Silk Road Needle Arts

                        St. Petersburg, Florida
 

Back to Tips        Home

Using Overdyed Threads--

Overdyed threads are one of the most exquisite additions in recent years in the needlework area! They impart a lovely variation and shading in stitching which is very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve with blending and shading techniques with solid threads.

For overdyed threads, you will tend to get a striped effect with basketweave or horizontal stitching. In some cases you want this effect for water, skies, distant fields, etc.

In order to avoid the stripes there are several options.

1. You can choose a thread with little variation, so that the effect is less noticeable.
2. For threads with multiple plies, you can reverse some of the plies as you stitch, which will break up the color distribution.
3. Instead of working in rows, work in random patterns or skip stitches and fill in later.
4. If you are working with multiple plies, consider working with some solid plies in the needle throughout. The repeat of the solid color will cause the eye to blend the colors more smoothly. For example, maybe work Soie Cristale with Waterlilies in the same needle, or Anchor floss with Weeks Dye Works.
5. For counted thread work, you may want to experiment on your “doodle” cloth; try making each cross as you stitch but also try making half crosses and returning to complete the cross later. You will get entirely different effects.

Remember, the overdyed threads look absolutely stunning in Bargello patterns, but they have many other uses. Many  artists in all of the fiber arts are using them to create a wonderful interplay of colors. Be creative in your use of them; the color variations will enrich your needlework

We stock the full lines of these overdyed/variegated threads: Weeks Dye Works, Sampler Threads, Waterlilies, Wildflowers, Impressions, Needle Necessities (floss, overdyed pearl #5 & #8, overdyed Kreinik #8) and overdyed silk ribbons.