How many Strands of Thread to use for Cross Stitch

[@StampMyArt]

Thank you for this clear and VERY helpful presentation about the material counts and thread counts plus other tips. Of the very many crafts and hobbies I've done, I only briefly tried embroidery when I was a kid following no rules, just some floss on a left over (clean) cloth diaper. Now that I am an adult, I'd like to give the actual craft a try and this video was excellent.

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you and you are so very welcome 😊 I do hope you'll enjoy cross stitching 🪡😄

[@ariannagreen3983]

this video was incredibly helpful!! i started cross stitching a couple days ago and picked up 14 count aida fabric to start. i didn’t like the look of just 2 strands so i used 3, but it was pretty tricky trying to make sure the stitches stay neat. i’m definitely going to try using 2 strands on 16 count fabric. thank you!

[@catkinandlillie]

Yay!!! That's so great to hear that my video helped you out 😊 2 strands on 16 count is my favourite combo so I hope it works for you too 😃

[@MsSplashIt]

Very nice video and well explained for someone looking to start🎉

[@catkinandlillie]

Thanks so much and I'm glad you enjoyed it 😄

[@rodelynhimor4897]

Thank you. I really learn a lot from this tutorial. ❤ Your tutorial is clear and easy to understand.. ❤❤❤

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you so much and I'm delighted you found it helpful 😊

[@theintuitivestitcher9336]

Always good to hear again! Great video!

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you! It's good to know you enjoyed the video 😄

[@carollange7457]

Thank you for making this video. It was very helpful.😊

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you, and I'm happy it was helpful 😊

[@janineduclos9774]

Thank you that's really useful, my preference is near!y always 1 strand but I know what you mean about the benefit of the 2-strand loop method 👍

[@catkinandlillie]

That's great you found the video helpful 😄 I have to say one benefit of a single strand is that I find I can cross stitch quicker because I don't need to railroad!

[@bernadethjanecurato1789]

Good explanation about the strands and aida fabric count.. thank u very much on this ❤.. im a beginner and this is what i want to know

[@catkinandlillie]

Yay! So glad you found this helpful ☺️

[@bernadethjanecurato1789]

Thank you for making videos like this 👍❤

[@HarmlessComment]

So 2 strains is a pretty good happy-medium for 14-18 count Aida. The higher count Aida material would need 1 strain and the lower count Aida materials would need 3-4 strains. Seems simple enough to remember, thanks!

[@catkinandlillie]

Great! I'm so happy my video was useful for you 😄

[@stephanieweathers3846]

Thank you!

[@catkinandlillie]

Your welcome 😊

[@SeymaPRCKLI]

Thank you so much!!! ❤

[@catkinandlillie]

You're welcome 😊

[@stephanieweathers3846]

It helped me figure out how many strands to use on 14ct aida.

[@catkinandlillie]

Awesome! So glad I could help 😄

[@alibapar]

Thanks

[@catkinandlillie]

You're welcome 😊

[@patburton837]

I've used two strands with 14 count years ago, but now i see a lot of white showing through, especially with DMC black. Im thinking about stitching on 16 count now.

[@catkinandlillie]

It sounds like it's definitely worth trying 16 count and seeing how you like it. I prefer that to using 3 strands on 14 count which would be the other way to get more coverage😄

[@Dulcisamara]

That was well explained, but I have one question that I never seem to get answered ever, maybe you can tell me. So, I pull 1 strand from the skein, but then the eye of the needle will be in the middle of the thread length (basically no loop at the end of the thread). So, this way the thread is basically doubled, right? Does that count as 1 or 2?

[@catkinandlillie]

I would say that is 2 strands; essentially it comes down to when you make an arm the first arm of your cross stitch if you have one strand lying against the fabric then it's one stand and if there are 2 strands laying side by side then it's 2 strands. The way you make your 2 strands with the way you out the thread through the needle may be different but it's still 2 strands. I hope that answers your question 😀

[@Dulcisamara]

@@catkinandlillie thank you!!! This is finally a specific answer that actually IS answering my question! And it means I have been stitching a lot of 4 strands instead of 2 😂

[@catkinandlillie]

Yay! I'm so happy I could help 😄

[@TheBullyMomma]

@@catkinandlillie, Thank you, I’ve been cross stitching for over 40 years, self taught, and have not been able to find this answer either. Unless the floss is variegated I always loop it so I don’t have to try and anchor the end and wasn’t sure if that counted as 1 or 2 strands, or for 14 ct, 2 or 4 strands. It was one of those things that bothered me as I couldn’t figure out for sure what patterns were calling for even though I always stitch according to my taste as opposed to what the pattern called for.

[@cindytartt4048]

@@Dulcisamarathank you! you have NO idea how you also helped me by asking that too because I also had that exact concern. Much obliged. ❤🇦🇺

[@helenemathers8891]

Thank you for a very helpful video! I have a problem which is not addressed anywhere. I'm stitching on cream-colored 20 count Lugana, 1 over 1. Part of the project looks great but as soon as I stitch with dark colors, we see the fabric through. I don't mind the fabric showing or not showing but not both on the same project. If I'm too late to switch to 2 strands with the dark colors, could I go over the dark stitches with an additional strand? Or what do you think of the '2 looks' I now have? Should I leave it? Thank you!

[@catkinandlillie]

Hmmm, I can definitely see the issue here and I think it might bother me to have that slightly mismatched look to a project. On the other hand, it could maybe just add interest. I think that's really up to you and how you feel about it. I have definitely done 1 strand crosses and then gone back over the top with another strand to make it 2 strands. On occasion this can look odd but mostly looks just fine and I suspect with dark thread it would be more likely to look ok. I have only ever done really small numbers of stitches like this though. Perhaps you could test a few stitches on a corner of your fabric...make some single strand crosses and then make another cross on top and see how it looks. I'm a big fan of a test! I hope they helps and do let me know how you get on 😄

[@helenemathers8891]

Thank you for your quick response! In retrospect, I should have chosen a much darker fabric but it's too late now. Following your comments, I'll finish the piece and see how I feel with the whole image done. It's very important for me to know that you also did go over crosses with one more strand when needed. Now I feel I have an option if needed especially with the black thread. Thank you again!

[@elizabethmurray4821]

Thanks for this. I have desiged one of my photos in a pattern making programmw,, as it will be full coverage i was wandering about using tent stitch. Do you have any recommendations doing this, please.

[@catkinandlillie]

I haven't used tent stitch but I know it's quite a popular option for full coverage. I think you would want more strands of thread for tent stitch vs. full cross stitch to get a good coverage. I would recommend test stitching a small bit to see what you think.

[@sheilawilliams2880]

do you have a video / tutorial on needle sizes please?

[@sheilawilliams2880]

not to worry, I have found it 🙂

[@catkinandlillie]

Fantastic! I'm glad you found what you needed 😄

[@Marquee_Gaming88]

It depends on what pattern you are planning to do I'm using 2 strands for my cross stitch project

[@catkinandlillie]

Yup, absolutely 😃

[@georgiacook1309]

Can I use 6 threads

[@catkinandlillie]

@@georgiacook1309 That really depends on the count of fabric you are using but I would say 6 strands is too much for pretty much anything; it would most likely be crazy bulky and difficult to stitch with. The most I would use on 14 count is 3 threads.

[@leotransstory2391]

Hi there do you have any videos on how to thread 2 strands as I'm not sure how to I found out how to use one but I can't figure it out for 2 is it the same thing?

[@catkinandlillie]

It is basically the same as for one strand but using two strands! I have a video with tips for threading your needle that you may find helpful and I'm using 2 strands in that video... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rILZnGyGd5eNsJI If you haven't already discovered it then you may also like to know about the loop start which is so fantastic when you are using 2 strands... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn68pX2cdtWJprM I hope that helps but let me know if you have any more questions!

[@leotransstory2391]

@catkinandlillie oh yes I actually started it yesterday and did it well probably not the way your supposed to but I linked it in one at a time and it worked so

[@forlifedjsky]

Hi! Thanks for the info, but I’m just curious about “HALF” in thread Quantity. My pattern was customized and it’s been a long time since I finished my first.

[@catkinandlillie]

Hmmm...so this is something that's written on a pattern? What do the other quantities say? Could it be a half stitch?

[@ViolaMedolli]

Thank you, this is very useful! I have purchased lot of flosses of perle nr.3 (to use for a 8 count) and perle nr. 5 using delicately on aida 11 count, but what to use on Aida 6 count?

[@catkinandlillie]

I'm delighted you found this helpful ☺️ Sadly, I don't really know anything about perle thread and have never used it so I'm not sure what would be best to use, sorry 😞 I hope you can figure something out.