Amount of threads to buy??

[irishstitcher]

I was just wondering when any of you all are starting a new chart and have to buy the thread separately how do you know how many of each skein to buy if the chart only gives the codes? Or is it just a matter of guess work?!

[Slinky]

Some charts state whether more than one skein of a particularly colour is needed, usually by putting the number of skeins in brackets after the colour code, so that's always worth checking.

If this is not the case, see if your chart is stocked by Sewandso.co.uk as they list quantities of threads needed with each chart.

And if that doesn't work, then use your judgement!! If budget permits, I find it's better to buy more rather than less as there's nothing more frustrating than running out halfway thru a really good stitching session!!

Good luck, and will you be posting your progress here?

Slinky

[Busy_B]

What pattern are you looking at doing? Maybe one of us has done it and can give you an idea of what we used. I know most of the patterns I have call for 1 skein of the colors except for the larger ones (tree skirt, advent calendar, The Last Supper).

[Angel]

I buy one of each skien. Then I stitch. If my skien looks like it's getting skinny on the bobbin I go back to the shop as soon as possible and buy another skien. Maybe I won't run out, but if my skien is getting skinny I'd rather get another one just in case it runs out on my next project... It's easier to spread out buying my threads. Even if it stated I needed six skiens of one colour I'd only buy one at a time.

[Mabel Figworthy]

It depends on the size of projects you work on, on the fabric count you work on, on the number of strands you choose to use, and on how densely stitched the design is, so it's not easy to give a rule of thumb -- I can only say that I've never done a project where I've used even half a skein of any single colour, but then the biggest thing I've done was about 120x150 stitches, and it was a figure with the background unstitched.

[Pengwenn]

Just with what I've done so far in my SAL Twilight Ballon Flight my bobbin is looking a little thin. The same color is used further up and in one of the balloon so I'll probably have to get another one before I finish the project. I don't know if I've used that thread before on another project or not so it might not have been a full skein when I started.

I would look at the design, the number of stitches and the number of threads you're going to use. If you think you'll need more then buy some. There's nothing wrong with having extra thread. If you're on a budget I would just by the thread one skein at a time. Or maybe wait until your local craft store is having a sale and stock up.

[coffee_freak]

if 2 ply, i buy one of each..if 3 ply i buy two

[agi]

I have just checked, the Ink Circle design I am doing is giving a stitch count as well as how much floss you need. Based on that, it seems that on 14 count Aida you can stitch between 220-240 stitches with one yard of the 6-ply floss. One DMC skein is 8.7 yards, so you can stitch with it approximately 1900 stitches. If we can believe them.

Does that help?

[irishstitcher]

Thanks for all the help, I was thinking of doing one of the free charts on DMCs website. It probably wont be for a while yet anyway

[lacemaker2004]

I've very rarely found that a pattern doesn't say when you need more than one. If in doubt though, buy a second of the color.

[Dazbo666]

When starting a new project, I usually only buy one skein of any required colour that isn't already in my stash...
(although I'll admit that I've never done any projects that specifically state that more than one skein is required).

[nettie]

I usually buy one skein of each colour and buy more if I run out. I am in the process of planning the materials and threads I need to buy at my local stitch show and found the next three projects I am planning all need DMC 310 and in total between them I need 13 skeins ! Wil not be buying that many at a time though!

[lacemaker2004]

One of the other threads got me thinking about this thread. I remember when I was first starting out and I was moving from kits to chart. I was doing a little woodland bunny picture, probably only 6X8 at most and I bought something like 3 skeins for most of the colors just "so I have enough".........I think I still have some of those original skeins and it's got to have been 20 years!

[Kitsune]

I used to do guesswork and buy maybe two of each depending on the size...

In my current Jessica Galbreth HAED design, I've used three skiens of Black... And when you've seen the pics, you'll wonder why...

But then mine is a very rare case... I'm doing my HAED on 18 count aida, and decided that I wanted absolutely no white showing, so I'm doing 3 ct threads.

I'm probally going to go through 15-20 skiens of Black, with probally about 10-15 skiens of the other colours...

[irishstitcher]

I used to do guesswork and buy maybe two of each depending on the size...

In my current Jessica Galbreth HAED design, I've used three skiens of Black... And when you've seen the pics, you'll wonder why...

But then mine is a very rare case... I'm doing my HAED on 18 count aida, and decided that I wanted absolutely no white showing, so I'm doing 3 ct threads.

I'm probally going to go through 15-20 skiens of Black, with probally about 10-15 skiens of the other colours...

oh do you have a picture of the design your doing? i love the HAED designs

[Kitsune]

Actually I just put up the updates in the SAL section, so you can all see how it's coming out!