As an embroidery expert, I see it often: beginners start stitching with all six strands of DMC thread and wonder why their cross stitch does not look as neat as the example. The secret is to separate the strands first.
DMC Mouliné Spécial consists of six fine strands twisted together into one length of floss. For cross stitch, you usually do not use all six at once. I generally use two strands on 14-count fabric and often only one strand on finer fabric. With surface embroidery you have much more fre…
The six strands are tightly twisted together during production. If you stitch with them like that, they continue to curl around one another in your stitches. The result is bulky, uneven cross stitches. When I separate the strands first and then bring them back together, they lie neatly alongside one…
When I first started, I sometimes tried to pull several strands out at once. The result was always the same: a hopelessly tangled bundle. Pulling out one strand at a time almost completely prevents this problem.
I usually cut a length of about 50 centimetres, roughly from my fingertips to my shoulder. This works well for most projects. Do you use the loop method to start your thread? You can double this length to about one metre because the thread will be folded in half. With the loop method, you fold one l…
Hold one end of the cut length between your thumb and index finger, leaving about five centimetres exposed. Roll that short end between your fingers or fan the strands apart slightly. You should now be able to see all six individual strands.
This is the most important part: take hold of one of the six strands and gently pull it straight upwards. Hold the top of the remaining bundle securely with your other hand. As you pull, the remaining strands will bunch up and curl below your fingers. It may look alarming, but it is completely norma…
Once the single strand is completely free, the rest of the floss relaxes again by itself. No knot remains; the first time you see it, it almost looks like magic.
Need more than one strand? Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each additional strand. Always pull them out one at a time, never several at once.
Align the ends of the loose strands and place them together again. Gently smooth them between your fingers. You now have a working thread without the original twist.
This usually happens when you try to pull out several strands at once. The key rule is to take one strand at a time. If you do get a tangle, tease it apart gently, although cutting a fresh length is sometimes quicker.
That happens because of the repeated movement through the fabric. Let your needle hang freely every so often so the thread can untwist itself. I do this every few minutes and it takes only a few seconds.
Make sure you have good light. I always use a daylight lamp when stitching. If the strands are still difficult to distinguish, roll the end between your fingers once more to loosen them.
Beginners often ask, “If I need only one strand, why should I separate the floss?” The answer is simple: that strand is still held in the skein’s original twist. Pulling it out before threading your needle lets it lie more smoothly and produces neater stitches.
I generally follow the 45-centimetre rule. Shorter lengths mean changing thread more often, but longer lengths cause more problems. This is a useful balance.
If a leftover strand is still long enough to use, save it. I wind short pieces onto small cards labelled with the colour number. They are handy for small details later.
Separating strands may take a little time at first, but it soon becomes routine. Now it takes me only a few seconds per strand.
Since I started separating my floss consistently, my cross stitch has looked much neater. The stitches have more volume, lie more evenly and create fuller coverage. In surface embroidery, separating strands also gives me much more control over the weight of lines and details. It is a simple action w…
Separate the floss one strand at a time: gently pull one strand upwards and let the rest hang loosely. Then bring together the number of strands you need. It may feel laborious, but it usually stitches more smoothly than pulling two or three strands out together. Avoid using an overly long thread. A…
This video demonstrates how to separate a length of DMC floss into individual strands. It is the original Stitchonomy video on YouTube; use the written English summary below to follow the steps. Read the English step-by-step summary This video shows how to prepare DMC stranded cotton before you begi…
DMC Mouliné Spécial consists of six fine strands twisted together into one length of floss. For cross stitch, you usually do not use all six at once. I generally use two strands on 14-count fabric and often only one strand on finer fabric. With surface embroidery you have much more fre…
The six strands are tightly twisted together during production. If you stitch with them like that, they continue to curl around one another in your stitches. The result is bulky, uneven cross stitches. When I separate the strands first and then bring them back together, they lie neatly alongside one…
When I first started, I sometimes tried to pull several strands out at once. The result was always the same: a hopelessly tangled bundle. Pulling out one strand at a time almost completely prevents this problem.
I usually cut a length of about 50 centimetres, roughly from my fingertips to my shoulder. This works well for most projects. Do you use the loop method to start your thread? You can double this length to about one metre because the thread will be folded in half. With the loop method, you fold one l…
Hold one end of the cut length between your thumb and index finger, leaving about five centimetres exposed. Roll that short end between your fingers or fan the strands apart slightly. You should now be able to see all six individual strands.
This is the most important part: take hold of one of the six strands and gently pull it straight upwards. Hold the top of the remaining bundle securely with your other hand. As you pull, the remaining strands will bunch up and curl below your fingers. It may look alarming, but it is completely norma…
Once the single strand is completely free, the rest of the floss relaxes again by itself. No knot remains; the first time you see it, it almost looks like magic.