Silk Road Needle Arts

                        St. Petersburg, Florida
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Thread Choices--

 The following chart lists selected threads and helps stitchers choose threads for the appropriate purpose. Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Needlework, published by Leisure Arts, Inc., 2000, has served as a general guide to threads with “staying power.” Additional threads have been added as reviewed in Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson’s More Stitches for Effect, published by SHEAR Creations L.L.C., 1997.  No shop can carry all of these threads since the range is now so huge and the choices are excellent.

 It should be emphasized that usage of a particular thread is part of the creative process and an individual decision. For example, some people might use linen thread for pulled work only, whereas it can also be used in needlepoint, embroidery, and cross stitch. Thus the purpose of this chart is to inspire the needle artist to be creative and use threads in new ways.

 

Also note that fabric counts are only suggestions; individuals will have their own preferences according to whether they prefer fuller stitches or thinner ones. And the tension that the needle artist uses greatly affects the coverage a particular thread has.

 
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Cotton Threads

Name

Needlepoint

Cross-Stitch

Embroidery

Fabric Counts

Anchor Floss

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Anchor Pearl Cotton

Yes

Yes

Yes

#3—13 Count

#5—18 count

#8—18 to 28

#12—22 to 28

Caron’s Watercolours

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 Canvas & larger; #11-20 Fabrics

Caron’s Wildflowers

Yes

Yes

Yes

#24 Canvas & larger; #32 & Larger Fabrics

DMC Floche

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

DMC Floss

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

DMC Flower Thread

Small stitches

Yes

Small stitches

#32 and larger

DMC Pearl Cotton

Yes

Yes

Yes

#3—13 Count

#5—18 count

#8—18 to 28

#12—22 to 28

Gentle Art Sampler Threads

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Needle Necessities Madras II

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Needle Necessities Overdyed Floss

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Needle Necessities Pearl Overdyed

Yes

Yes

Yes

#5—18 Count

#8—18 to 28

Rainbow Gallery Bravo

Yes

Yes

Yes

28 and larger

Rainbow Gallery Encore!

Yes

Yes

Yes

24 and larger

Rainbow Gallery Matte 18

Yes

Yes

Yes

18 and larger

Rainbow Gallery Overture

Yes

Yes

Yes

18 and larger

Rainbow Gallery Pebbly Pearl

Yes

Yes

Yes

18 and larger

Weeks Dye Works Overdyed Floss

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Weeks Dye Works Overdyed Pearl

Yes

Yes

Yes

18 and larger

 

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Silk Threads

Name

Needlepoint

Cross-Stitch

Embroidery

Fabric Counts

Access Commodities’ Trebizond

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger

Au Ver a Soie’s Soie d’Alger

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Au Ver a Soie’s Soie Perlee

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

Caron’s Waterlilies

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Cascade House’s Pearl Silk

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger

Cascade House’s Silk Floss

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Cascade House’s Silk Lame

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger

Gumnut Yarns’ Stars

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

J.L. Walsh’s Silk—Silk 212

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

J.L. Walsh’s Silk—Silk 223

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

J.L. Walsh’s Silk—Silk Perle

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

Kreinik’s Silk Mori

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Kreinik’s Silk Serica

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger

Needle Necessities’ Empress Silk

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Needlepoint, Inc.’s Silk

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Rainbow Gallery’s Elegance

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

Rainbow Gallery’s Grandeur

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger

Rainbow Gallery’s Splendor

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Rainbow Gallery’s Subtlety

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

Thread Gatherer’s Silk n’ Colors

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Yodamo’s Eterna Silk Mini Twist

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Yodamo’s Eterna Silk Twist

Yes

Yes

Yes

#3—13 count

#5—18 Count

#8—18 to 28     

#12—22 to 28

 

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Silk/Wool Threads

Name

Needlepoint

Cross-Stitch

Embroidery

Fabric Counts

Brown Paper Packages’ Silk and Ivory

Yes

Yes

Yes

#12 to #18 Count

Caron’s Impressions

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

J.L. Walsh’s Silk Wool

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

Rosebud’s Studio’s Felicity’s Garden

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger

Rainbow Gallery’s Silk and Cream

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger

Thread Gatherer’s Sheep’s Silk

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

(perfect for #18 canvas)

Thread Gatherer’s Shepherd’s Silk

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 (specialty stitches); 13/14 needlepoint

 

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Speciality/Metallic/Linen

Name

Needlepoint

Cross-Stitch

Embroidery

Fabric Counts

Access Commodities’ Bijoux Metallic

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Anchor’s Marlitt

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Caron’s Rachel

Yes

 

 

#13-18 Count

Caron’s Rachelette

Yes

 

 

#13-18 Count; best on 13/14

DMC’s Metallic Pearl Cotton

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger

DMC’s Rayon Floss

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Designing Women’s Metallic Ribbon Floss

Yes

 

 

#13-18

Designing Women’s Shimmer Blend Ribbon Floss

Yes

 

 

#13-18

Fleur de Paris’ Regular Velour

Yes

 

 

#12-14 Canvas

Fleur de Paris’ Fine Mesh Velour

Yes

 

 

#18

Kreinik’s Blending Filament

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Kreinik’s Braids

Yes

Yes

Yes

Braid #8—24 count

Braid #12—18 count

Braid #32—13/14 count

Kreinik’s Facets (couched)

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Kreinik’s Japan Threads

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Kreinik’s Ribbon 1/8th inch

Yes

Yes

Yes

10-14 count Needlepoint; 8 count X stitch

Kreinik’s Ribbon 1/16th inch

Yes

Yes

Yes

18-24 count Needlepoint; 10-11 count X stitch

Rainbow Gallery’s Coronet Braid #4

Yes

Yes

Yes

#24 Count Needlepoint; 11-18 Count X stitch

Rainbow Gallery’s Coronet Braid #8

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 Count needlepoint;

Rainbow Gallery’s Coronet Braid #16

Yes

Yes

Yes

12-14 Count

Rainbow Gallery’s Cresta d’Oro

Yes

Yes

Yes

12-18 Count

Rainbow Gallery’s Frosty Rays

Yes

 

 

14-18 Count

Rainbow Gallery’s Fiesta

Yes

Yes

Yes

All

Rainbow Gallery’s Fyre Works

Yes

Yes

 

14-18 Count

Rainbow Gallery’s Flair

Yes

 

 

14 count best; tight on 18

Rainbow Gallery’s Neon Rays

Yes

Yes

 

14-18 Count

Rainbow Gallery’s Nordic Gold

Yes

Yes

Yes

18-24 Count

Rainbow Gallery’s Rainbow Linen

Yes

Yes

Yes

18-24 Needlepoint; 14 count X Stitch

Rainbow Gallery’s Tiara

Yes

Yes

Yes

18 count; 10 count X Stitch

Rainbow Gallery’s Petite Very Velvet

Yes

Yes

Yes

18 count needlepoint; 10 count X Stitch

Rainbow Gallery’s Very Velvet

Yes

Yes

Yes

13-18 needlepoint; 7-9 X Stitch

Thread Gatherer’s Flax n’ Colors (16/2 & 20/2)

Yes

Yes

Yes

18 count needlepoint; 10 count X stitch

 

 

Wool Threads

Name

Needlepoint

Cross-Stitch

Embroidery

Fabric Counts

Appleton Crewel

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

Appleton Tapestry

Yes

 

 

10-14 Count

Elsa Williams Tapestry

Yes

 

 

10-14 Count

EPIC Worsted Multitone

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

Medicis

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

DMC Laine Colbert

Yes

 

 

 

Needle Necessities French Wool Overdyed

Yes

Yes

Yes

#28 and larger

Paternayan Persian

Yes

Yes

Yes

#18 and larger