Needlepoint Threads

Thick Silk/Wool Blends

Needlepoint threads and luxury are not often terms you put together in the same sentence, But with thicker silk/wool blends, it's the phrase which comes to mind. These threads are so soft, so smooth, that they are positively addicting -- you almost want to keep one close to pet it!

Combining silk and wool into one thread provides a number of benefits. Since both are animal fibers, they take similar dyes, so you get colors which have the brilliance of silk combined with the strength of wool as a fiber. They have lots of loft making them outstanding for that rich look so characteristic of needlepoint.

Many of the silk/wool blends out there are crewel weight threads, but The Thread Gatherer, Brown Paper Packages, Rainbow Gallery, & More, and Ty-Di Threads, all make a fatter thread, suitable for virtually all kinds of needlepoint.

Most of these needlepoint threads are all a 50/50 blend of silk and wool and work of canvases meshes from 14 to 18. On 14 mesh they provide good coverage and work well with other threads (I'm doing a piece right now which combines them with tapestry wool in tent stitch). They are perfect on 14 mesh. And work excellently in textured stitches on 18 or as Tent Stitch where you want the stitching to look full. The Thread Gatherer, a hand-dyer in Idaho, makes Shepherd's Silk, in the same colors as the crewel weight Sheep's Silk. Currently there are a total of 142 colors in both solids and overdyes. The solid colors are really vibrant and two of my favorites are Christmas Red and Sunflower (a great yellow. It comes in 10 yard skeins. This thread can be challenging to find, but any store which carries her other threads and ribbons can order it for you. Because it is hand-dyed, order enough to complete your project, as dyelots often do not match.

Brown Paper Packages makes the popular Silk & Ivory Thread. This thread comes in 196 colors with four more added each quarter (with four more out the first of year). The thread is available in 28.8 yard skeins, 300 yard half hanks, and 600 yard hanks. The thread is widely available.

One thing I love about this thread is the selection of pale "almost white" colors. These needlepoint threads have just a hint of color. They make perfect backgrounds to set off the colors and stitching of your focal point.

They also make Trio in the same colors. Trio is three strands of Silk & Ivory loosely twisted together. This thread works beautifully for larger mesh sizes. Use two ply on 12 or 13 mesh, and three ply on 10.

Rainbow Gallery makes Silk and Cream, one of their Backgrounds line of thread. Like many of their threads, it comes on cards with 20 yards on a card. Currently there are around 30 colors. Any shop which carries Rainbow Gallery Threads can order this thread for you.

Ty-Di Threads makes Sof-Silk, in 43 colors. All five threads from this company are dyed to match, but each color looks slightly different because of the different base fibers. The thread has a tone-on-tone quality. The colors are bright, modern colors.

& More makes Merino Silk, a blend of 75% Merino Wool and 25% silk. It comes in 31 colors.

This type of needlepoint thread is fast becoming a standard for stitching. It is easy to use, looks beautiful when stitched, feels wonderful, and works on many sizes of canvas. Whether you are just beginning needlepoint or have been stitching for a long time, you'll love these threads.