot more detail than #10 canvas. A favorite with many people because 2 strands of Persian fit it perfectly with no tugging and good coverage.

 

Appleton Crewel—3 or 4 strands

Au Ver A Soie—Soie d’Alger

Brown Paper Packages—Silk & Ivory

Caron Impressions (silk/wool)—2 strands (3 for longer stitches)

Caron Collection Rachel

Caron Collection Rachelette

Caron Watercolours—2 plies

Caron Waterlilies—5-6 plies

Caron Wildflowers—3 strands

Felicity’s Garden—2 strands

J. L. Walsh Silk 223—15 plies

J.L. Walsh Silk Perle—8 plies

J.L. Walsh Silk/Wool—5 plies
          Kreinik #16 braid

Kreinik 1/8 in. ribbon

Kreinik Heavy (#32) Braid

Kreinik Silk Mori (low sheen, strandable)

Medicis Wool—6-7 plies

Pearl Cotton #3

Rainbow Gallery Coronet Braid #16

Rainbow Gallery Cresta d’Oro

Rainbow Gallery Flair

Rainbow Gallery Frosty Rays

Rainbow Gallery Fyre Works

Rainbow Gallery Gold Rush 12

Rainbow Gallery GoldRush 14

Rainbow Gallery Nordic Gold (multiple plies)

Rainbow Gallery Tiara (2 strands)

Rainbow Gallery Splendor (Silk, strandable) 5-6 plies

Thread Gatherer—Shepherds Silk (50/50 silk/wool)

Thread Gatherer—Silk N Colors (12 ply strandable silk) 5-6 plies

 

 

 

 

#14 Mono: 40 & 54” widths; size 22 needle.
For Bargello: 2 strands Persian. Not too commonly used.

 

Appleton Crewel—3 strands

Au Ver A Soie—Soie d’Alger

Brown Paper Packages—Silk & Ivory

Caron Impressions (silk/wool)—2 strands (3 for longer stitches)

Caron Collection Watercolours—2 plies

Caron Collection Waterlilies—5-6 plies

Caron Collection Wildflowers—3 strands

Caron Collection Rachel

Caron Collection Rachelette

Felicity’s Garden—2 strands

J. L. Walsh silk 223

J.L. Walsh Silk Perle—8 plies

J.L. Walsh Silk/Wool—4 plies

Kreinik #16 braid

Kreinik Heavy (#32) Braid

Kreinik 1/8 in. ribbon

Kreinik Silk Mori (low sheen, strandable)—6 plies

Medicis Wool—6-7 plies

Perle Cotton #3

Rainbow Gallery Coronet Braid #16

Rainbow Gallery Cresta d’Oro

Rainbow Gallery Flair

Rainbow Gallery Frosty Rays

Rainbow Gallery Fyre Works

Rainbow Gallery GoldRush 14

Rainbow Gallery Nordic Gold (multiple plies)

Rainbow Gallery Splendor (Silk, strandable) 6 plies

Rainbow Gallery Tiara (2 strands)

Thread Gatherer—Silk N Colors (12 ply strandable silk) 5-6 plies

Back to Tips        Home

 

#16 Mono: 40 & 54” widths; for Bargello, 2 strands Persian. Not commonly used.

 

Rainbow Gallery Silk and Cream

Rainbow Gallery Cresta d’Oro

Rainbow Gallery Fyre Works

Rainbow Gallery GoldRush 14

Rainbow Gallery Splendor (Silk, strandable)

Au Ver A Soie—Soie d’Alger

          Kreinik Silk Mori (low sheen, strandable)

          Brown Paper Packages—Silk & Ivory

          Pearl Cotton #5

Thread Gatherer—Silk N Colors (12 ply strandable silk)

 

 

#18 Mono:  40 & 54” widths; #20 or 22 needle. Makes beautiful small Bargello items (generally Persian does not work well since the plies are of different thickness.) There are many metallic and novelty threads for #18 canvas and this is the favorite size for some stitch books. The most popular size for painted canvases that require a lot of detail and shading.

 

          Appleton—1 or 2 strands

Au Ver A Soie—Soie d’Alger (4 plies)

Brown Paper Packages—Silk & Ivory

Caron Collection Impressions—1 for basketweave; 2 for longer stitches

Caron Collection Rachel

Caron Collection Rachelette

Caron Collection Watercolours—1 ply

Caron Collection Waterlilies—4 plies

Caron Collection Wildflowers—2 strands

Felicity’s Garden—1 strand for basketweave (2 for some long stitches)

J.L. Walsh Silk 223—8-10 plies

J.L. Walsh Silk 212—2 strands

J.L. Walsh Silk Perle—3 plies (basketweave; 8 plies long stitches)

J.L. Walsh Silk/Wool—3 plies for most stitches.

Kreinik #12 Metallic Braid

Kreinik 1/16 in Ribbon Kreinik Silk Mori (low sheen, strandable)—3 plies

Kreinik Silk Serica (high sheen, strandable) (use as is for 18 count)

Medicis Wool—3 plies

Perle Cotton #5

Rainbow Gallery Coronet Braid # 8

Rainbow Gallery GoldRush 14

Rainbow Gallery GoldRush 18

Rainbow Gallery Flair

Rainbow Gallery Frosty Rays

Rainbow Gallery Fyre Works

Rainbow Gallery Nordic Gold (1 strand)

Rainbow Gallery Tiara (1 strand)--beautiful fit!

Rainbow Gallery Cresta d’Oro

Rainbow Gallery Gold Rush 18

Rainbow Gallery Splendor (Silk, strandable)—4 plies

Thread Gatherer—Shepherd’s Silk (50/50 silk/wool) specialty stitches

Thread Gatherer—Sheep’s Silk (50/50 Wool/Silk)

Thread Gatherer—Silk N Colors (12 ply strandable silk)—4 plies

Trebizond (twisted silk thread)--beautiful fit!


Back to Tips        Home
 

#24 Mono (Congress Cloth): 50” wide; many metallics and novelty threads. Comes in colors, so that the background does not have to be worked. A good alternative to evenweave linen.

 

          Persian wool—no, too heavy

          Appleton Crewel—1 strand

          Caron Collection Impressions—1 strand

Caron Collection Waterlilies—2 plies

Caron Collection Wildflowers—1 strand

          Cotton floss-2 strands

J.L. Walsh Silk 223

J.L. Walsh Silk 212—1 strand

J.L. Walsh Silk/Wool

          Kreinik Silk Mori (low sheen, strandable)

          Kreinik 1/16 in ribbon

          Medicis Wool—1-2 plies

          Perle Cotton #8

Rainbow Gallery Splendor (Silk, strandable)—2 plies

Rainbow Gallery Nordic Gold (1 strand)

Rainbow Gallery Tiara (1 strand, long stitches)

         Thread Gatherer Silk n Colors—2 plies