This pattern was stitched with Gentle Art sampler thread alternate with DMC and the no are 3045-3052-3023-3022-522-3858-844-3064-413-3790-3859-3781-733- 501.

While you can use DMC floss. The model was stitched with Gentle Arts Sampler floss which is sold on this website. If you have never used them you might want to try them for a different style. The model is stitched on 30Ct. Aleadarian Blend over 2 threads. Whichever floss you choose the pattern will be beautiful.

Hi. The recommended threads for the Loose Feathers designs are all hand-dyed threads. The DMC conversions are listed as a courtesy for those who choose not to use the hand-dyed for whatever reason. The DMC will NOT look the same as the picture....it will be an approximation. There are several shadings in each skein of HD thread, so as you stitch, the colours change. If you are using DMC, you get one colour....that's it. You can sometimes get a better match if you blend two DMC colours together in the needle. I think sometimes stitchers are disappointed when they stitch one of these patterns in DMC and then wonder why it does not look the same as the picture. The hand-dyed threads are more expensive, but they are just as easy to use, and give your work a unique appearance. I've done patterns in both, and given the choice, would use the recommended threads if possible. But if you really like the pattern and only have DMC....stitch it anyways !

This design looks small enough that 1 skein of each Gentle Arts Sampler Thread should do, It's important to get enough GA thread because they don't control their dye and every dye lot looks different. Once I miscalculated & had to email shops all over the US to find the dye lot I needed.

Just noticed they're calling for a hand- dyed evenweave by R & R Reproductions. Available at many sites.

Don't forget that hand-dyed floss/threads should be washed, cold water, & soap, not detergent, BEFORE you stitch. DMC is colorfast, which can be washed, if your hoop or your hands soil the fabric, except their Black 310 floss, which is NOT colorfast and MUST be washed before using, until the same cold soapy water rinses CLEAN. Do you want to wash and re-sort your floss before stitching? If you prefer the softer colors of the hand-dyed, and the expense (on this site, it is nearly $2.00 more for hand-dyed), then go for it. Me? I wash the black DMC for most projects that I do and use DMC floss equivalents. Again, it's personal preference. Why do I use DMC mostly, unless I think it will alter the design terribly? Because I have dogs. One of them, the Pug, has a delusion of royal ascendency and feels too strongly that everything is HERS! She will clear off the highest table with grace, just to see and/or mouthe an item that looks interesting to her.

Pittsuzan I enjoyed your response about using DMC floss. I use it for all of my stitching. I have a stash of all colors and doubles of some. I was intrigued by your comment about black DMC floss. I have never prewashed it and never had trouble with it "bleeding" when I wash the project in cold water after finishing it. Guess I have just been lucky. Love your story about your dog. I have a Chi/weenie Bull Terrier puppy mix who thinks he rules the house. Have a good day stitching!

I'm with Syagel, I'm intrigued about the black DMC, I've always used it and never pre-washed it. I've washed my project in cold water with a touch of dish soap in the water and it never bled on me. Syagel, I guess you and I just got lucky. I'm working on a very large penguin with a LOT of black. Maybe as a precaution, I should have pre-washed it, but too late. Now I'm afraid. I may not wash it at all when I finish, as the penguin takes up the entire frame. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Don't worry! I have seen other notices that the DMC black, their #310 does NOT need to be pre-washed at all. I'm always done this based on some older info! I'm a mentor now for DMC, using my 65 years of hand stitching to teach others. After I posted here, I did some in-depth research and found that I will NO longer pre-wash ANY threads from DMC. I had to post here, for fear I had instilled my own agony of pre-washing into the lives of other stitchers. Please forgive me. Got DMC? Stitch, DON'T PREWASH! Hand-dyed? Find out about every company. I also prefer fabric from a reputable company, but if you like hand-dyed fabric, I'd still pre-rinse, at the least. I just personally prefer fabrics with a steady color throughout, as I feel the uneven color in a fabric might distract from my hours of choosing (and stitching) many colors. Might not be so for the rest of folks. I like to use the higher stitch counts because they look so incredible, but I have had to use magnifiers since I was in my 20s. When I was young and not as educated bout stitching, I made two things for my mother, one thread over 36 count linen! That's 36 stitches to each inch. Not much if you ever look at the stitch count on a set of sheets!
She thought that it was so nice that I had bothered to have them professionaly printed for little old her. When I said that I had stitched, she replied, "You're crazy!" So much for that!