by Dana Batho on February 28, 2017 with 10 Comments
If you’ve ever attempted a big or complicated cross stitch pattern, it’s likely you’vehad to give blending threads a try. Blended threads are great for adding tonality and shading to patterns. If you’re not sure how to blend two different threads (or types of threads) together, the video tutorial below should help!
Below is an image of the Poppy Cup Cozy pattern, part of the poppies use a blend of yellow and red. The blend of two different threads make the petals look like sunlight is coming through them.
Blended threads can be used for adding tonality to a pattern (like in the Spirit of the Sockeye pattern featured in the video). Blending threads together can also be used to add a little bit of sparkle to a pattern. The image below shows a sneak peek of one of the upcoming patterns in the new collection that’s about to be launched. The leftside is using Kreinik #4 gold braid, and the right side is using one strand of DMC 310 (black) and one strand of Kreinik gold blending filament.
Tips for blending threads:
- Keep your blended threads on their own bobbin (as shown in the video) so you don’t get them mixed up with other colours. Check out this post on how to organize your floss onto bobbins.
- You can’t use the loop method to anchor your blended threads, you’ll have to use either a pin stitch, a knot, or catch the tail of your thread under your stitching.Here’s a demonstration of the loop method and pin stitch.
- Keep checking that your threads aren’t bunching up, or that one thread isn’t “bubbling” up. Keep the tension on both threads even.
- You may find you need to railroad your stitches for a more even coverage, check out the tutorial video to see how to do that.
- If you need tips on using metallic threads (like the blending filament shown in the video), go to this tutorial video on Kreinik threads.
Blending threads tutorial video
If you have any questions (or tips if you’re a blended thread pro), please leave a comment below! And click the image below if you’d like access to the members-only Peaco*ck & Fig free cross stitch pattern library!
Summary
Article Name
Blending threads for cross stitch and embroidery
Description
If you've ever attempted a big or complicated cross stitch pattern, it's likely you've had to give blending threads a try. Blended threads are great for adding tonality and shading to patterns.
Author
Dana Batho
Publisher Name
Peaco*ck & Fig
Publisher Logo
- About Author
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Dana Batho
Artist and Designer
I am an artist, veteran, analyst, and mommy to the sweetest dog ever. I am constantly thinking of ways to use my creativity in everything I touch despite my physical limitations, and I love encouraging others to do the same.
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10 Responses
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Aki
| Reply
Hi Dana,
I have a question about blending threads and railroading.
As I have a project requiring 4 strands of thread (and it’s my first with blended colours😄), do I should take care of in which order the colors lie?
Thanks!-
Dana Batho
| Reply
Four strands of floss?? Are you sure? What size fabric are you using? Anything “bigger” than 11 count (like 14, 18, 28, etc) is going to be impossible to use that many strands at once. You’re going to end up with a giant lump of floss for each stitch (rather than a pretty “x” shape), and you will not see all four colours no matter what you do. Plus you’re really increasing the chances of knots and floss breakage with that many strands. Even 11 count with four strands is really pushing it, is it maybe a pattern for plastic canvas or something? I’d double check with the designer of the pattern and make sure that’s not a typo, I’ve never heard of four strands being used at once, let alone blending four colours. You won’t see all four colours, it’ll just look like a mess and like you made a mistake. 😊
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Aki
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Hi Dana,
yep, 4 strands is correct.
It comes from a kit for a full-coverage cushion cover (from Panna, a retailer/manufacturer for cross stitch kits, I bought it few years ago).
The fabric is called “No. 8 Gamma” which is basically a 10ct or 11ct AIDA (but kind of stiff at the moment).The blended threads consist of only 2 colours, so it will be 2 strands of each colour to do the 4-strand stitching.
So far, it is OK with 4 strands in one colour 🙂 -
Well that’s good, I’ve never heard of four strands at a time. Don’t worry about the railroading, it’ll be too hard with that many strands, and it’d take you forever to keep everything aligned. It’ll all blend together visually once it’s done and your eyes aren’t inches away from it. 😊
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Bee
| Reply
I have made my own pattern and want to blend some colors too. But not sure how to incorporate it into my design. It is a photo of my granddaughter. Do I take the first and last stitches and blend them. Would this cut out the line effects making the shading more subtle 🤔
I am using 2 threads on a 22 count cloth.
Thanks
Bee-
Dana Batho
| Reply
Hi Bee! I don’t know how you created your design in the first place, professional quality software will allow you to blend areas by hand easily enough. But what the effect will be, that can take a lot of testing to try out and see how it works on the actual stitching — it’s really not as simple as just blending adjoining colours and hoping for the best, those two colours may not actually go well together and your eye may read them as a different tone entirely, or it may muddy the overall colours, etc. This is why professionally designed patterns take a lot of skill and often years of practice, it’s not as simple as just putting an image into software, there’s a lot that has to be done by hand and some of that needs a lot of manual testing with a variety of colours, stitches, etc. Like maybe instead of blending, you’ll get better transitions by using fractional stitches rather than blended colours, but you can only know that with actual test stitching and seeing how it comes out. If your finished design is too small, it’s going to be really hard to get nice tonalities without harsh demarcations of the colours changing (or if the software or whoever did the conversion didn’t use dithering to scatter the colours amongst each other). I’m sorry I can’t help more, I’d recommend getting your photo professionally converted by someone who does this for a living if you haven’t already, like StitchPix on Facebook used to be good (don’t know if they’re still in business), or you could see if Nikki at Charting Creations is still doing private conversions for people. 🙂
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Polly
| Reply
First off I absolutely love your videos
Next could you tell me if you know what the difference would be from an advanced chart to a level 5 chart.
How would it affect the end picture if there are say200 colors with 74 solid and 126 blended verses 123 solid colors used?-
Dana Batho
| Reply
Hi Polly! I’m not sure what you mean by level 5, there aren’t standardized levels used across the industry (maybe a particular company uses levels, but it’s not an industry norm). And I’m not sure what you mean by how does blending affect the finished image, just follow your pattern, do what it’s telling you to do. 🙂
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June
| Reply
MY stitching project calls for the color “peaco*ck”. Can’t find thread with that name. What does it mean?
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Dana Batho
| Reply
I have no clue June, each company uses different colour names (and even sometimes different cross stitch software that makes the patterns will have slight variations on colour names). You’ll have to contact the designer and ask for the brand name and colour number of the floss, or just wing it and substitute any green/blue colour and hope it works. 🙂
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Leave a Reply
As an expert in cross stitch and embroidery, I appreciate Dana Batho's insightful article on blending threads for these crafts. Dana, a seasoned artist and designer, provides valuable tips and guidance for enthusiasts who aim to enhance their stitching projects through the use of blended threads.
In this article, Dana emphasizes the significance of blended threads in achieving tonality and shading in cross stitch patterns. Blending threads allows for a nuanced and visually appealing effect, as demonstrated in the Poppy Cup Cozy pattern, where the blend of yellow and red threads creates the illusion of sunlight filtering through the petals.
Furthermore, Dana introduces a sneak peek of an upcoming pattern that incorporates metallic threads, specifically Kreinik #4 gold braid and Kreinik gold blending filament. This combination adds a touch of sparkle to the design, showcasing the versatility of blended threads in cross stitch and embroidery.
The article also provides practical tips for working with blended threads, such as keeping them on separate bobbins to avoid mixing colors, using alternative methods (pin stitch, knot, or catching the tail) for anchoring blended threads, and maintaining even tension to prevent bunching or bubbling.
Dana goes the extra mile by including a tutorial video for blending threads, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced stitchers. The video covers essential techniques such as railroading stitches for more even coverage and offers additional guidance on using metallic threads, specifically Kreinik threads.
The engagement with readers is evident through Dana's invitation for questions and tips from the community. This interaction fosters a sense of community among stitching enthusiasts, creating a space for shared knowledge and experiences.
In summary, Dana Batho's expertise shines through in this article on blending threads for cross stitch and embroidery. The combination of practical tips, visual demonstrations, and the inclusion of a tutorial video makes this resource valuable for individuals seeking to elevate their stitching projects with the artful use of blended threads.
