topic Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread in Home

Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:02:55 GMT

I ordered a Needlepoint kit from Amazon because I want to eventually be able to needlepoint a pillow. I have done a lot of cross stitching in the past but never needlepoint. I've been sorting through the kit and have a question before I get started.

The instructions say to "Separate the Strands. Separate each piece of thread into six single strands before using. Put the number of strands you need for stitching back together. Thread them in your needle." I am attaching a picture of the instructions and thread below.

According to the reviews on Amazon some people run out of thread with the Dimensions kits, so I don't want to use a whole thread if I'm supposed to separate it. I tried Googling this but couldn't find anything. I'm attaching a picture of the thread so you can see. This looks like cross stitch thread. It's not wool.

Thank you for any help you can give me. There isn't a needlepoint store in town or I would have bought my kit from the local store where I could get help. I promise I won't bug you with lots of questions. I just don't want to waste thread and need an answer for this.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

ALRATIBA — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:40:36 GMT

@NickNack

Normally, you do separate the threads. There may be some YouTube videos that explain this a bit better .... but ....

The thread is generally six separate strands. They want you to pull out the number of strands from the six, ex. you need to work with 2 strands - pull out the two and then put the remaining four aside until you need 2 more.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:45:14 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
@NickNack

Normally, you do separate the threads. There may be some YouTube videos that explain this a bit better .... but ....

The thread is generally six separate strands. They want you to pull out the number of strands from the six, ex. you need to work with 2 strands - pull out the two and then put the remaining four aside until you need 2 more.

Thank you @ALRATIBA ! So should I work with 2 stands? Is that standard?

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

ALRATIBA — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:51:08 GMT

@NickNack

Not a standard - just my example. It depends on the size of the thread and the gauge of the fabric you are working on.

Looking again at the instructions you copied - it appears that you will use only one strand.

The last line of the instructions says to separate it into six individual strands before using.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:00:56 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
@NickNack

Not a standard - just my example. It depends on the size of the thread and the gauge of the fabric you are working on.

Looking again at the instructions you copied - it appears that you will use only one strand.

The last line of the instructions says to separate it into six individual strands before using.

@ALRATIBA It says to put the number of threads back together that you'll be using. Where do you see that it's just one thread? I'm not even sure that would show up. It's 14 mesh canvas.

I did find a YouTube video on how to separate the strands. I don't know why I Googled it instead of looking on YouTube.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

ALRATIBA — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:02:33 GMT

@NickNack

See the two hands holding the threads .... see the instruction above that.

OK - I see where it mentions "the number of strands you'll need for stitching."

That might indicate that the number of strands will vary for different colors or parts of the pattern.

Read down a bit further into the instructions.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

LdyBugz — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:05:50 GMT

@NickNack. Yes, @ALRATIBA is right with her advice about separating the strands. If you still should run out of the thread, Joanne Fabric, Hobby Lobby, Michael's or online craft sites carry embroidery floss in dozens of colors, so I'm sure you could find any color that you may need. DMC, as I'm sure you know, is the biggest brand out there. Have fun with your project! 🙂

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:14:35 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
@NickNack

See the two hands holding the threads .... see the instruction above that.

OK - I see where it mentions "the number of strands you'll need for stitching."

That might indicate that the number of strands will vary for different colors or parts of the pattern.

Read down a bit further into the instructions.

@ALRATIBA I've read the entire instructions three times and don't think it tells you how many strands to use. I think I'll call JoAnne's and see if someone can tell me. They sell this brand of kit.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:16:30 GMT

@LdyBugz wrote:
@NickNack. Yes, @ALRATIBA is right with her advice about separating the strands. If you still should run out of the thread, Joanne Fabric, Hobby Lobby, Michael's or online craft sites carry embroidery floss in dozens of colors, so I'm sure you could find any color that you may need. DMC, as I'm sure you know, is the biggest brand out there. Have fun with your project! 🙂

Thank you @LdyBugz This thread isn't DMC. It's made just for Dimensions. The instructions said that if you ran out of thread to call them. The reviews said it was impossible to reach them. I might be able to find a close match in DMC thread. That's why I don't want to use the wrong # of strands and run out of thread.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

LdyBugz — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:29:23 GMT

@NickNack The kit you have is from Dimensions, based in the UK. On their WEB site, they have a link to a PDF that lists their color number and the DMC comparible number in case you need to purchase more thread locally.

Edited.....The screenshot isn't translating well, so here's their site, then go to "extra thread" on the left. That will bring up the page with the PDF.

(Add the // to the beginning of the below. Didn't want to add so it doesn't get poofed!)

www.colray-crafts.com/DimensionWebE/newhtm/index.htm

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

Love my grandkids — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:23:18 GMT

@NickNack @ALRATIBA I've been a cross stitcher for over 30 some years.

Dimensions is famous for "shorting" the amount of thread in their kits.

I've been on a couple of xs boards for years and this is a recurring problem, but they may have gotten better.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

Still Raining — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:28:42 GMT

Looks they are giving you some size of 6 ply yarn that is twisted. As it is, it will have some stretch in it. Tapestry yarn must not stretch, so they are telling you to separate the strands and recombine so the stretch is gone.

They need to be taken out and shot. Too cheap to give you good stuff!

Other crafts can and do split thread, but not tapestry yarn.

Tapestry yarn is unlike Persian or other wool yarn. It has a tight, matte finish and is never split, not sure it can be actually.

Most of the cost of your pillow kit is for the wool yarn. It can be beautiful stuff ❤️

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

LdyBugz — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:44:16 GMT

The kit on the Dimensions site states it's cotton thread:

Kit contains:
14 count fully printed Mesh Canvas, cotton threads, mat & frame not include, needle & easy to follow instructions

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:53:02 GMT

@LdyBugz Thank you so much for that website! I bookmarked it.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

LdyBugz — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:55:59 GMT

@NickNack. You're welcome! You'll have to show us your project when it's done. Have fun!

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:20:44 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
Looks they are giving you some size of 6 ply yarn that is twisted. As it is, it will have some stretch in it. Tapestry yarn must not stretch, so they are telling you to separate the strands and recombine so the stretch is gone.

They need to be taken out and shot. Too cheap to give you good stuff!

Other crafts can and do split thread, but not tapestry yarn.

Tapestry yarn is unlike Persian or other wool yarn. It has a tight, matte finish and is never split, not sure it can be actually.

Most of the cost of your pillow kit is for the wool yarn. It can be beautiful stuff ❤️

@Still Raining How many threads would you use? It says to separate the six strands and combine the # you will be using. It doesn't say how many strands to use.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

Love my grandkids — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:25:41 GMT

@NickNack I know you didn't ask *me* but I'll chime in.

Since the piece you are stitching is 14 count I would start with 2 strands and see if the coverage is good.

When stitching on 14 count Aida 2 strands is always enough. Hope this helps.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:28:32 GMT

@Love my grandkids wrote:
@NickNack I know you didn't ask *me* but I'll chime in.

Since the piece you are stitching is 14 count I would start with 2 strands and see if the coverage is good.

When stitching on 14 count Aida 2 strands is always enough. Hope this helps.

Thank you very much @Love my grandkids ! That's what I'll do. I was afraid after reading the reviews that I would run out of thread. After @LdyBugz posted the link that shows DMC matches for the Dimensions kit thread I am not so worried about running out.

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

Still Raining — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:56:26 GMT

@NickNack

Wow, that is a question!

After hearing others mentioning running out of thread, I would do less than six.

The goal is to see no canvas.

What about trying a little run of 4 ply? At worst you have some 2/36 inch colors. Which would you give 4/18 to split. Giving 6/18 4 ply?? Check my math 😃

I am purely guessing here, but you know a good even, well covering run when you see one. Just like cross stitch, watch the tension.

Still cheering for you!!!!

Re: Question About Needlepoint Thread

NickNack — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:58:51 GMT

Thank you @Still Raining . I'll do some experimenting with the # of threads to use.

I've been watching a lot of You Tube videos and have learned a lot.