Technique of the Week: Thread Count

It’s been a few weeks, but I’m back with another embroidery technique tip! I get a lot of questions about how many threads I use when I stitch and how many threads are the right number of threads to use for embroidery in general. I don’t think it’s a secret that I don’t believe in the idea of there being a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to create. I use a different number of strands depending on what I am stitching. For example, I use more strands of thread when I am covering large areas with satin stitch and fewer strands when I am adding delicate surface details.

I believe it all boils down to personal preference. How does using a single strand of thread feel to you? Compared to three strands? Or six strands? Is it easy or hard to pull your needle and thread through your fabric? Do you like the way x-number of threads rest on the surface of your piece? The more threads you use, the more puffy your stitching will be. Are you into that? Are you in a hurry to fill an area with color or are you in it for the meditative process of stitching—the more ins and outs with the needle, the better? These are just a few of the questions you can ask yourself as you explore your embroidery materials and determine your personal preferences.

In my video this week, I show two ways to separate strands of DMC Embroidery Floss*. You can pull one thread out at a time and re-combine the strands to your preferred thread count (not my personal favorite way, but certainly effective) or split your thread directly into the number of strands you want to work with (that’s how I like to do it). I share thread count recommendations based on my own preferences in all of my #SKBDIY digital patterns, but there really are no rules!

I hope these basic tips are helpful to you and that you feel empowered to experiment, have fun, and release yourself from any pressure to do it ‘right’ by anyone’s standards other than your own.

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