Not sure what thread to use for your needlepoint project? Let’s break down the different materials and what thread is best for what project.
All About Thread Types
Silk
Silk brings an unmatched luminosity to needlepoint that no other fiber can quite replicate. It glides smoothly through the canvas and comes in vibrant colors. It is also very durable so it is great for belts or hard-wearing projects.
Silk threads at Mimi’s: Pepper Pot Silk, Vineyard Silk, Vineyard Thirteen (coming soon!)
Silk/Wool Blend
A silk/wool blend offers a middle ground between the matte warmth of wool and the reflective quality of silk—enough sheen to give stitches life without the high contrast of pure silk. Blended threads are slightly easier to manage than silk alone and work especially well in landscapes or softly shaded florals where subtle gradations of tone matter.
Silk/Wool blend threads at Mimi’s: Essentials Cards, Milan Cards and Skeins, Silk & Ivory
Specialty Threads
Specialty threads are where a canvas really comes to life. Metallics catch the light in ways no standard fiber can, while overdyed threads shift color across a single strand for an effortless, painterly effect. Fuzzy or textured threads are great additions to bring animals to life. These threads are best used as accents rather than as a primary fiber, but thoughtfully placed, they can bring a lot of personality to your project.
Specialty threads at Mimi’s: Boucle, Fuzzy Stuff, Fyre Werks, Neon Rays, Patent Leather, Reflections, Silk Lame Braid, Very Velvet and Petite Very Velvet
Cotton
Cotton thread is valued for its durability and affordability and is a great beginner thread. Cotton floss is a pliable thread, meaning you pull strands based on how much coverage you want on the canvas. It doesn’t pill and has a slight sheen but can feel more rigid to stitch with because it doesn’t have a lot of stretch.
Cotton thread at Mimi’s: ThreadworX Overdyed
Wool
Wool is the traditional needlepoint fiber, and for good reason. It is durable, forgiving, and naturally covers canvas well due to its texture. Wool threads produce a matte, soft finish that works beautifully to evoke a classic or heirloom quality but tend to be thick and fuzzy, making it harder to stitch fine details. Its durability makes wool a fine choice for belts or hard-wearing projects!
Canvas Mesh Size & Threads
You will want to use different threads for different mesh sizes to ensure full coverage on your canvas.
Best Mimi's Threads for 18 Mesh
- Essentials
- Vineyard Silk
- Pepper Pot
- Milan Cards: Technically, you can use Milan on both 18 mesh and 13 mesh, but it's typically recommended for 13 mesh. However, we find that because the thread is tightly wound on the card, it stitches beautifully on 18 mesh for a fuller coverage look.
- Fyre Werks
- Silk Lame Braid
- Neon Rays
- Petite Very Velvet
- Reflections
- Boucle: Best used in straight stitches or French knots to show off the texture!
- Fuzzy Stuff: Double it up for more fluff!
- ThreadworX Overdyed: The manufacturer recommends using 4 strands for 18 mesh, but we stitch it unplied on 18 mesh!
Best Mimi's Threads for 13 Mesh
- Vineyard Thirteen
- Pepper Pot
- Milan Cards and Skeins: Technically, you can use Milan on both 18 mesh and 13 mesh, but it's typically recommended for 13 mesh. We find that the thread on the skein is slightly puffier than the thread on the card. If you want to fluff up your Milan card thread, just lightly steam it before stitching!
- Fyre Werks
- Silk Lame Braid: While we do not carry Silk Lame Braid for 13 mesh, we find the thread for 18 provides a full enough coverage on 13 mesh. You can always double it up for even fuller coverage!
- Neon Rays
- Very Velvet
- Boucle: Best used in straight stitches or French knots to show off the texture!
- Fuzzy Stuff: Double it up for more fluff!
- ThreadworX Overdyed
Best Mimi's Threads that work on both 18 Mesh and 13 Mesh
- Pepper Pot
- Milan Cards and Skeins
- Fyre Werks
- Silk Lame Braid
- Neon Rays
- Boucle: Best used in straight stitches or French knots to show off the texture!
- Fuzzy Stuff: Double it up for more fluff!
- ThreadworX Overdyed
FAQs
What do dye lots mean?
Most threads have a dye lot, which indicate which batch the thread was dyed in. There can be color variations between dye lots (sometimes, quite a big variation!) which means you want to stitch an entire area of canvas with the same dye lot of thread. This is why it is best to over buy thread than under buy. Make sure to save the skein tags on dye lotted thread so you can know which dye lot you are using for your next project!
If you are running out of thread and can't find the matching dye lot, you have a few options:
- Switch from basketweave to continental: Basketweave uses ~30% more thread than continental but both look the same on the front of your canvas. Switch to continental to conserve thread!
- Mix dye lots: Each time you pull a new thread, grab from the different dye lot. That way, the dye lots are mixed and will be harder to detect with the naked eye, versus being two blocks of color next to each other.
- Stitch in sections: Differing dye lots will only be obvious if they are stitched right next to each other. For example, if you have a canvas with a navy border and then navy words in the center, if the border and the words are stitched with different dye lots it won't be very obvious because they aren't right next to each other.
How do I choose which color to use?
Your color choices depend on personal preference! Hold up your thread to the painted area of the canvas or the color chart and see if it matches. Threads have different tones, so compare and contrast a few until you find a mix that you like.
Do I have to stitch with the same color as the canvas is painted?
No! You can absolutely color swap a canvas to be different colors, with a few caveats:
- It's not recommended to color swap a lighter color over darker paint; in case the paint slightly shows through the canvas. For example, if the canvas is painted navy, you wouldn't want to color swap to light pink.
- If you are worried about the color showing through, try to use a thicker thread, like selecting Pepper Pot or Milan for an 18 mesh project, or Silk & Ivory for a 13 mesh project.
- Consider your stitches, and make sure you are using a full coverage stitch like basketweave or a diagonal decorative stitch that doesn't show any of the canvas through.
Can I use different types of thread on the same project?
You can definitely mix and match! Each thread has different coverage and level of sheen, so different materials will look slightly different. It's all about personal preference!
How do I know how much thread to buy?
This is the trickiest question, as there is no hard and fast rule. It all depends on the stitches you choose and your level of tension. If you're not sure, it's always best to over buy instead of under buy to ensure you don't lose thread chicken! That way you are building your stash for your next project.
According to each manufacturer, here is about how much area each thread will cover in basketweave:
- 2”x2”: 18 mesh thread coverage for: Essentials card, Reflections card, Milan card
- 2.25”x2.25”: 13 mesh coverage for: Milan card
- 4.5”x4.5”: 13 mesh coverage for: Pepper Pot, Milan Skein, Silk & Ivory
- 4.25”x4.25”: 18 mesh coverage for Vineyard Silk
- 3.75”x3.75”: 18 mesh coverage for: Pepper Pot, Milan Skein
Specialty threads like Fyre Werks, Silk Lame Braid, Neon Rays, and Fuzzy Stuff do not have dye lots, so there is less concern about losing thread chicken with these types of threads.
