Old World Designs
FIBER CHART
General rules of thumb for quantity of thread needed when stitching continental or basketweave (specialty stitches will vary):13 mesh: ~1 1/3 yards will cover 1 square inch of canvas
18 mesh: ~2 yards will cover 1 square inch of canvas
| Thread | 13 mesh | 18 mesh | 24 mesh | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accentuate | — | 4 ply | 3 ply | Use mainly as blending filament; blend 1-3 ply with other fibers |
| Alpaca 18 | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Aubusson | 4-6 ply | 2-4 ply | 1 ply | Comes in 4-ply skeins |
| Belle Soie | 6 ply | 4 ply | 1-2 ply | Comes in 12-ply skeins |
| Bijoux | — | — | — | Use as blending filament; blend 1-3 ply with other fibers |
| Burmilana | 4-6 ply | 2-3 ply | 1 ply | |
| Crystal Braid | 2-3 ply | 1 ply | — | Use for long stitches on 24 mesh |
| DMC Floss | 6 ply | 4 ply | 1-2 ply | Comes in 6-ply skeins |
| Elemental Affects | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | Ply up for 10 mesh and 7 mesh; on 18 mesh, 1 ply is best for long stitches |
| Fine Kid | 3-4 ply | 1-2 ply | 1 ply | Check coverage and adjust the ply |
| Flair | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Frosty Rays | 1 ply | — | — | |
| Frosty Rays, Petite | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Fuzzy Stuff | 2 ply | 1 ply | — | Great for longer stitches |
| Fyre Werks | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Glisten | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Gloriana | 6 ply | 4 ply | 1-2 ply | Comes in 12-ply skeins |
| Impressions | 2 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Irish Tweed | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | Nubby wool mohair blend; on 18 mesh, 1 ply is best for long stitches |
| Kreinik #4 Braid | — | — | 1 ply | Use as blending filament for 13 and 18 mesh or for thin coverage |
| Kreinik #8 Braid | — | 1 ply | 1 ply | On 24 count, use a larger needle (22 or 24) |
| Kreinik #12 Braid | — | 1 ply | — | |
| Kreinik #16 Braid | 1 ply | — | — | |
| Kreinik 1/16" Ribbon | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Kreinik 1/8" Ribbon | 1 ply | — | — | |
| Londonderry Linen | 2 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Neon Rays | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Neon Rays Plus | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Painter's Shimmer | 2 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Painter's Crewel Overdyed | 4 ply | 2 ply | 1 ply | |
| Patent Leather | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | For 18 mesh, Patent Leather works best in long stitches |
| Perle Cotton #3 | 1 ply | — | — | |
| Perle Cotton #5 | — | 1 ply | — | |
| Perle Cotton #8 | — | — | 1 ply | Use for light coverage or darning backgrounds on 18 mesh |
| Persian Wool from Colonial Needle | 2 ply | 1 ply | — | Ply up for 10 mesh and 7 mesh |
| Rainbow Angora | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | For 18 mesh, Angora works best in long stitches |
| Rainbow Linen | 2 ply | 1-2 ply | 1 ply | |
| River Silk Ribbon 4mm | — | 1 ply | — | Use for silk ribbon flowers on all mesh |
| River Silk Ribbon 7mm | 1 ply | — | — | Use for silk ribbon flowers on all mesh |
| Sampler Threads/Simply Shaker | 6 ply | 4 ply | 1-2 ply | Comes in 6-ply skeins |
| Silk & Ivory | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | Use larger needle on 18 mesh (size 20) |
| Silk Lame Braid 18 | 1-2 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Silk Lame Braid, Petite | — | 1 ply | 1 ply | |
| Snow | 1-2 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Soie d’Alger | 6 ply | 4 ply | 1-2 ply | Comes in 7-ply skeins |
| Soy Luster | 3 ply | 2 ply | 1 ply | |
| Splendor | 6 ply | 4 ply | 2 ply | Comes in 12-ply on cards |
| Sprinkles | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Stardust | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | Use larger needle on 18 mesh (size 20) |
| Straw Silk | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | Works beautifully for long stitches; basketweave is a dream with this thread |
| Sundance Beads #8 | — | 1 | — | For brick beading on 13 mesh |
| Sundance Beads #11 | 1 | 1 | — | For brick beading on 18 mesh |
| Sundance Beads #14/15 | — | 1 | — | |
| ThreadworX Kreinik Overdyed Metallic #12 | 1 | — | — | |
| ThreadworX Kreinik Overdyed Metallic #8 | — | 1 | — | |
| ThreadworX Overdyed Floss | 6 ply | 4 ply | 1-2 ply | Comes in 6-ply skeins |
| ThreadworX Overdyed Wool | 4 ply | 3 ply | 1 ply | |
| Trebizond | 2 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Very Velvet | 1 ply | — | — | |
| Very Velvet, Petite | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Vineyard Silk | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Water n' Ice | 1 ply | 1 ply | — | |
| Waverly | 2 ply | 1 ply | — | Ply up for 10 mesh and 7 mesh |
| Wisper | 4 ply | 2 ply | 1 ply |