floss
I am doing the little mermaid picture and I ordered the kit however I am using DMC thread instead of what came with the kit. My question is can I mix the two different threads since I do not have all the right colors in DMC.
Posted by: nana on 02/26/14
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It depends on who the kit is from. If you go to cyberstitchers.com you will find charts of comparable floss colors to DMC. Some brands are comparable to DMC and some are not. Hope this helps. I very rarely buy kits anymore. I just buy patterns and have my own stashes of DMC and fabric of different sizes.
by: syagel on 02/27/14
I have found that you can if you are sure you're not going to run out of the non DMC. They have a slight variation in color. I did that and ran out of a dark red (after I almost finished the item) and bought the comparable color in DMC. It was very noticeable and had to rip out the entire item that was in red (a lion's mane) and redo it in the DMC. You can mix the different colors, but don't mix the same color. Have I confused you?
by: jclifford on 02/28/14
Hi. I have stitched for many years and have never mixed threads. However, I have looked at as many other makers of Florida o as abd substituted a close color a d n of used the DMC for just that one color.
by: denisegrace3 on 03/01/14
This is the very season that I do not like kits. I've had some close calls and have since purchased the floss separately. I throw the floss away that comes with the kit. Although the variation is often quite subtle, it will show in the finished project. I cannot let myself get stressed over having enough floss. That's just me, other stitchers have different experiences. Start with something small and see how you manage with the provided floss. One thing I know, there is very little room for error. Good luck.
by: Texas Stitcher on 03/01/14
I'm a bit OCD about running out of floss, too, so if I have any qualms about the thread quantity in a kit, I sub in something from my floss stash that's as close as possible. I do save the floss that I didn't use and either save it for some other project or donate it to a specific organization where there are disabled clients who love to stitch, knit, crochet, etc., but don't have the money to buy supplies or access, either by transportation or internet, to get it themselves.
by: jn_elliot on 03/01/14
Craftways question: I usually use DMC but recently was at a yard sale and got a great deal on a ton of Craftways floss. I bought it because (1) it was too good a deal to pass up, and (2) I do a lot of stamped projects -- pillowcases, lap quilts, kids' quilts, etc. -- either for "the troops" or for kids at our local children's hospital and/or hospice. But I can't find any color charts, conversion charts, or even a website for that brand. I've Googled myself silly. Can anyone give me a source?
by: jn_elliot on 03/01/14
I've had trouble with kits a few times. One brand in particular (not sold on this site) often supplied the wrong amounts of floss. Once I had to call a company, and I'm glad I did because the floss matched. Have never tried to substitute.

Oh, and just buy the DMC. It's the cheapest investment you'll ever make.
by: jlhewes on 03/02/14
Hey jn_elliot, when you do the stamped cross stitch, do you stitch over the entire "X"? I did that with a towel and the individual stitches were so large, it looked ugly to me. The rest of the stitches (embroidery) were beautiful, but the Xstitches were not. Help, I have several of these I ordered and want to finish. Thanks.
by: jclifford on 03/03/14
Craftways question. Herrschners.com is selling it now, instead of Anchor. Pictures of all colors. 33ยข a skein. No conversion chart yet at cyberstitchers.com. Other companies newly appearing in the US are Presencia from Spain & Pearsalls from England. Found Prescencia at a quilting shop across town, but no sign of Pearsalls, except in magazines.

Sullivan's @ Hancock. Presencia @ Quilting Cottage. Anchor @ Janna's Needlearts. DMC @ Michaels & JoAnns. The only thing I've got a lot of in this town is cotton floss. Michaels has dropped "unpopular colors'. Anchor is my favorite. DMC is second. I feel Anchor 'lints' a little less.
by: jlhewes on 03/03/14
jn_elliot, sounds like you got a really good deal. I have never heard of Craftways floss. A word of caution, a friend once received a huge amount of DMC meant for a bedspread, unfortunately it was so old that it already had dry rot. Most skeins had to be thrown out. While living overseas, I received free samples of Madeira floss in craft magazines. I never tried it. I'm concerned that the lower priced floss is not color fast. I had a bad experience with JP Coats.
by: Texas Stitcher on 03/03/14