Third Coast Stitches has written a nice essay that helps you choose threads for your canvas.
I have my own ideas about how to choose threads. First up, if you don't like using a thread, don't buy it unless there's nothing else that will give you the effect you want.
Secondly, perle cottons are a great option for backgrounds as they cover well, come in a wide range of colors, are easy to stitch with (unless you are doing basketweave where they show flaws easily), and are cheap so you can buy lots of it for a big background without breaking the bank. Cotton floss is also a good choice for main elements due the wide range of colors and the relatively low cost. Save the expensive silks and metallics for special touches here and there.
Thirdly, you can change colors, but be cautious here. I've stitched with pale green and pale lavender for a background and had them blend together so you could barely tell the difference. The skeins looked very different sitting on the table but stitch with them and Color Magic happened--the differences disappeared. A good rule is to pick a light and dark color or perhaps a light and medium, instead of two lights, two darks or two mediums. Learn to take a black and white photo to check for color contrast. If two colors appear gray in your phone photo, they will blend together in Real Life.
Fourthly, don't be afraid to rip. Sometimes it is the only way forward. It's not a disaster, just a learning experience. If you don't make mistakes stitching, you aren't getting better. My best stitching has happened when I had to adjust for an error.
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© Copyright April 28, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.
