Hi Val

You can get a chart exchange from DMC to Anchor and continue your work. It is other than DMC.

Plum Street prefers the softer, more antiqued look of the hand dyed threads. They use mostly Gentle Art or Weeks Dye Works. She generally gives DMC numbers on the chart, but they won't look the same as the picture that is stitched in hand-dyes.

Ok, so....which brand is it that is sold if you buy it with the chart? To be honest, I'm not snooty about these things. I've made many beautiful pieces with good old DMC floss; the quality of the stitching - now that's where I put in the effort. And, at 2.50 a pop, I'd rather use my (limited) needlework budget for charts!

I feel the same way you do Val about buying more charts over buying the various threads to stitch them which tend to be pricey. I do not know much about hand dyed thread except that you should not wash your work if you are normally inclined to do so (which also includes the hand dyed fabrics) and that there are many different ones available. If you do buy the specified threads for this chart, I feel it is safe to say that you will not likely see them used for another chart you plan to stitch, so I consider that thread expense a one time use. With that said, like you, I am quite content with my affordable DMC! (:

You are so right, lbcat. I am building up a sizable stash of overdyes and I've yet to do a project that I can use my stash for. It all depends what I stitch and who it's for whether or not I'll spring for the extra money. I've done identical projects and used DMC for one and overdyed for the other and must say that the overdyed one does look better. Especially when used for the more rustic patterns. The recipient doesn't know that though. I plan to cut back on purchasing specialty flosses because I have enough "stuff" laying around. I've also purchased the same color several years apart and there is a vast difference. I kept checking and rechecking because I thought that I had made a mistake. So unless you know that you have enough to do the entire pattern it's probably best to purchase new. That ups the cost even more.
Thanks for mentioning that the hand dyed fabrics cannot be washed. I only have one and cannot remember which pattern I bought it for. I'm sure I'll figure it out. I would have been so upset if I had washed it afterwards and the whole thing would have been ruined. I learn so much here.

Yes, Val, save your money for patterns instead.

Texas - the same thing happened to me recently with the DMC threads. When I was first getting things gathered around to begin "Lying in Wait" I pulled the colors I had from my stash. Some of these colors are from 3 or 4 years ago but kept in a dark closet so they didn't fade in the sunlight. When I got to this one place on the chart (night sky and branches) the threads were darker colors to depict nighttime. I was working with this one thread which was a shade of blue. I had bought some back up threads to cover me when I ran out of my stash colors. Well...when I ran out of this blue and I went to the new threads the number was now purple. I was 3/4's of the way done with that area and there was no way I could use that color so I had to go to the store (60 mile round trip) and sit on the floor for 45 minutes till I could come up with a decent match. Needless to say I am not happy about this. It really has put a damper on my enjoyment and enthusiasm to work on this project. There is a HUGE difference between the blue and purple. I know I have heard this story from others so know this is not unique to me and not something I did wrong. It was a lesson learned - from now on I will buy all new threads when I start a new larger multi page project and save my stash for my Stoney Creek smaller patterns where I don't use full skeins. I am starting the last half of the actual wolf tonight (have the first half done and really like him). I am hoping when the project is finally finished no one will know the difference that the blue should have been purple. I hope all this makes sense. I have 4 months to finish this wolf and have it framed by Christmas for my son. I can't say as I really think much of the confetti stitches in it. From a distance they shade the area nicely but don't care for the up close effect. He will have to hang this on a wall high enough that people can't see the separate colors. I have rambled on long enough. Time to get back to my wolf. Take care.
cheryl

CLPATT -- I am so sorry to hear your experience. There is a Michael's about ten miles from my house. I went there for one skein of floss a few weeks ago. I complained about the drive. I should be ashamed of myself. I know no one is going to give me any sympathy on that.

Well -- I did have to make a special trip. That one skein of floss cost me over $50.00 because of the impulse purchases I made.

The next day, I couldn't find that single skein of floss. Had to ask my hubby to stop at a different store to buy another one.

Still no sympathy for me, right!!!

Well I finally finished my project and a few days later found the miss floss -- it was in my wallet!!!

If you ever run out of floss like that again. -- post it on the chat. I am always happy to share. Putting a few skeins in an envelope is a whole lot cheaper than driving 60 miles. I will even put it in a padded envelope.

I have ten plastic boxes of partially used DMC bobbins. In some cases six or seven of the same number. I am down to only 592 full skeins of floss in my stash. There are 15 skeins of 776 (a pink that has been discontinued) and 16 of 958 (green)

Cheryl and all Stitchers, here if you ever run into this problem again post your dilemma. I have a huge stash of old DMC. More of some colors and less of others but it's surely worth a try. I will gladly help out. I also have some Dimension colors to share.
I am so sorry that this happened. I've told my story before - several times - about the same thing. It really takes the fun out of it. I have two children that would notice immediately, the other wouldn't. I hope that your son won't notice. Maybe after washing the colors will blend more? Doubtful though since one of DMC's most important qualities is colorfastness. Can you post a picture. I am curious to see the confetti you mention. You could also post the designer and title of the pattern and I can then look it up. I understand your frustration. I feel that way about many things. The younger people that grew up with inferior products and service can't really relate but people of my age group, give or take 10 years, express similar sentiments. My fridge is five years old and something tells me that it probably won't last much longer. Just a feeling. Appliances would last 25 years in the past. I've been in this house for five years and am on my second dishwasher and mircrowave. Oh and washer and dryer. The biggest problem for me is which lemon to pick as a replacement.
Messing with the products for our hobby goes too far. Hope we don't have to unite and march on wherever the DMC company is located. Afterwards we could spend a couple of days in Paris! LOL

TEXAS -- Do you mean Paris France? Don't really want to go there. How about if we protest in front of the Paris hotel in Las Vegas? Then we can go somewhere and eat French Toast and French Fries. I know for a fact that there is a great cross stitch shop in Las Vegas. Wouldn't that be fun!!??!!

Oh yeah!! Forgot about French Onion Soup. One of my favorites

Oh, Nancye, I love Vegas more than any other city. Yes, let's! I've been to Vegas many times when we lived in CA and MT and never knew that they had a cross stitch shop there. I saw so many wonderful shows there. I was most impressed with Cirque du Soleil. One year my daughter took me to see Pavarotti for my birthday. He is my all time favorite tenor. And all the great restaurants!! We went to this place, can't recall the name, at the Mirage. They provided little stools for us to set our handbags on! Afterwards we saw Siegfried and Roy, I know pretty hoaky, it's a long story! Glad that it wasn't the night the tiger attacked him. Lawrence Fishburne was in the audience. There was also a great Italian place outside Caesar's Palace, that's closed now. We don't gamble, although I do like to play the nickel slots for about $3 when I am there. My daughter gets so angry and accuses me of wasting my money. Depending on where you stay, having to pass through the casinos early in the morning is a sad sight. It's enough to teach anybody moderation.
When are we going? I also love the fact that taxis are so readily available and you don't have to worry about driving and parking.
Love French onion soup with lots of gooey cheese and toasted baguette. Why are all the good things so bad for us? High cholesterol, borderline diabetic! Speaking of illness, my cousin called yesterday and told me that she only had six months to live. She said that she had cancer all over her body. She wasn't very lucid. So sad. She just turned 79 but I wouldn't wish such a bitter end on anyone. She was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago and managed it so well and now this. She ordered foods from Wisconsin all the way to Texas. Sugar free cheesecake and who knows what else. She also sent me catalogs from all these places which I promptly tossed out. Ordering food is too expensive. Now, I feel that I took her for granted.