Where Have all the Flower Threads Gone? Part II

November 24, 2007April 20, 2011 Kate2 Comments

Picking up where I left off yesterday–my heroic quest for the right color of flower thread. I offer in evidence this detailed photo of the bottom third of the sampler. To my eyes, the lightest green seems disproportionately lighter and mintier (bluer) than the medium and dark green (used for the lettering). What do you all think?

The mintier light green matches the star and hearts charms very well, but I still don’t like it. And you can’t make me.

The problem is that with the flower threads being discontinued, I have no way of finding out if there’s a suitable substitute so I can redo the lightest green (2369). You can see the called-for threads in the picture on the right. Ginnie Thompson has so far been unresponsive to my requests for a color card or even a conversion chart to DMC flower threads. As I mentioned yesterday, their site offers a conversion chart to DMC embroidery floss, but that’s not the same thing, is it? If the DMC flower thread 2369 actually matched the color of the DMC embroidery floss 369, as it’s ostensibly supposed to, I wouldn’t be unhappy with the color. The embroidery floss color is a little darker and less minty green–just what I want. Sigh.

"Sew a Fine Seam" DMC Flower Threads and Wildflowers 5004

The closest approximation that I’ve found is actually this Caron Wildflowers, #5004 (see photo on left). I tried DMC Perle Cotton and Medicis Wool, but they either weren’t the right color or they weren’t the right texture. Although the Wildflowers is a bit grayer than I’d like, and a bit thicker, I might just go with it anyway since it has that matte flower thread cotton feel. What have I got to lose? I’m unhappy with the sampler the way it is, and the situation can only get better, right?

Where Have all the Flower Threads Gone?

November 23, 2007April 20, 2011 Kate2 Comments

So, today I went to the closest local needlework shop (LNS), Sit ‘n’ Stitch in Toluca Lake, CA, in search of a substitute for the late, lamented DMC Flower Thread.

Many years ago (I’m guessing around 2000, if the stitched date can be trusted), I stitched this La Broderie sampler, “Sew a Fine Seam,” using DMC Flower Threads (La Broderie called for Flower Threads for most of their designs–is that why they’re not around anymore? sigh!). I have never been happy with the light green that the pattern called for–2369–since, to my eye, it’s too light, too “minty,” and has too much blue in it compared to the other two greens–2320 and 2890.

Pardon the rather murky photo, by the way.

As you probably are aware, DMC stopped making Flower Threads in 1999–December 31, 1999 to be exact. It’s like DMC decided they couldn’t begin the 2000’s with any matte cotton flosses in their repertoire. You can still find people selling their stash of DMC Flower Thread on Ebay and, surprisingly, a few needlework sites still have some inventory available, but nowadays the closest substitute is Ginnie Thompson Flower Thread (includes a conversion chart from DMC embroidery floss to Ginnie Thompson Flower Thread).

In case you’re interested, here is the link to DMC’s suggested conversion chart between the regular ol’ six-strand DMC cotton embroidery floss and DMC flower thread. What the asterisks and double asterisks mean is anyone’s guess (repeats? approximate substitutions?), so shoot me an email if you figure it out.

Coming out of the Closet, Literally

April 22, 2007April 3, 2011 KateLeave a comment

In an effort to make my June 9th deadline for clearing all (or at least a big chunk of) my “family and friends” stitching, I decided to look through my closetful of FUFO’s to see if there was anything that would do in a pinch. I hang my completed cross stitch from pants hangers and drape a plastic bag over them to keep the dust out.

Now, I’ve been stitching for over 25 years, and seriously stitching for at least the past ten, so I’ve got quite a backlog, as you can see.

Including this little gem from Linda Reeves (does anyone know if she’s still around? Whatever happened to La Broderie?):

Pardon the atrocious lighting, especially since it makes it so difficult to see the wonderful, rich reds and browns of this pattern.

Can you believe I only found one design I was willing to part with that was both ready to go and appropriate for the occasion? It was this adorable little guy all done up in silks, “Peter’s Patch” from Shepherd’s Bush:

Pardon the creases. Several years ago, I made the companion piece, “Sophie’s Roses,” for a cousin’s baby, Rose (get it? roses for Rose? nudge nudge, wink wink), and it was a big hit. This is the Shepherd’s Bush I love–colorful, bright, and full of specialty stitches. Now, who’s going to be the lucky recipient?