Tip for using overdyed floss

Some folks, not me tho, say it's best to rinse them before you use them, as the dyes can run. I prefer the stronger colors with all the dye. It is not recommended you wash the piece when you are done, as the dye might run.

I use English method of stitching: one X at a time; rather than the Danish: /// then back \\\. Gives me the variegation more clearly in the stitching.

Also, the loop start method is not recommended, again because it can blend away the variegation.

HTH, Caryn

Go for it! Overdyed is fun! Some tips:

1. Always rinse first. I think all the manufacturers have things that run and they all suggest it, even if their floss is supposed to be washfast. In my experience, a subtly shaded floss may lose some or all of the shading in the washing. (Gentle Arts come to mind!) If you don't want to wash or rinse, you have to stitch with immaculate hands and banish kids and pets from the stitching area.

1. Play around. You can get different effects by using two strands that are shaded the same, two strands that are shaded oppositely, one strand of shaded and one of regular, etc. The shading shows up most if you cross each stitch as you come to it, but you can do half-crosses and then come back and cross them for a more subtle effect. Needle Necessities has some tips on their website. Maybe buy a skein of variegated DMC and play before ordering the pricey hand-dyes.

2. If you do a repeated motif and make sure that each motif starts at the same point in the variegation, you can make them all alike. This looks wonderful.

1. Generally, in very small areas of just a few stitches, the overdyed threads are pretty much wasted. The effect shows up more on larger things, say 8 stitches by 8 or so. For a little flower here or there, don't bother.

2. Always, always, order enough for the whole project. Dye lots vary!

1. Do a doodle scrap first, because sometimes the threads look very different stitched than they do in the skein.

2. There are skeins with a short "repeat" and ones with a long. They're useful for different things. If your area is small, you will notice more shading with a floss with a short repeat. You may find you neve get through all the colors in a small area of stitching.

1. You can make a color "repeat" faster by spending more of your floss on the back of the fabric. It's your floss--you can "waste" it if it gives you the effect you want.

M> I've been doing xstitch for quite a while now but have

The only other thing I might add is in reference to the no loop start.

Cut your thread at about 18" & pull 2 individual threads out seperately. Keep the correct ends together so the dyes are matching on both strands. Start your stitching with the anchored tail method & complete 1 full cross stitch at a time. This will insure that your color variations are vivid & noticable. Otherwise, the colors just blend together & while you see some differences, it's just not what the design will be calling for.

With alot of pre-planning, I've stitched the M-Designs Trees with a number of different colors of overdyed threads. I've kept the colors exactly the same on both sides of the tree, so it truely is a mirrored affect!

Good luck & have fun with it!

Hugs n' Stitches - RoseAnn

Nancy wrote:

Yeah, they just don't look quite the same without that, I think. It's worth the effort.

Best wishes, Ericka

Generally speaking it is wise to do stitches one at a time with overdyed thread. That is, it is unwise to stitch Danish. Overdyes tend to have quite big colour changes, and these look "right" if stitches are done one at a time. HTH.

Unless, of course, you don't like the stripey effect, in which case, you can do them one at a time in random blobs to effect shading.

Nancy,

You may pick up some tips from my online class on overdyed threads. You will find it here:

Regards,

Carol Leather

What she said. Also - if you do the loop start - it could end up looking "dotty" rather than showing the color graduation.

Personally, I only very, very rarely wash them first. I just stitch with compulsively washing my hands when I've gotten up to do something else before starting to stitch again. And keep the unfinishied piece in a protectice cover (read this the tons of old pillowcases which were found left in the old house).

I also use Thread Heaven with my overdyes - I don't know why - I don't bother with plain floss, but it seems to be needed with some of the overdyed thread.

The other thing to note - besides crossing your stitches as you go - is to look at the floss and think about your stitching pattern with respect to how the color changes will show. It's a little fun thing with overdye. Or just stitch the direction you normally would, just crossing each stitch.

You could get hooked like the rest of us. I'm an addict and have lots in stash - frequently swapping overdyes for a couple of colors on some charts.

Have fun. You could also pick the "important" places for the overdyes and do the rest in DMC - if you're hesitant about the cost or working with them.

Happy stitchin' ellice

Very nice thing to do. Our ANG chapter had Nanette Costa down a few years back to do a workshop with one of her pieces. It was based on a NN overdye. We had a lot of fun manipulating the threads - there are corners that really neeeded to be done symmetrically. Nanette taught us some way to cut the lengths and group them , etc so that you had plenty that would work. A little time consuming, but worth the effort.

ellice

Thanks all for your tips. This isn't a "big" project but since I like the look in the picture I'll probably try it. Although it will have to be after the holidays. The floss will be my treat and since it's only 10 colors it won't break the bank. I might use DMC for the small areas or the backstitching.

Nancy, longtime lurker

If you're using overdyes on a large area, you may not like the stripey look that you'll get. In that case you might try the more subtle effect of turning one of the strands round the other way. Ignore the comments of people who'll tell you that you'll then be working against the "grain".

If you want to mirror the design with the over-dyes I would suggest that you thread up two needles with strands from the same cut of thread. Then begin both needles at the same point in the design. Like on M Designs trees the top stitch would have the / stitched from the needle on the right and the \ from the needle on the left then the right needle is used to stitch the right side and the left needle for the left side of the design. Each time you need to start a new length of thread you must do the same for each side to maintain the mirror look. It can be a challenge to do but it looks really great.

Over-dyes are so much fun. Just take your time and play with the thread to see what you can do. Remember you can pick areas of thread to use in areas where you want that shade or color. This sometimes means you stitch against the grain as you my want to put a section of the thread closer to the knot end. Just be aware that you might feel some drag and using shorter lengths of thread will save on wear.

Have fun.

Alice in Utah

That's why a couple of us suggested planning your stitching so that the color shifting goes in areas, or blobs. Also, I think she said that she's using Gentle Arts Sampler Threads - which tend to have subtler variations, so the really stripey look doesn't happen.

Ellice

For the trees, I think the easier way is simply to work the trees sideways. I work each side from the bottom up (so I end up working left to right for the right-hand side of the tree, and right to left for the left-hand side of the tree). I just alternate sides, doing one length at a time, taking care to traverse the design the same way on each side.

Best wishes, Ericka

I never wash or rinse my overdyed threads. I'm of the let's-keep-the-hands-compulsively-clean gang so that there is no need to wash the finished project.

Ditto the no loop start. Unless. Sometimes you may want to do this for effect. I did a tree and used the loop start for both the trunk and the leaves. Looked more natural and eliminated any of the stripey effect.

Some designs you may want to fiddle with the thread so that it starts the light or dark where you want it. I've had overdyeds that I've basically elimated a shade that was "too" much one way or the other.

Don't be afraid to expirement. I've used overdyeds where none were called for. Used DMC with overdyeds. Used DMC instead of overdyeds. Enjoy learning!

Donna in Virginia