stitching stuff

Threads are an interesting one 🧵 when I first started, I got a bulk mix random pack type thing of 200 threads from eBay, because I wasn’t sure how long I’d enjoy stitching for and didn’t want to spend too much in case I didn’t like it! I *think* they were Güttermann thread but I can’t remember 😬

I’ve not found much difference between brands of thread to be honest - I still use the ‘cheaper’ threads I first got, but also others! My local craft store only sells Anchor threads, but where my family lives there is a Hobbycraft which does sell DMC threads, so I’ve got a bit of a mixture of brands, and own brand threads from The Works, and non-labelled threads from charity shops and so I’ve not got a favourite brand or anything! Generally patterns will give you DMC *or* Anchor colour codes (not both), but there are conversion charts online and often they’ll have them in the store as well if you ask an employee ☺️

I tend to use DMC speciality threads (the metallics, étoile, satin) purely because I got a gift voucher for a website that stocked them and not the anchor equivalent, but I have heard from other stitchers that DMC isn’t the best brand for metallics for embroidery (although I don’t mind it)

I have had a couple of weird ones, I had an Anchor skein of bright purple that bled onto my fabric (once I rinsed the thread with water it seemed to stop happening), and I have had a couple of skeins of DMC that were not as strong as usual and kind of frayed away the more you stitched - but from my understanding, each ‘batch’ of threads are ever so slightly different (which is often what the little numbers on the label means), which can affect the colouring and take of the dye!

Sorry this turned into an essay!! My main point is I don’t have a favourite brand, and generally I just buy what is available to me, regardless of brand! I know many others will only stitch with one brand and not the others, but I don’t really choose one over another - plus, especially to start with, stitching can seem like an expensive hobby to embark on (I pay between 75 pence and £1.20 per skein for standard DMC/Anchor depending on shop), so I’d recommend unbranded / a bulk type deal rather than trying to buy all the colours you want if you’re not doing a specific project that calls for specific colours! (they seem cheap individually and then you get to the cashier and it all adds up fast haha)

TLDR: I can’t recommend the best brand of thread because I don’t have a ranking for them, but I’ve not met a thread brand I didn’t like, and honestly, I’d say the type of fabric you use is far more important than the brand of thread!! 🧶🧵

Hi there!

there’s a couple of ways to approach large groups of French knots, and it depends on the effect you want to achieve! (I’ll pop some pictures in)

⭐️ you can do it in chunks of them, and build into a shape bit by bit - I like working like this for a multi coloured effect, but it probably wouldn’t work well for trying to achieve shading or anything fancy!

here I’ve just randomly grouped them, however you can divide the space up into blocks to make filling it easier!

⭐️ you can do them randomly, all over the space you want to fill - this is good for unique effects and mixing colours

*but* I probably wouldn’t recommend it for a first time of large filling, because it can get crowded/uneven in distribution, and struggle keeping sharp edges, as you can see here (I think it’s easier to use a evenweave or aida type fabric, so you can evenly space them)

⭐️ the thicker the threads the quicker it goes - one issue with filling space with French knots, as I learnt in the bluey-purpley piece above, is that it can take a LOT of them to fill a hoop 🙈 in that blue hoop I was using 2 strands of thread, in the other attached photo I used 4 and you can really tell the difference in effect (and one was much quicker!!)

⭐️ to achieve a defined outline of the area, I would go around the edges of the space first, in a line of French knots, and then fill the space in from outside!

and some general French knot tips that are extra useful for filling large spaces

⭐️ use a needle that is the same width all the way down (a milliners needle is best), makes knots easier

⭐️ make sure your fabric is taught in the hoop (so you can drum on it with your fingers)

I hope this is helpful! ☺️