Hi there.

Sometimes you have to do your judgment on what you do. Try to do your whiskers with white threads instead of grey see if it will works out. Good luck.

Maybe just convert them to straight long stitches in the light gray.

How about using the opalescent? It might be the curly whiskers that are throwing you. I think they are adorable and whimsical. I guess the memory thread would be way too much or heavy?

What do you mean by opalescent and or memory thread?

Pixie the DMC Light Effects Threads are opalescent threads and are sold here at Everything under the item categories in the floss section. Look under DMC and select light effects. Memory Thread is also a DMC product, but I do not see it here at Everything. If you want to see what it looks like just go to google images and type in DMC Memory Thread. The memory thread may be too heavy for your purposes though, but I agree with Vcess that the right color of opalescent may work for you but it's hard to say until you put it in the design and see how it looks. There are definitely some great ideas here to achieve the look you're after. I just love this board for ideas when I'm stumped.

Memory is bendable, thick, & has to be couched down. Opalescent is sparkly. I can't see either with the funky art cat.

I think that I would try the DMC B5200, which is an even brighter wHite than their white, which they call blanc. Good luck!

Many thanks for all your replies - I'll give all your suggestions a go - I've looked at the memory thread on Google images and I think will be too thick.

Pixie, is it the stitching part or the color you are dissatisfied with? I would probably go with grey since you are stitching over both white and black. If you stitched with two strands of floss, then I would use one strand for backstitching and accents. You can backstitch over several x-stitches. In some motifs it's a more attractive way, especially for accents. I've used black Kreinik for a Halloween project. It might work but find myself leaning towards jl's opinion.
Do it in the grey and let it sit for a couple of days, look at it from a distance and then decide.
Good luck.
I have to get back to cleaning. I'm taking a little break.

Hi Texas Stitcher - the grey colour is fine - it's the back stitch that looks all wrong - over one X it looked worse than over two - I have it over two at the moment and have let it sit a few days - it looks like there's gaps - I think that is the problem - do you think they will close up after I wash the work? I'm new to this so grateful for any hints - I did a 2 year course (through the NZ open Polytechnic) 20+ years ago when I was working in Papua New Guinea (whiskers were'nt on the menu!), but have done nothing until a few months ago.