How many strands should you use for cross-stitch?
1 min read ·
A skein of embroidery floss (like DMC) is made of six thin strands twisted together. You almost never stitch with all six: you pull out the number you need.
How many strands?
- 11 count: 3 strands
- 14 count: 2 strands (the standard)
- 16 count: 2 strands
- 18 count: 1 or 2 strands (2 gives fuller coverage, 1 a lighter look)
- Backstitch and outlines: usually 1 strand
The pattern legend often says it too, for example "2 strands for cross-stitch, 1 for backstitch".
Separating strands without tangles
Cut a length of about 45 cm. Hold the end, pull one strand at a time straight up out of the bundle and let the rest gather; it untwists by itself. Then put the strands you need back together. It sounds slow, but your stitches lie much flatter.
Tip: let your needle hang down now and then, so the thread can untwist. Twisted thread makes uneven stitches.
How much thread do you need?
As a rule of thumb, one skein is enough for about 1,600 to 2,000 full crosses on 14 count with 2 strands. Each free pattern and photo pattern on JoyStitch shows the number of stitches and skeins per colour.
Do you already have it?
Keep your threads in your thread stash in the JoyStitch app. With "Can I stitch this?" you see straight away which DMC numbers of a pattern you already have, and the missing ones go to your shopping list. You can also look up colours in the DMC colour chart.