What Embroidery Thread Do I Use? A Beginner’s Guide to Embroidery Threads
I often get asked about the embroidery thread I use in my patterns, so I thought I’d share the ones I use most often, along with a few tips for choosing your own.
There are many beautiful embroidery threads available, but you don’t need a lot to get started. For most of my designs, I mainly use these four types.
1. DMC Cotton Embroidery Floss
For most of my patterns, I use DMC Mouliné Spécial Cotton Embroidery Floss, also known as DMC Cotton No. 25.
It’s easy to find, comes in a huge range of colours, and is a great all-round thread for hand embroidery. Honestly, for most embroidery projects, cotton embroidery floss is all you really need to get started.
You also don’t have to use DMC. If another brand is easier to find at your local craft shop, you can use cotton embroidery floss from that brand instead.
I personally use a DMC colour chart to compare shades, but you can do the same with other brands. When substituting threads, it’s helpful to compare the colour, thickness, and how the thread feels and behaves.
So don’t feel like you need to buy a particular brand just because a pattern recommends it. Use what is convenient and available to you.
2. Crewel Wool
I use Appletons and DMC Eco Vita.
They have slightly different textures, but I really enjoy using both. They can also be used interchangeably, so you can simply choose whichever is easier for you to find.
Appletons feels a little more textured and fluffy, with a soft finish. It also has a much wider range of colours, which I love when I’m looking for a particular shade.
It can feel a little more resistant when pulling the thread through the fabric, but I really love the texture it gives.
DMC Eco Vita has fewer colours to choose from, but I find the thread a little stronger and more consistent, which makes it very easy to stitch with. For this reason, I think it can be especially friendly for beginners.
Both are lovely in their own way, and I honestly enjoy stitching with both.
If you’re new to wool, don’t be afraid to give it a try. I actually find crewel wool very easy to stitch with, and projects can come together much faster than when using cotton thread.
I especially enjoy using it for botanical designs, where the texture of the wool can give leaves and other details a soft, natural look.
3. DMC Tapestry Wool
I use DMC Tapestry Wool for some of my patterns when I want a fuller, more textured look.
Essentially, you can think of tapestry wool as stitching with yarn. The exact feel can vary depending on the fibres and materials used, but it’s generally much thicker than regular embroidery floss.
Once you’re familiar with working with thicker threads, it’s not difficult to stitch with at all. It can also make a project come together quite quickly.
If you’re completely new to embroidery, though, I’d recommend getting comfortable with cotton embroidery floss or crewel wool first. Once you’re used to handling the thread and controlling your tension, tapestry wool becomes much easier to enjoy.
One thing to keep in mind is fabric tension. Because the thread is thicker and creates more friction as you pull it through the fabric, it’s important to keep your fabric at the right tension in the hoop.
If the fabric is too loose, pulling the thread through can cause it to pucker or wrinkle more easily. So check your tension as you stitch, and try not to pull too hard.
Take your time, and it becomes quite enjoyable to work with.
4. Metallic Thread
I also use metallic thread, mainly from Rico Design and DMC Diamant.
Metallic thread can be a little more challenging to work with than cotton or wool, especially when you’re just starting out. It can sometimes catch or separate as you stitch, so I find that using shorter lengths and stitching slowly makes a big difference.
You don’t need to use a lot of it, either. Sometimes just a few metallic stitches are enough to add a little sparkle and make certain details stand out.
A Few More Threads I Enjoy
There are many other threads I enjoy experimenting with, including naturally dyed threads from Thailand and local craft shops, as well as silk threads from China.
I don’t currently use these in my embroidery patterns, but I love trying different threads and seeing how they change the feeling and texture of a design.
That’s one of the fun things about embroidery — the same design can look completely different simply by changing the thread.
Before You Buy New Thread…
One little tip: look around your home first.
You may already have embroidery thread tucked away in a drawer, perhaps from an old project or even from your mum or grandmother.
If you have a collection of old or local threads, you can use a colour chart to compare them with the colours suggested in a pattern and see if something you already have might work.
The colours don’t always need to be an exact match. Sometimes a slightly different shade can make the design feel even more personal.
And of course, using what you already have can save you quite a bit of money.
How Many Colours Do You Really Need?
You really don’t need a huge collection of embroidery thread to get started.
If you’re choosing a pattern to start with, one little tip is to look for a design with a colour palette you really love.
Once you have those colours, you can use the same threads for many other projects too. You don’t need a new set of threads for every pattern.
Over time, you’ll naturally build your own little collection of favourite colours — and that’s often much more useful than buying lots of colours all at once.
My Personal Favourite
If I had to choose just one type of thread to start with, I’d still choose cotton embroidery floss.
It’s versatile, easy to find, and works beautifully for so many different embroidery techniques and designs.
But I also encourage you to experiment with wool and other threads when you feel ready. Sometimes trying a different thread is all it takes to discover a new texture or a new way of enjoying your stitching.
Once you have a few threads you love, all that’s left is to find something you’d like to stitch.
If you’re looking for a new little project, you’re always welcome to explore my hand embroidery patterns at joooyco.com.
Choose a design you love, gather a few threads, and enjoy stitching it one stitch at a time.
In the next article, I’ll share which needle sizes I recommend for these different types of embroidery thread. Subscribe to my newsletter for more embroidery tips, new patterns, and little stitching inspiration.
Happy stitching!
Joooyco Studio