Soie d'Alger versus Splendor UPDATED

Melita used artificial intelligence to parse the differences between Soie d'Alger and Splendor silks.  Then she did a little hands on testing.  Note that a single ply of Soie d'Alger is fatter than just one of Splendor.  

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/07/12/soie-dalger-vs-splendor/

I wish she'd told us which Ai program she queried.  They differ a lot, though I suppose asking basic questions like these will give similar answers across all the bots.

Melita kindly let me know that she used Google's Ai embedded in their Chrome browser.  Thanks!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 13, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Today's Smart Cookie Award

Have you seen the skin color collection cards from Rainbow Gallery? For roughly $8 a card you get a selection of six silks that work for skin and lip tones.   (There are also a selection of Halloween and Christmas colors, too.)
http://www.homesteadneedlearts.com/product/splendor-designer-collection/

https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/pageread.cgi?SDC

I've used these a lot when stitching people but recently I noticed how I use the same colors over and over so I run out of my favorites constantly, particularly when stitching a large design with lots of skin area.   I just ordered two new cards for myself and mentioned to a friend I had done so.  Her reply was genius--she uses the skin collection cards as a color card, matches the right shades to a painted canvas, and orders regular Splendor cards for actual stitching.  It's cheaper when you have a large area to cover as the regular cards of Splendor are roughly $3 each.

So the Smart Cookie Award goes to Pat.  You are so clever!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 26, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Match My Face

Do you need a set of colors that match the skin tones on that canvas you have hidden in a closet or under the bed? Kreinik has you covered with Silk Mori collections in four skin tones--African American, Asian, Caucasian and Hispanic.  The only set they lack are American Indian but you can probably combine some of the colors to get what you need for that ethnic group.  Scroll down to the middle of the page to find their skin collections.
http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Silk-Threads/

Access Commodities also has a collection of silks for skin tones.  Their range is a mix of silk types and covers African American, Mediterranean, Medium, Oriental and Porcelain.  Each collection still comes with an instruction page for mixing colors written by Tony Minieri.  To see the thumbnail photos, choose "Silk Thread Kits."  Clicking on each photo will show the threads in that set well.
http://www.accesscommodities.com/products

Rainbow Gallery also has put together a collection of Splendor colors for skin tones.  They offer Bronze Porcelain, Blush Porcelain and Santa's Rosy Cheeks for your stitching pleasure.  Click on each photo for a better look.
https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/pageread.cgi?SDC

Many thanks to our beloved thread manufacturers for making choosing the right set of colors easier!  Now my only problem is that I want them ALL!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Threads for Perfect Skin UPDATED

Rainbow Gallery's Skin Tone Collections

So many folks report problems stitching faces that I thought I should continue with tips to help those who aren't happy with how things turn out for them. The right thread can really help create a face you are proud of.  My preference in stitching faces is to use silk floss. I must not be the only person who loves silk on faces because Rainbow Gallery has come out with what they call Design Collections in two skin tones using their Splendor floss colors--Bronze Porcelains and Blush Porcelains.  That's what you see in the above photograph.  There's not much yardage in each color but since I normally use 3-4 plies of Splendor in tent stitches for my faces, a card of these two sets will last me for 4-5 canvases of people.  (Splendor is a 12 ply silk.)  The Bronze Porcelains work for darker faces and the Blush Porcelains work for very pale skin and rosy cheeks.

UPDATE:  Rainbow Gallery has added Santa's Rosy Checks to their Design Collections skin tones.
https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/pageread.cgi?SDC

Melissa Shirley's Nordic Snowman Stotcking, with face stitched

Of course these threads won't work for a snowman's face.  I've successfully used white Flair to stitch right over a snowman's pink cheeks and white snow "skin" as you see in the photo above, which shows Melissa Shirley's Nordic Snowman stocking under way.  The entire face is tent stitched with white Flair, including his pink cheeks and the gray shading under the edge of his fur-trimmed stocking cap.  The paint shows right through the transparent Flair and gives a slightly icy look to the face.

Flair also is a Rainbow Gallery thread.  It's a woven tube of thread which we stitchers sometimes call Barbie doll hose.  It comes on a card.  This website has good photos of the thread itself. If you've seen Frosty Rays or Petite Frosty Rays, you've seen Flair with a metallic thread threaded down the middle of it.
http://a-z-needlepoint.com/flair.shtml

Anyone else have a thread they use constantly for faces?  Either email me at chilly hollow athotmaildot com or post your favorite thread in the Comments section below this article.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com