The uses of the DMC type cotton for surface embroidery

[Keith]

Is using this kind of thread for an embroidered piece that is to be used (say a pillow, hand-towel, table cloth, etc.) really practical? Even though it seems that Perle is stronger, I hate to think of spending a lot of time creating something, only to have it not really last too well. Can anyone enlighten me?

[Lynette Hale]

Hi Keith, I have in my possession tablecloths embroidered by my late grandmother which I still use & they have been through the wash probably more that most napery & they are still as good as the day my grandmother embroidered them! They must be 50 years old at least, so I think that is a good test of time for DMC cotton!

[Annette Garcia]

DMC cottons are usually colourfast (their colourfast red was how they became famous in the first place) and stand up to washing very well.

I often use a tablecloth which was embroidered using DMC floss by my mother in 1935 and the colours and stitching are still fine. I made a pair of embroidered towels using 2 strands of DMC floss as an engagement present for my son. The towels are in regular use, washed often and the embroidery is still in great shape.  My DIL does wash the towels in a mesh bag to stop zips etc on other items catching on the cross stitches.

Pictures of the towels are in my on-line album.

[Keith]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience. I won't feel so bad about trying to create something. What is your bird made with?

Lynette Hale said:

Hi Keith, I have in my possession tablecloths embroidered by my late grandmother which I still use & they have been through the wash probably more that most napery & they are still as good as the day my grandmother embroidered them! They must be 50 years old at least, so I think that is a good test of time for DMC cotton!

[Keith]

Fascinating. I will try to make something again. One thing that amazes me is that the stitching holds up, given the way it is anchored so simply without a knot or anything. Or, am I wrong about the anchoring.

Annette Garcia said:

DMC cottons are usually colourfast (their colourfast red was how they became famous in the first place) and stand up to washing very well.

I often use a tablecloth which was embroidered using DMC floss by my mother in 1935 and the colours and stitching are still fine. I made a pair of embroidered towels using 2 strands of DMC floss as an engagement present for my son. The towels are in regular use, washed often and the embroidery is still in great shape.  My DIL does wash the towels in a mesh bag to stop zips etc on other items catching on the cross stitches.

Pictures of the towels are in my on-line album.

[Connie Kusevskis]

Absolutely no knots on fine stitching, it is not necessary and leaves it very bumpy. I have tablecloths that were stitched my my grand mother that are in beautiful condition and shows no signs of wear, I would how ever watch out for DMC red #321, I just stitched a table runner with that color, and it bled when I washed it. I did contact DMC, they don't seem to care, they claim that all their colors are color fast.

[Annette Garcia]

Keith-no knots needed, I leave a "tail" when starting and then darn it into the back of the stitching afterwards.  Don't carry thread from one portion of the the design to another, it will show through fine fabric and the long'ish thread will catch on things when washed.

Connie - I am very surprised your DMC321 bled when washed. My towels were stitched with that same colour and I had no problems at all. There is an excellent article on Stitchers Paradise about colour bleeding. Maybe you got a faulty batch or DMC have had to change their recipe ???

I always wash my embroideries in soft water and pure soap, and only occasionally  had problems with cheap floss.  Many hand-dyed threads are not colour fast at all so I only used those for things which will not need to be laundered.

[Connie Kusevskis]

Hi Annette, I am surprised too as I have used DMC for over 50 years and never had a problem. I contacted DMC, I thought that maybe they could tell me how correct it, but they had no answers and was not much of a help, and I have tried just about everything to get it out, with no luck. I will check out the article. Thanks for your help

[Keith]

I am completely fascinated. Thanks. 

[Keith]

Yeah, I didn't think so, but it just seems that it would unravel! In my little piece, I followed the instruction on such things, but wondered. 

Connie Kusevskis said:

Absolutely no knots on fine stitching, it is not necessary and leaves it very bumpy. I have tablecloths that were stitched my my grand mother that are in beautiful condition and shows no signs of wear, I would how ever watch out for DMC red #321, I just stitched a table runner with that color, and it bled when I washed it. I did contact DMC, they don't seem to care, they claim that all their colors are color fast.

[Linda]

Hi Keith, I'll throw in my two bobs' worth here too.  I have heaps of pieces worked in DMC stranded, laundered in no special way over the years, and they have all worn well.  The linen sometimes is the first to 'go', not the embroidery nor the crochet edgings.  Perlé is a wonderful thread, I love it, but it doesn't come in a variety of sizes in all the colours, so not a practical choice for large projects.  I've been brought up in the old school of 'no knots', and can see no unraveling of thread.  But, having said that, I do use knots in certain projects, it all depends what I'm doing, and how pedantic I 'need' to be.  The stitch police don't come and cart you away for using knots!! 

 

I must say too that I've used DMC #321 LOTS of times, it's my favourite red.  I've never known it to bleed.

 

Cheers all,

Linda.

[Keith]

Thank you so much for all of this wisdom! I appreciate the thoroughness of you and other members' answers. 

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

There is more to the stitching world than DMC cotton. There are some wonderful, colourfast and strong threads out there lasting a life time. You can use cotton, silk, perle - depending on the design. Just have a look around and check what you like. I'm using Finca Presencia for all perles and normal stranded cottons.