DMC Floss, changing colors, using 2 strands of thread vs 1 strand
Hey Ladies & Gents! It's been a long time since I was here asking for advice on this xstitch project!!!! Ya know what?, I haven't touched it yet And it was back in mid 2015 when I first asked for advice.... I have some new questions to ask..these questions are why I haven't started yet....I'd like to change some of the colors on the cat portion. The cat I want to do this for is my baby who past. The fluffiness and the color pattern looks very much like him. Except, He was mostly white, off-white and black. I thought about changing out the brownish color on his face for black. Then I thought I could use some of the brown and mix it with black or charcoal. Then I thought that I might be able to use 2 strands of color to blend in a little better. Then I thought, well that would give it a '3-D' kinda look. I think I like that Thought. It's 14 ct. I also read somewhere, maybe here, that the DMC threads have gotten a little thinner and some stitcher's were already using double threads of the DMC threads. It seemed when using only the one thread, the canvas would show thru. I know what I want the work to look like, but, I'm afraid I'll mess it up. So, I'm coming back to you fine ladies and gents. I really would like the '3-D' affect for his face and beard and keep the rest as is. I also would like to NOT do so much of the background and let the canvas show around the face and body. I have bought several different colors of canvases. I wonder if I did the xstitch in a smaller stitch such as a 16 or 18 ct. How do you think the picture would look if I were to do that? If I do that, then I would only use the one strand. I really want to get started on this, so, any help you can give me to get me going would be graciously appreciated!!! I need all the advice I can get!! My biggest problem is I'm afraid I'm going to mess it up and I want it to be perfect!! (Hopeful intentions!!) Thanx again, Jedzia (I hope the picture is still showing so you can take a gander at it :)
Cat Portrait Cross Stitch
Cat Portrait Cross Stitch
Posted by: Jedzia on 01/05/17
View Item
Post a Reply
View Item
Please Wait ...
I've always used two strands of floss as a single strand is prone to breaking (yes, DMC stuff does seem to have gotten thinner over the years! I have a skein that my mom used and the difference is compelling!)
Perhaps use two strands on the cat and half stitches for the background?
Perhaps use two strands on the cat and half stitches for the background?
Posted by: DancyFrog on 01/05/17
Would it be possible to find a piece of variegated fabric that matches the pattern so that you only stitch the cat? I bought this pattern awhile ago along with Cherry Blossom Panda and Cherry Blossom Kitten and instead of stitching the background I decided to try and find something like that as I did not feel like stitching the background. Just a thought.
Posted by: deirdre on 01/05/17
Hi Jedzia,
Do you have some scrap 16-count and 18-count fabric in your "stash"? If you do, I would suggest that you experiment on them by first seeing how good your floss coverage will be by stitching one strand and two strands of floss on both the 16-count and the 18 count fabrics. I suggest you do 5-8 cross stitches in 1 row with 2 rows right below to determine how you like the floss coverage using one or two strands. This will also help you determine whether you want to use 16-count OR 18-count fabric for your project. I suggest you write your decision down on a piece of paper; I have to write things down when I'm figuring things out or I end up having to redo things. :)
Next, the floss colors you are thinking of using..... again you would probably want to experiment on your
"Scrap" fabrics. Pull your floss colors you want to use on the parts of the cat pattern you are planning on changing and experiment. Also, consider what fabric color you are going to use. If you are planning to use two strands of floss for the pattern, then experiment with blending and cross stitch a few rows to get the effect and see if you like it.
Once you have made the decision on floss colors you will use and if you are going to use any "blending" of colors, write down the DMC floss numbers. Example: I decide to blend one strand of DMC # 976 and 1 strand of of DMC # 977 together; 1 would write it down as 976 + 977 } then write down the SYMBOL from the area of the Pattern that you are going to change and use the blended flosses on. I did this on a small project that I was changing some of the colors on; AND any floss colors I changed I wrote down the DMC colors I'm going to use next to the symbols on my " working" copy of the pattern and put ONE line through the "original" DMC floss color with a PENCIL ( I still want to be able to see the original DMC floss color I'm NOT using in case I change my mind).
I hope this isn't confusing to you...
Good Luck with your project :)
Do you have some scrap 16-count and 18-count fabric in your "stash"? If you do, I would suggest that you experiment on them by first seeing how good your floss coverage will be by stitching one strand and two strands of floss on both the 16-count and the 18 count fabrics. I suggest you do 5-8 cross stitches in 1 row with 2 rows right below to determine how you like the floss coverage using one or two strands. This will also help you determine whether you want to use 16-count OR 18-count fabric for your project. I suggest you write your decision down on a piece of paper; I have to write things down when I'm figuring things out or I end up having to redo things. :)
Next, the floss colors you are thinking of using..... again you would probably want to experiment on your
"Scrap" fabrics. Pull your floss colors you want to use on the parts of the cat pattern you are planning on changing and experiment. Also, consider what fabric color you are going to use. If you are planning to use two strands of floss for the pattern, then experiment with blending and cross stitch a few rows to get the effect and see if you like it.
Once you have made the decision on floss colors you will use and if you are going to use any "blending" of colors, write down the DMC floss numbers. Example: I decide to blend one strand of DMC # 976 and 1 strand of of DMC # 977 together; 1 would write it down as 976 + 977 } then write down the SYMBOL from the area of the Pattern that you are going to change and use the blended flosses on. I did this on a small project that I was changing some of the colors on; AND any floss colors I changed I wrote down the DMC colors I'm going to use next to the symbols on my " working" copy of the pattern and put ONE line through the "original" DMC floss color with a PENCIL ( I still want to be able to see the original DMC floss color I'm NOT using in case I change my mind).
I hope this isn't confusing to you...
Good Luck with your project :)
Posted by: Bermuda on 01/06/17