Recently there was a question on the
Feeling Stitchy Facebook Page about six stranded (or six ply) cotton embroidery floss. What's the difference between, for example,
Coats and Clark floss compared to
DMC ? Or
Anchor,
Cosmo or
Presencia? Is one better in quality than the other? I doubt it, but I do think (and actually know from experience) there are differences between brands. I'm pretty sure more embroiderers are wondering about this so I thought it would be a good question for the knowledgeable readers of
Feeling Stitchy!
Do you have a 'preferred' floss and why? Have you tried several brands or do you stick to just one? Share your Embroidery Floss experience with us!
P.S. if you like pretty photos of embroidery floss, why not join the
Embroidery Thread Lovers Group on
Flickr?
I have always used DMC floss. I like it and I can get it locally in lots of colors! I've never had a problem with using it, getting it or finding the color I need so I've never thought to use anything else!
ReplyDeleteI exclusively use DMC floss. That is the only brand available in my area. A long time ago, both Anchor and DMC floss were available, but I liked the DMC color palette better and the colors seemed a bit more brighter than Anchor's.
ReplyDeleteI love that I can split the strands in DMC floss, over time, I've realized that I like to stitch with 2 strands.
Knock on wood, but I've never ever had any problems with DMC floss colors bleeding.
I don't have an opinion about floss, but I LOVE your header! Makes me want to learn to embroider :o) !!!
ReplyDeleteI blogged my thoughts awhile back. Here ya go:
ReplyDeletehttp://hillbillyhandiworks.blogspot.com/2011/04/floss-comparison.html
I use primarily DMC, because that's what's most readily available to me. But I have had a problem with bleeding...specifically with a dark dark brown color and a deep red.
ReplyDeleteNow, I presoak my dark colors overnight in a dish of water/little soap then rinse and press and let dry before using.
I used moon floss just now. I'm not sure how good a brand it is because noone ever mentions it on the blogs I read, but I got a huge pack of it for cheap and I love it. It comes in loads of lovely colours and I've never had a problem with it (apart from it getting knotted but I imagine that happens all the time anyway :P).
ReplyDeleteI generally default to DMC, but I used to have to get floss at Wal-Mart. Since then I usually pick up a few colors of whatever I feel like where ever I am. So if I am not looking for a very specific shade like "Ultra Very Dark Dusty Rose" (DMC 150, my favorite), I just grab the color I am looking for and very often end up mixing brands in various projects.
ReplyDeleteI've traied several brands of cotton floss, and although I can tolerate coats and clark, it's hard to find where I am. I use DMC. I find it difficult to work with some other flosses. The seems to tangle more, knot more and fray more. I've never pre-washed my thread and I've never had a problem with DMC.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say that I never use silk because it catches so badly on my hands. Polyester does the same sometimes. I'm not a fan of polyester. I prefer the cotton, but I'm not sure why.
I have one issue with DMC. If they are going to sell a color card they should actually put thread on it rather than just the photo.
No problems with bleeding but I agree, DMC is the winner for me. Cheap, easy to find and a wide selection of colors make it a winner in my book.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I don't have a preference. Whatever brand is in a particular store when I need some is fine with me... All the displays get me the same, though, I LOVE color coordination.
ReplyDeleteI find that all reds bleed, dmc is the most widely available and has a softer "hand" and a nicer (my taste) sheen
ReplyDeleteFor years I used J&P Coats, which was available in my area. Now all the stores that sold it, moved out, closed down, or quit selling it. I go to Hobby Lobby to buy DMC. Any brand I used, I have never had any problems with bleeding. (lucky me) I have bought whatever or no name brands at Herrschners.com and i like those too.
ReplyDeleteI've actually only ever used the DMC floss. I'm afraid that the cheaper stuff in the multipacks may bleed or fade, and I've not seen a lot of Coats and Clark or Anchor. DMC is just the most accessible to me and they seem to have tons and tons of colors.
ReplyDeleteI've tried other brands, but I prefer dmc thread. I have go to colours and they work well for my embroidery.
ReplyDeleteI find the cheap stuff tangles too easily, so I mostly use Anchor or DMC, depending on what kind of store I'm in. I tend to use Anchor if I have the choice because they have a lot of "slightly off" colours which I like, kind of like how you don't want your paint to look like it came directly from the tube. The lady in the shop said it had something to do with petit point needing more subtle colours.
ReplyDeleteDo you know where to find Anchor in the US or online. I am looking for Anchor Pellicano size 12
DeleteThank you
DMC & Presencia are most reliable, IMHO. Others are thinner, and/or fray, break and tangle more... not worth the perceived "savings."
ReplyDeletedmc and anchor are both color fast. anchor is made by coats and clark and is most commonly available in the uk, where dmc is more available here in the us.
ReplyDeletedmc! i have have both dmc and j&p in my stash, but i prefer the depth of colour and the sheen of dmc. i also find that it's less "fuzzy", and it separates really nicely - i mostly stitch with two strands. i've never tried coats and clark floss because i think their sewing thread and their machine embroidery thread is mediocre (i'm a thread snob!), so i assume that their floss will be as well. some of my vintage flosses are other brands, but i'm pretty careful about using them in projects that will never get wet, etc.
ReplyDeletesilks and polyesters bother my hands as well, but my sister is so in love with hand dyed silk floss that she's using it exclusively now.
oh, and i like madeira! their metallics are lovely.
I have always used Anchor as my grandmother worked in a fabric store for years and told me that the reps always said it was the best! I agree with Lindsay though that the colour range seems to have colours that almost look worn in without looking worn out. I have always loved it and unless something drastic happens will always use it. It also connects me to my grandmother in a strange way....
ReplyDeleteI'm in germany and all I can find locally is Anchor. But I love their colors, there's loads that go from bright to muted in 5 or 6 shades. I separate all my floss, I don't think I've stitched with all 6 strands in years, and it separates nicely when you keep some tension on it.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd like to try the DMC floss, but I don't think it's as available in germany as it is elsewhere.
I usually just grab whatever's available which is usually DMC. However, I've branched out and tried using some fancy metallic threads and those will give you a headache for sure! (they want to climb right out of the needle) hahah. They sure look pretty though! :D
ReplyDeletefor the past six months or so, based on availability, I have been using DMC only, which has worked just fine, I like the range of colours it has... funny but I had no idea of the brand I've been using until I read this post and went to check in my tool box!
ReplyDeleteDMC is what both of my grandmothers used, so naturally it's what I use. But I also use my Grandmother's thimble and my Great-Grandmother's wooden quilting hoop, so I may just be partial to tradition. In any case, DMC is the easiest to find. The gold-standard of floss, in my opinion. I'm sure there are other lovely brands out there, but I'm a stick-with-what-you-know kind of girl when it comes to materials.
ReplyDeleteHere in Spain nearly every shop have Anchor and DMC floss, so it depends on my particular project that I choose one or another. For me their quality is identical, they don't bleed nor fray, and I can separate the strands nicely and easily.
ReplyDeleteI've been working with Gentle Arts threads and Cosmo (Lecien) threads lately. Love the silkiness of them. My fall-back, however, is always DMC.
ReplyDeletei've been using dmc and anchor for almost a decade now but so much in preference with dmc...=)
ReplyDeleteIt's time for my 2 cents! Most of my floss is DMC as it is widely available and the quality is good. I also have quite a few Anchor colours and, like Lindsay, I like the fact that their colours are 'slightly off', indeed like mixed paint colours. I had no idea that Anchor was actually made by Coats & Clark either. The worst experience I had with floss was some fake DMC (yes, it exists!) that I bought on a market (I was on holiday and needed some 321!). The quality was terrible and the colour bled. I would love to try the Cosmo floss but haven't been able to buy it yet!
ReplyDelete@Grannysue I have a DMC floss colour chart at home with the actual flosses on them. See it here: http://blog.followthewhitebunny.com/2010/11/book-of-flosses.html It's not cheap but it's handy for pattern making and when you buy floss online.
DMC is definitely my preferred, I bought a cheap multi-pack and found the floss to be much scratchier and more prone to tangling. Less shine as well.
ReplyDelete