How many Strands of Thread to use for Cross Stitch

Does it matter how many strands of embroidery thread you use for your cross stitch project? It definitely does, so I'm going to walk you through what to think about when deciding how many strands to use for full cross stitches and backstitch.
I'll show you exactly what cross stitch with different numbers of strands looks like on different fabrics, and share some handy general guidelines to help you choose.
I also have a summary of all the information in a PDF guide; see link below!
00:00 Start
00:53 What is a skein and a strand?
01:54 What is stitching 'X' over 'Y'?
03:07 What difference does the number of strands make?
04:07 Examples of cross stitch with different number of strands on different count fabrics
05:23 General guidelines for how many strands to use for each fabric count
07:31 When to consider using more strands
08:49 Number of strands to use for backstitch
*LINKS MENTIONED IN VIDEO*
How to pull embroidery thread out of a skein without it tangling:
• How to pull embroidery...
How to do a loop start for cross stitch:
• How to do a Loop Start...
How to railroad cross stitch:
• How to Railroad Cross ...
PDF guide to how many strands to use for cross stitch
www.catkinandlillie.com/resou...
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Music: Innovate To Succeed [Full version] by MusicLFiles
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Пікірлер: 54

  • @StampMyArt
    @StampMyArtАй бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    Ай бұрын

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

  • @theintuitivestitcher9336
    @theintuitivestitcher9336 Жыл бұрын

    Always good to hear again! Great video!

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @carollange7457
    @carollange7457 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @rodelynhimor4897
    @rodelynhimor4897 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @ariannagreen3983
    @ariannagreen39837 ай бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    7 ай бұрын

    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
    @MsSplashIt Жыл бұрын

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

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @janineduclos9774
    @janineduclos9774 Жыл бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    Жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @SeymaPRCKLI
    @SeymaPRCKLI4 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much!!! ❤

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    4 ай бұрын

    You're welcome 😊

  • @stephanieweathers3846
    @stephanieweathers38463 ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    3 ай бұрын

    Your welcome 😊

  • @alibapar
    @alibapar2 ай бұрын

    Thanks

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    2 ай бұрын

    You're welcome 😊

  • @bernadethjanecurato1789
    @bernadethjanecurato17897 ай бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    7 ай бұрын

    Yay! So glad you found this helpful ☺️

  • @bernadethjanecurato1789

    @bernadethjanecurato1789

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you for making videos like this 👍❤

  • @patburton837
    @patburton83722 күн бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    21 күн бұрын

    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😄

  • @elizabethmurray4821
    @elizabethmurray4821 Жыл бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    Жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @Dulcisamara
    @Dulcisamara10 ай бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    10 ай бұрын

    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

    @Dulcisamara

    10 ай бұрын

    @@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

    @catkinandlillie

    10 ай бұрын

    Yay! I'm so happy I could help 😄

  • @TheBullyMomma

    @TheBullyMomma

    4 ай бұрын

    @@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

    @cindytartt4048

    2 ай бұрын

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

  • @HarmlessComment
    @HarmlessComment6 ай бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    6 ай бұрын

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

  • @stephanieweathers3846
    @stephanieweathers38463 ай бұрын

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

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    3 ай бұрын

    Awesome! So glad I could help 😄

  • @helenemathers8891
    @helenemathers88914 ай бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    4 ай бұрын

    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

    @helenemathers8891

    4 ай бұрын

    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!

  • @leotransstory2391
    @leotransstory239110 ай бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    10 ай бұрын

    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... kzread.info/dash/bejne/qIWqzZuJcpXAqpM.html 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... kzread.info/dash/bejne/foGN1qyfcdO8oLQ.html I hope that helps but let me know if you have any more questions!

  • @leotransstory2391

    @leotransstory2391

    10 ай бұрын

    @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

  • @sheilawilliams2880
    @sheilawilliams28806 ай бұрын

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

  • @sheilawilliams2880

    @sheilawilliams2880

    6 ай бұрын

    not to worry, I have found it 🙂

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    6 ай бұрын

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

  • @forlifedjsky
    @forlifedjsky Жыл бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @Marquee_Gaming88
    @Marquee_Gaming889 ай бұрын

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

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    9 ай бұрын

    Yup, absolutely 😃

  • @georgiacook1309

    @georgiacook1309

    8 ай бұрын

    Can I use 6 threads

  • @catkinandlillie

    @catkinandlillie

    8 ай бұрын

    @@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.

  • @ViolaMedolli
    @ViolaMedolli Жыл бұрын

    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

    @catkinandlillie

    Жыл бұрын

    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.