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.

DMC's Coton a Broder Versus DMC's Stranded Cotton Floss

Mary Corbet explains the difference between DMC's Coton a Broder and their stranded cotton floss in this interesting article.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2025/04/coton-a-broder-vs-stranded-cotton-what-you-need-to-know.html

It's easy to confuse the two if you just look at the labels, but stranded cotton is the normal six ply we are familiar with while Coton a Broder is a single stranded thread, sort of like a soft perle cotton.  If you want more information, Mary's included links to quite a few articles about cotton threads she has written over the years.  You can't go wrong listening to Mary!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 29, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Threadaholic Alert: A Comparison of Crewel Wools WITH MORE

Mary Corbet has started a series about crewel-weight embroidery wool.  She's starting out by comparing what Appleton crewel, Fine d'Aubusson wool, Heathway, and DMC's Eco Vita are like when just cut from their skeins.  You'll see how thick they are, learn the number of colors and shades available from each brand, and compare prices for each.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/03/crewel-threads-a-close-look-at-wool-embroidery-threads.html

Here's how each of the four stitch up.  Remember, the examples are done on cross stitch fabric, so what you get on needlepoint canvas will be a bit different.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/03/wool-embroidery-threads-stitched-news.html

Next, Mary uses her four wools in long and short and satin stitch so you can see how they look when stitched in these filling stitches.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/03/wool-thread-comparisons-fillings.html

Mary is continuing her exploration of crewel wools with five more:  Bella Lusso (Fleur de Paris), Simply Wool (Gentle Arts), La Nollin (formerly Renaissance Dyeing), Overdyed Italian Wool (ThreadworX's overdyed Bella Lusso), and Array Wool (Zollie). Hang on!  It's going to be fun!

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/04/more-wools-for-crewel-embroidery.html

The next crewel weight wool Mary is exploring in depth is Array Wool from Zollie.  It's originally intended for weavers.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/04/wool-on-spools-array-wool-hooks-fillings.html

Mary continues to look at Array Wool, Bello Lusso, ThreadworX, Renaissance Dyeing, and Simply Wool brands of crewel wools.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/05/wool-comparisons-5-more-for-your-consideration.html

Next up, Mary introduces a lovely crewel wool from Australia's Gumnut Yarns.  I've been lucky enough to buy some of this and it's got lovely, lovely colors.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/05/delicious-colors-fibers-gumnut-yarns-up-close.html

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/06/gumnut-yarns-stitched.html

By the way, Mary's creating an article index so you can find all the crewel wool articles easier.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2024/04/wool-embroidery-threads-article-index.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 2, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stocking Versus Topper

Needlepoint.com points out the advantages of stitching a full needlepoint stocking versus the stocking topper.

https://needlepoint.com/blogs/needlepoint-know-how/stocking-toppers-vs-full-stockings

In case you've never seen one, stocking toppers, also called stocking cuffs, are finished like this.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/custom-needlepoint--122863896060649808/

You could also look for mini socks, which are small scale stockings that can be finished either open like a full-sided stocking, or closed to be used as an ornament.  Kathy Schenkel designs lots of cute mini socks, many of which come with a felt animal to be tucked in the top of the sock.

https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/kathy-schenkel/products/teddy-bear-with-bear-mini-sock-canvas

There are lots of options.  I'd advise you to figure out the finishing deadline at your favorite shop before you decide, however.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 15, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Comparing DMC and Kreinik's Glow in the Dark Threads

Freudian Stitch has written up a nice comparison of DMC's Light Effects and Kreinik's braids, looking at both companies' glow-in-the-dark threads and trying to decide which is best.
https://freudianstitch.com/blog/2017/5/16/test-post

Of course what you use is probably down to what is easily available to you, what sort of stitching you do (the comparison was done on a cross stitch project by a cross stitcher), and how much disposable income you have for threads.  You also might prefer the strandable DMC thread to the non-strandable Kreinik.  It all depends on what you are doing.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 16, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Rows Upon Rows (with Tips)

I worked on more of Cha's background last night.  I have 13 rows to do, but each row (this is an 18 count canvas, remember?) is 12 inches long.  My calculator tells me I have 18x12x13 or 2808 tent stitches left.  Eeeeekkkk!

When I can't stand it any more, I'll take a break and stitch a couple of tail feathers.  In the meanwhile, here are some online tips I've stumbled across.  First of all, since I am working a lot with silk ribbons, here is what River Silks says about starting and ending silk ribbons.
http://www.riversilks.com/stitch_instruction.html

DMC posted about how to cut a skein of perle cotton for easy use at the top of this article.  It'll probably work for many types of thread skeins, unless you are like me and you hate using pre-cut threads.
http://www.dmc-usa.com/majic/pageServer/130100031i/en_US/Getting-Ready-to-Stitch.html

e-Rose has found a great silk threads comparison table.  There's a link to it on her blog.  Many of the brands and some of the shops are English so if you want to mail order something exotic to substitute for a silk you are bored with, this is the place to find help.
http://elmsleyrose.blogspot.com/2010/08/silk-thread-comparison-table.html

Hope all this good information comes in handy while I count down toward the end of stitching Cha-Cha.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow