how much thread should i use?

[FireFly]

hello i love love love this website i have a question though. most patterns calls for 2 threads but i use 3. is this bad? i dont want my patterns to fall apart later on if 3 stands would be to much. maybe it dosent make a difference but thats why im asking thanks for everyones help on everything i have posted
take care
jeanine
by the way.. i adore these smilies haha

[jelibe]

I don't think it makes much difference other than how much you want your work to POP out. I generally use 2 strands when working with 14 or 16 count aida, but I'm using 1 strand on 18 count aida. It depends what look you going for I suppose. It won't ruin your work though, so you can happily stitch away without worry

[Dragoniron7]

some people on here use 6 threads and only half stitch...the only difference thread count makes is how it looks on your projects..in no way should your projects fall apart due to the amount of threads used.

[Mak327]

It just depends on the look and the fabric you're using. I tend to stick to the 2, because I like that look, but I've used 3 at times too. It won't fall apart, just gives a different look. It also depends on your fabric, stitching with more threads on smaller fabric is harder. I've been working recently on some non-vg projects that are on 32 count linen and the holes are of course tiny, so it is much harder to stitch with 3-4 threads than 2. Just my experience.

[jelibe]

When you say your working on 32 count. Can you actually see the holes the same as on aida or is it totally different. I would like to work with smaller aida but the smallest I've worked on is 18. I'm hoping to work on aida that is smaller but I'm worried about it.

[Mak327]

It isn't Aida, it is actually Linen, but the linen for cross-stitching, yeah, you can see the holes still. Not quite as clearly as on Aida, but you still can see them. I'll see if I can post one of my closeups of a linen project so you can see. Most people work on 32 count by stitching over 2 blocks, which I did, but the holes are still that small. I'm sure you could do every one if you wanted the goal of making the finished project smaller. There's a picture below of a snowman that was a Christmas gift, it was on linen, I believe it was 28 count, not 32, but I don't entirely remember. You may have to zoom in to see the fabric, but each stitch is done over 2 boxes. *note to self, find photo of this one framed, it isn't with these.*

Spoiler

[jelibe]

Thanks for that. I can see the linen and what I'll be looking for in the future. I'll be working down the scale (14,16,18....)quite slowly. I'm on 18 now but the project I'm working on (Thrors map) would look great on linen with smaller crosses. Maybe something to think about on a future project.

[FireFly]

thanks everybody