Here is another question
Thank you for the answer to my fabric question I was doing the math wrong. After crunching the numbers and deciding to go with a yard of fabric instead of trying to squeeze this onto the suggested fabric to give myself some breathing room. So here is my next question. The pattern suggests 90 skeins of floss. Well after crunching numbers and going up in cost for the extra length in fabric I thought about just ordering one of every skein of floss instead of the suggested amount right now and then order the rest when I run low to cut the cost, as it is going to run over $80.00 if I do it all in one shot, which is a little rich for me with property taxes and all the things that come with the first of the year. My question is has anybody done this? Did you have a problem with it? Would any of you suggest I not do this and just bite the bullet and order it all at once. Opinions appreciated.


Posted by: Nettie on 02/12/18
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ECS hasnt always posted all the required numbers of colors, i was annoyed when i finally realized i didnt have all that i needed. But if that's your plan, do it the way you want! At least one is going to mention dye lot differences...with DMC shouldn't be a massive problem, if at all. If you're using hand-dyes/over-dyes, order it all at once...gnashing teeth are sometimes unpleasant. 😊
Posted by: VCESS on 02/12/18
As VCESS foreshadowed, I am one who has had some issues with dye lots with DMC floss. It does not happen often, but on at least 2 occasions the new skein really looked like a different hue next to the old skein. You're probably safe starting with 1 skein, just look closely when you buy the follow-up skeins in case of a wider variation.
Posted by: lmurdoch on 02/12/18
I haven't had any problems with DMC. I noticed, however, that some of my inherited floss was very old and washed to a lighter shade, so I put it to the back of a section of that number. If I dislike a color but would like a lighter shade, I just pull out one of the older ones! All ov the floss in our family was kept carefully, sealed in boxes, no pets, no smoke. It has not yet broken or shredded on me.
Posted by: Su Pitt on 02/12/18
If you figure out WHERE you are going to begin stitching for this project on your fabric ie. Center of fabric?, top left corner of fabric? THEN look at the floss Symbols of the major flosses colors that you’ll be using in that area you are going to begin stitching, you should purchase those first. If a couple of the symbols in that area you are going to start stitching calls for 2 skeins, buy the 2 skeins which should reduce the risk of dye lot differences. I have large amounts of different floss colors that no doubt, are from different dye lots but I have not seen an extreme difference between dye lots of the same color, especially since the manufacturers are probably using computers nowadays to keep the same dye lot colors as closely matched to one another as possible.
Sure, I’ve not purchased all the floss skeins at once to save money because it can take a bite out of your
pocket book. :)
Posted by: Bermuda on 02/12/18
Don't skimp of the amount of fabric you purchase. You don't want to spend months stitching only to find out that you run out of cloth before you run out of pattern. Don't you already have some of those colors in your stash? Frequently when there are a lot of colors you are only doing a few colors in certain colors. Some designers (e.g. Artecy) list how many stitches of each color. This is quite helpful. Say it says that there are only 20 or 30 stitches of DMC #701 (dark green) and you have a partial skein or bobbin in your stash. You don't have to buy another skein. I've had patterns that have only five or six of a certain color. I might eliminate that completely. One thing that I NEVER do is bobbinate my floss in advance. I don't wind a new bobbin until I am ready to use it. I know there are members of this chat who wind all their floss in advance. I find this process tedious.
Posted by: NANCYE G on 02/13/18
LOL! I agree Nancye! Us ‘bobbinaters” do find it tedious. I will only ‘bobbin’ 5-8 skeins every few days because it is so tedious....like being a ‘checker’ in a chicken processing factory.
And then any Sampler, Weeks or Classic Colorworks dyed specialty threads I purchase are pretty tedious also, especially when I first purchased some of these flosses and realized I just didn’t have room on the bobbin to print
‘Schneckley’ or ‘Persimmon’ ; fortunately my conscience slapped me around inside my head and yelled, “Get a GRIP and start using that brain, will ya?!!” So now, when the specialty threads arrive, I take my scissors and packing tape, cut out the cardboard name (and number) and manufacturers name and tape it to the bobbin. Then I put them in alphabetical order by name. Freud would probably diagnose me as being “irretrievably stuck in the _ -N-A-L
Stage”.....
Posted by: Bermuda on 02/13/18
If am nearing the end of a project, I look in my stash to see what to stitch next. I may "kit up" two designs, or three if they are all small. I like to do 5"x7" patterns when I need a break from a BAP. I don't rotate my stitching on a schedule. I learned the hard way not to bobbinate (a great word) all my floss at one time. That is tedious and frustrating at times. I have two one-gallon bags full of unbobbinated floss, so plenty of stuff to do. I have lots of fabric, always with generous margins. The last thing I ever want to do is irritate either one of my framers. This last weekend, I went a bit crazy and bobbined myself into my corner, kitting up designs that are truly my favorites.
Posted by: Su Pitt on 02/13/18