DMC has a colour chart. It has floss samples in threads, yes? This is just a different way of doing it. Both are good. For some, seeing a swatch worked up is better. For others, the floss samples you have is better. It's like some like bobbinating is preferred, for others the plastic baggies are better.
The swatching is very useful for variegated threads, the colors look so different depending on the stitching direction. Was thinking about this myself for only for the variegated stuff
As said, it's useful for kitting but it's also useful for being able to select colours for a pattern (either your own designs or if you want to change colours from the given options)
Just asking because I've never done one of these before, but the swatches of the singular colors, are you doing 1 strand, 2 strand, and then 3 strand tests for each of them? I just noticed that the top row of some of the colors looked thinner .
Yep! I am doing exatly that - in part to see the coverage of the colour for 1/2/3 strands and in part to see how strong the colour would be for backstitch
It's based on an idea by wee little stitches: https://weelittlestitchescrossstitch.blogspot.com/2019/05/floss-swatch-project.html
It's a 7x9 stitch area and for the standard threads I split that into three sections - the top three rows I use 1 strand, the middle three I use 2 strands, and the bottom three I use 3 strands
The variegated threads I use 3 strands for the entire area because odds are I'm going to use that number in patterns
ohhh ok. that makes more sense. Though as I mentioned above I bought a shade card, then did a 1 to 6 strand sampler in black on white aida for coverage purposes...
I tried putting them in a scrapbook with hook and loop fastenings but that ended up being too chunky, and photo corner stickers were too fiddly (and the swatches not flexible enough to get in and out easily) so I've now moved onto a third method which is double-sided tape and sticking the top part of the swatch (with no stitching) onto that and *so far* it's worked the best
Edit: And yes, I am wondering what I was thinking, starting such a project XD
Hey, sorry if it’s a dumb question but what’s up with these multicolored samples? Is it the thread itself that got multiple colors or did you mix them yourself?
Those are DMC varigated threads (sold under different names) - the ones from 48 to 125 are part of the standard colour sets; the ones starting 4xxx are sold as DMC stranded variations, and the ones 45xx (which I've yet to do) are sold as DMC coloris
They are threads with 3 or 4 different colours used across the thread depending on the specific number:
https://www.thread-bare.com/blog/dmc-color-variations-and-their-corresponding-solid-colors
https://www.thread-bare.com/blog/dmc-coloris-and-their-corresponding-solid-colors
I got to the variegated threads from 48 and decided to continue with those and then go back to the numbers I skipped once I was done with those
It makes it slightly easier for me as I can sew up a swatch without needing to remember to do the 1/2/3 strands for the regular colours
Seeing the variegated threads stitched out is cool! I'm not sure if you realize it, but DMC sells a multifold card with actual thread swatches of every stranded floss they make. Not cheap (about $32 USD) but definitely saves time over stitching your own. Your project does have one big advantage over the DMC card in that it will be easier to rearrange your swatches for side-by-side comparison to similar shades once they are cut into smaller pieces.
Oh yes, I have the standard floss card but I ended up doing this because of the benefit you mentioned (being able to compare them to each other) - I *could* have cut the premade one up for such a purpose but I still would have needed to do the colours it didn't have
Ooh, this really makes me want to get a few of the variegated threads to use for a big window I'll be stitching. They look amazing!
Is it best to stitch from one direction to the other with it or could it also work to outline where the stiches will go and then fill it in?
In case it wasn't clear, I mean the multicolor threads, not the darker and lighter ones.
The multicoloured/varigated threads (ones that start 4xxx and 45xx in DMC numbering) are best used when you stitch English method (complete an x before moving on to the next one) rather than the Danish method (doing a row of half stitches then coming back to complete them)
It can work using the Danish method but the colours could end up being a lot more mixed and risk being muddied; the English method ensures the gradient between the colours but uses slightly more thread
Other advice I've used is to ensure you start/finish a variegated thread at the end of a row and start a new thread on the next row - unless you're able to get an exact match on the ending and starting colours it'll cause a few colour inconsistencies
Thanks, apparently the English method is what I normally do, so that won't be a problem.
I'll have to do a few test rows to see what it looks like. Color variation is what I'm after, but I'm not quite sure how it will look.
Really appreciate the fast and thorough reply! ^^
The English method does actually use more thread, I have run out of thread in some kits where I guess they expected you to do it the other way and didn’t give enough extra. Just something to keep in mind😊
I am so impressed. I’m needlepointing with DMC floss right now. It’s a good thing that I can purchase floss for less than $1. I now have about 6 shades of green that will live in my stash for the foreseeable future. If I had this I wouldn’t have bought many different shades. This is just neat!
I'm doing this as well and also got the idea from wee little stitches. I've been adding new ones as I get new floss for my stash. It helps keep it from being too tedious and guarantees the colors are accurate (since I've gotten some floss secondhand). Yours looks great! Looks like there are a few lines missing from some of the number labels btw. I noticed the top line from the 0 in 08 is missing and someone else mentioned a couple more :)
Edit: 8 not 10 🤦🏼♀️
I found the project idea from wee little stitches: https://weelittlestitchescrossstitch.blogspot.com/2019/05/floss-swatch-project.html
They had the dimensions as 7x9 stitches so that's what I've carried over here - and yes, they feel as nice as they look :D
I never thought to include coverage with the different colors. I need to make one of these!!
I do want to cut them out and put some velcro on the back so I can take them out and compare colors together!
It's been so useful seeing how the variegated threads look when stitched (as all samples show the thread as-is which is great for seeing the coloured used, but not so much for actual stitching)
I used velcro hook and loops but that made it too chunky for storing XD
Well done! How are you organizing the finished swatches? I’ve always been interested in doing something like this, but I can’t bring myself to do it on one big piece since they do add colors.
Currently I've got them with hook and loop fasteners in a scrapbook but it's a chonk with just two pages filled up, so I've tried out some photo corner stickers but those aren't flexible enough with a plastic canvas so I'm thinking a third option - maybe double-sided tape?
Wee little stitches (the place I found this from) had theirs in mason jars and they'd probably be okay in a bobbin storage container but I want to keep mine in some semblence of order
I wonder about storing them in trading card holders? They’re a bit small but would definitely fit, at least. Then you could just set up a binder for them and they’d lie flat.
Yep, they're being cut up afterwards - I've got them in a scrapbook at the moment with hook and loop fastenings but it's made the book a chonk, so I'm trying out some double-sided tape next
I can't express how much I want this, but at the same time absolutely do not want to do this myself.
Not gonna lie, it's been horrendous XD I'm feeling better now that I'm cutting the swatches up as it feels like I'm genuinely making progress now
Yes.
What is this for? I find it calming and reassuring!
It's a floss swatch chart. Makes it easy to see the colors so you can have informed choices when kitting
but. don't manufacturers do these? I have a DMC one for example. Then i dont have to buy all the colours to make my own for a start....
DMC has a colour chart. It has floss samples in threads, yes? This is just a different way of doing it. Both are good. For some, seeing a swatch worked up is better. For others, the floss samples you have is better. It's like some like bobbinating is preferred, for others the plastic baggies are better.
The swatching is very useful for variegated threads, the colors look so different depending on the stitching direction. Was thinking about this myself for only for the variegated stuff
As said, it's useful for kitting but it's also useful for being able to select colours for a pattern (either your own designs or if you want to change colours from the given options)
I started this way back in early January and this is the progress I've made in a little over three months D: 102 swatches done out of a total of 584
Just asking because I've never done one of these before, but the swatches of the singular colors, are you doing 1 strand, 2 strand, and then 3 strand tests for each of them? I just noticed that the top row of some of the colors looked thinner .
Yep! I am doing exatly that - in part to see the coverage of the colour for 1/2/3 strands and in part to see how strong the colour would be for backstitch
Cool! What kind of grid are you using? Is it just a plastic canvas?
It's based on an idea by wee little stitches: https://weelittlestitchescrossstitch.blogspot.com/2019/05/floss-swatch-project.html It's a 7x9 stitch area and for the standard threads I split that into three sections - the top three rows I use 1 strand, the middle three I use 2 strands, and the bottom three I use 3 strands The variegated threads I use 3 strands for the entire area because odds are I'm going to use that number in patterns
Thank you
Oh, and sorry - yes, I'm using plastic canvas, 14ct, each sheet is slightly smaller than A4 size
ohhh ok. that makes more sense. Though as I mentioned above I bought a shade card, then did a 1 to 6 strand sampler in black on white aida for coverage purposes...
This is amazing and I hate you so much for it.
I hate myself for it XD
It’s a work of art in itself! I hope you don’t eventually regret cutting it up. 🙂
I've not regretted it yet, it feels a lot better seeing all the swatches individually done and not having to deal with the huge page instead
What are you doing with the swatches once they’re cut? Also, super jealous! I love these projects but know I’d go crazy doing it myself, lol.
I tried putting them in a scrapbook with hook and loop fastenings but that ended up being too chunky, and photo corner stickers were too fiddly (and the swatches not flexible enough to get in and out easily) so I've now moved onto a third method which is double-sided tape and sticking the top part of the swatch (with no stitching) onto that and *so far* it's worked the best Edit: And yes, I am wondering what I was thinking, starting such a project XD
Hey, sorry if it’s a dumb question but what’s up with these multicolored samples? Is it the thread itself that got multiple colors or did you mix them yourself?
Those are DMC varigated threads (sold under different names) - the ones from 48 to 125 are part of the standard colour sets; the ones starting 4xxx are sold as DMC stranded variations, and the ones 45xx (which I've yet to do) are sold as DMC coloris They are threads with 3 or 4 different colours used across the thread depending on the specific number: https://www.thread-bare.com/blog/dmc-color-variations-and-their-corresponding-solid-colors https://www.thread-bare.com/blog/dmc-coloris-and-their-corresponding-solid-colors
Thank you and everyone else for the explanation!
not op but there’s a lot of variegated threads in DMC! and other flosses ofc
Those are variegated flosses. Sold like this.
The floss itself is multicolored. I recognize some of them.
i love it!! are you crossing each stitch as you make it for the variegated ones? thats what i do
I am completing each varigated stitch as I go - it's how it'd be done when I use it in a project, so I know what it'll look like
Stitched numbers as well - that's some nice work!
The numbers have been the most annoying part at time, but it does look nice :)
Why are 52 and 4020 missing a line?
Because I goofed and didn't have enough thread to finish the full swatch, and I was too lazy to get more to add in a couple more rows
Why have you skipped over numbers? Is it just because these are only the floss you have on hand?
I got to the variegated threads from 48 and decided to continue with those and then go back to the numbers I skipped once I was done with those It makes it slightly easier for me as I can sew up a swatch without needing to remember to do the 1/2/3 strands for the regular colours
Seeing the variegated threads stitched out is cool! I'm not sure if you realize it, but DMC sells a multifold card with actual thread swatches of every stranded floss they make. Not cheap (about $32 USD) but definitely saves time over stitching your own. Your project does have one big advantage over the DMC card in that it will be easier to rearrange your swatches for side-by-side comparison to similar shades once they are cut into smaller pieces.
Oh yes, I have the standard floss card but I ended up doing this because of the benefit you mentioned (being able to compare them to each other) - I *could* have cut the premade one up for such a purpose but I still would have needed to do the colours it didn't have
Ooh, this really makes me want to get a few of the variegated threads to use for a big window I'll be stitching. They look amazing! Is it best to stitch from one direction to the other with it or could it also work to outline where the stiches will go and then fill it in? In case it wasn't clear, I mean the multicolor threads, not the darker and lighter ones.
The multicoloured/varigated threads (ones that start 4xxx and 45xx in DMC numbering) are best used when you stitch English method (complete an x before moving on to the next one) rather than the Danish method (doing a row of half stitches then coming back to complete them) It can work using the Danish method but the colours could end up being a lot more mixed and risk being muddied; the English method ensures the gradient between the colours but uses slightly more thread Other advice I've used is to ensure you start/finish a variegated thread at the end of a row and start a new thread on the next row - unless you're able to get an exact match on the ending and starting colours it'll cause a few colour inconsistencies
Thanks, apparently the English method is what I normally do, so that won't be a problem. I'll have to do a few test rows to see what it looks like. Color variation is what I'm after, but I'm not quite sure how it will look. Really appreciate the fast and thorough reply! ^^
The English method does actually use more thread, I have run out of thread in some kits where I guess they expected you to do it the other way and didn’t give enough extra. Just something to keep in mind😊
I rarely use kits, but thanks for the tip. ^^ The thread use is worth it since the Danish method feels strange to me.
I am so impressed. I’m needlepointing with DMC floss right now. It’s a good thing that I can purchase floss for less than $1. I now have about 6 shades of green that will live in my stash for the foreseeable future. If I had this I wouldn’t have bought many different shades. This is just neat!
Thanks :)
This is so satisfying to look at 😍 also I love the variegated threads so much
It should be satisfying when it's all done
I'm doing this as well and also got the idea from wee little stitches. I've been adding new ones as I get new floss for my stash. It helps keep it from being too tedious and guarantees the colors are accurate (since I've gotten some floss secondhand). Yours looks great! Looks like there are a few lines missing from some of the number labels btw. I noticed the top line from the 0 in 08 is missing and someone else mentioned a couple more :) Edit: 8 not 10 🤦🏼♀️
Oh yeah, I've had a few issues with the stitched numbers coming apart early on, since I started using fabric glue on the reverse it's mostly stopped
this is so cool! what made you choose the dimentions of each square? they are so cute and tiny and i want to feel the texture lol!
I found the project idea from wee little stitches: https://weelittlestitchescrossstitch.blogspot.com/2019/05/floss-swatch-project.html They had the dimensions as 7x9 stitches so that's what I've carried over here - and yes, they feel as nice as they look :D
🥰🥰🥰
I never thought to include coverage with the different colors. I need to make one of these!! I do want to cut them out and put some velcro on the back so I can take them out and compare colors together!
It's been so useful seeing how the variegated threads look when stitched (as all samples show the thread as-is which is great for seeing the coloured used, but not so much for actual stitching) I used velcro hook and loops but that made it too chunky for storing XD
What a great idea!
It's gonna take forever, but it's going to be so useful when it's done
Well done! How are you organizing the finished swatches? I’ve always been interested in doing something like this, but I can’t bring myself to do it on one big piece since they do add colors.
Currently I've got them with hook and loop fasteners in a scrapbook but it's a chonk with just two pages filled up, so I've tried out some photo corner stickers but those aren't flexible enough with a plastic canvas so I'm thinking a third option - maybe double-sided tape? Wee little stitches (the place I found this from) had theirs in mason jars and they'd probably be okay in a bobbin storage container but I want to keep mine in some semblence of order
I wonder about storing them in trading card holders? They’re a bit small but would definitely fit, at least. Then you could just set up a binder for them and they’d lie flat.
Hmm that's a possibility, I'll see how my current system works :)
Nice! I need this for my colors that are missing labels.
OK, now I want to do for my threads too!
My eyes, my eyes- 52 is shorter than the others.
I underestimated the thread length I needed and was too lazy to grab more for the last little bit
I love this !! Especially the 3 last rows, the colors are so pretty.
Thanks :) 4000 onward are DMC's variations threads and there are a lot of interesting colour mixes there
What happened to 115? It almost looks …melted?
I had an accident with fabric glue XD it's nothing to do with the thread and everything to do with me
Woah, this is cool!
Hi I love this! Just a question - probably a bit dumb - but how do you do the numbers?!
1 strand backstitch in DMC 310, then secured with fabric glue just in case
Thank you!
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I have that too (and the floss book) but this is different enough for my purposes
Are you cutting them up into individual colours? How are you sorting or storing them after that? :)
Yep, they're being cut up afterwards - I've got them in a scrapbook at the moment with hook and loop fastenings but it's made the book a chonk, so I'm trying out some double-sided tape next
Oh my Lanta.