Choosing the stitching fibers may be my favorite part of the the process. I've always been a bit of a thread-snob. That's not a bad thing, but I do love thread. With so many options available, it's hard narrow the selection.
I've chosen a few of my favorite threads along with some pros and cons with resource information.
Decide early on if you want to use a 6-stranded embroidery floss or a perle cotton. Test some options if you're uncertain.
Consider how your stitchery thread color will coordinate with your quilt and stitchery fabric selections. Love your choice! The stitching for this project is so joyful, that you don't want a disappointing experience with your stitchery fiber choice.
Variegated vs Solid Color? Quite often, stitching with color is an exercise in creating detailed images with paint-by-number precision. The blackwork designs featured in this course are a wonderful opportunity to explore variegated threads with subtle changes of color from stitch to stitch.
It's just as important to choose a stitching fiber you love and will continue to love over the course of this project as it was to make the right quilt fabric selection as discussed in the previous topic.
There are tons and tons of fiber options. I am highlighting a few of my absolute favorites here. Web resources are not affiliate links.
ArtFabrik 12-wt perle cotton
This is far and away my favorite thread for just about anything, but especially for the Stitchery Crossover in Color project.
Pros:
Cons:
Where to Buy:
Online: https://artfabrik.com/
Note that the perle cottons also come in 5-weight and 8-weight sizes. These are much thicker than would work for this project, but they're lovely for surface embroidery projects where bold color is in order.
DMC. Six-stranded; separate strands and use one (maybe two) strands. Test on your stitchery fabric to see if you like the double thickness.
Pros:
Cons:
Where to Buy:
Independent embroidery shops, big box stores such as Joann's and Michaels.
Online at https://www.dmc.com/us/
Threadworx, six strand. Separate stands and use 1 strand (or 2) (test)
Pros:
Cons:
Where to Buy:
Independent embroidery shops.
Search for a store location online at https://www.threadworx.com/index.php
For one of the samples you'll see repeatedly through out the course series, I've chosen three different colors of ArtFabrik Thread that coordinate with my floral, watercolor print.
In the background, you can see the light green 28-count (14 stitches per inch) evenweave stitchery fabric selection.
For this version of my Stitchery Crossover in Color sample, I want to play a bit with color. More importantly, you can see that each of the three thread options I've chosen coordinate with the quilt fabric and the stitchery fabric.
For the second sample that will appear throughout the demo photos in the Stitchery Crossover in Color modules, I've chosen ArtFabrik 12 weight thread in the Japanese Iris color.
I chose this color because it adds a blue-ish element to the purples and greens of the quilt fabric print I selected in the last lesson.
This project will have a more delicate feel.
I can't wait to get stitching!