What a good idea to secure the floss! I can't answer your question, but I wanted to thank you for the needle threading idea.

Hi Bones,
Hmmm... I do NOT have a set of instructions as to the variegated floss color use but I can give you suggestions that may help.
When I use variegated floss, I do NOT thread it onto the needle the way you do. I use two separate strands and hold the strands on the back to stitch over to hold in place. When you take one strand only of floss and "halve" it like you said you do, that piece of floss may not have enough color variation in it to show the color differences. I would suggest not "halving" the thread when doing variegated floss.
The other thing I would suggest and I just learned this recently from some of the other more experienced stitches on this "Chat". My problem (which they fixed) was that I was doing the picture of a small barn that called for a variegated floss color. When I started to cross stitch the sides of the barn, I stitched the rows STRAIGHT ACROSS and I ended up with "Blocks" of one color of the variegated floss in areas of the barn which looked "odd". I posted my problem and some of the stitchere instructed me to "cross stitch my "X's" not in a straight line, but my sttches should be up and down and sideways and "kitty corner" so the different variations of the floss color can be distributed through out the barn. It worked!
If you look at your variegated floss you will notice that it takes a pretty LONG piece of floss BEFORE you start getting the "variation of color" that is through the skein of floss.
I hope this helps.

Bermuda,
So you don't stitch your row with halves and come back to complete each stitch, you would complete each stitch and move to the next either up or down or kitty cornered. Thanks for the tip, I wish I had asked before completing four of the six projects.

Bones,
When I use variegated colored floss, I do EACH "X" completely and go on to the next square but I'm using TWO stands of floss; I don't "half" one thread.
My problem with the "blocks" of the SAME color that I was getting was because I was NOT varying where my cross stitches were. I was going straight across, from left to right, completing each cross stitch as I went. BUT WHEN I DID THAT, I would get "blocks" of the same color which looked odd.
The other experienced stitchers recommended that instead of stitching like this: xxxxxxxxx
when I have so much of the same color stitches for stitching the barn, I should
stitch like this:
x x xxx
xx x xxx
x xxx

so that the colors changes of the variegated floss would be spread out so to speak.
It did work.
Don't feel badly for not knowing. I'm sure your completed patterns are beautiful!
I didn't have any know-how on this because I almost work exclusively with DMC floss, not variegated floss.
I READ (somewhere) about a woman that was using variegated thread on a dragon pattern. The dragon
itself used only ONE variegated floss color, but she stated that she was not getting a good "spread" of the different colors of the floss when she was stitching the dragon. Someone told her to take the 2 strands of floss from the 6-strand floss she had cut and "take the TOP of ONE of the 2 strands and TURN the ONE strand so it's TOP was now the bottom end" to spreak out the color. I have never tried this....

I have doubled only when the floss had limited colors & I intended to make a tweedy look. Or, when the overdye has virtually one color. Even then, I do stitches individually (English).

DMC Color Variations are lovely, but have too many colors to fold the floss.

bones, Bermuda and jlhewes are founts of wisdom. I am just finishing a piece that is done with variegated floss using three strands. There are many areas requiring only two or three stitches. That is always a dilemma for me because I don't know the correct way to secure floss in such a small area. I've had many color changes as well and the whole thing looks a little puffy. I have to choose my patterns more carefully in the future ( a problem when you order) because I really dislike stitching with 3 strands and although I love the appearance of variegated floss, I do prefer DMC and two strands so I can loop as you have described.

Yes, you have to complete each stitch individually. I even stitch with DMC that way now, I have gotten used to the method.

HI TEXAS!! Where have you been? I haven't see you on the "chat" lately... or is that my eyes getting worse....

Oh....pardon me.. I need to get back on track...
Yes, do each square completely. Somewhere in my distant (and it's getting more distant every year) memory, I remember someone saying that cross stitch "squares" that are done completely, one square at a time, withstand the test of time LONGER, than if you do half-cross stitches on rows you have a lot of the same color and they were talking using ANY type of floss ie. DMC, Anchor, etc.

Bermuda, I drop in from time to time. How nice of you to ask. I've been really busy and have a terrible cold I've been without voice for five days now and DH loves it. I whisper and make signs, he completely misunderstands and comes up with crazy clues, i.e, turn to channel eleven - his reply "I don't want a lemon", I asked if he wanted pears but from the can - his reply "What about pants for a cat". We don't own a cat. Things like that, so at least we have a few good laughs. Our doctor had our DNA tested. My appt is in a couple of days and I am stressed. I really don't want to know what will do me in and when. I have to discuss that with him up front.
Good to know that the English method of stitching holds up better. I stitch for fun and don't harbor illusions that my "work" will show up on the Antiques Roadshow in a hundred years or so. It is interesting to know. I learn so much here.
It's getting hot here and I've been planting and doing a little yard work. Soon Texas will be abloom with Blue Bonnets. I look forward to seeing them all year.
Has Mary Lee been by? LOL

Texas Stitcher....so good to hear from you. I truly hope your voice returns soon for your sanity and your husbands!! By the way....I am working on Celtic Spring and just love all this vertical stitching I am doing on her dress. I was thinking about you! Boy...this is the difference between driving a stick shift Volkswagen and driving a new Corvette!!
P.S. I saw a PBS special last year about Texas. Part of it was dedicated to the (I guess) millions of acres of Blue Bonnets. It really looked like a beautiful sight.