“I’ve been stitching now for more than 5 years, and in that time; I’ve amassed more than 230 threads, but is it worth getting the complete set of DMC threads?”

That was a year ago, and now, with the full set of DMC threads, I can finally answer the question. However as always, its not that simple.

The story starts back when I picked up a small inch square kit from the local hobby store. I had nothing, yet instantly fell out of favor of the standard kits. So I started making my own, and buying threads up.

The early years

At first you buy a thread here. A thread there, and maybe you buy 10 or 20 for a big project. But it never really goes beyond that. You never finish a thread, resorting to reusing the same color next time, even if it isn’t a perfect fit.

Cross stitch is my main hobby

But things start getting better. You start larger and larger pieces, and you’re getting picking about the right colors. Sure, you still make changes to reuse old ones, but you have 5 reds to choose from, so its OK!

But you realize buying 1 or 2 threads isn’t effective. You get batches, and you start having over-spill from your storage boxes…

I’m serious about this now.

So you get new storage. Maybe you get the DMC boxes.
But that makes you realize how few you have..

But you just keep getting through those blacks… So you buy a cone or two. And that’s where things hold.

You have so much selection you can always find 1st or 2nd choice threads.

Purchase

And that’s where I caved. Now, to be clear, I didn’t go out of my way to buy all the threads. I had actually got an offer from a store to buy a kit at a discounted cost.
And I turned it down.

And regretted it instantly.

I made a new pattern, and pulled up a list of colors to find I didn’t have any of them, which was rare in itself. I searched my thread book for a good alternative, and didn’t have the second choice.
Or third.
Or fourth.

So I finally splurged on a full 447 set, complete with variegated threads for £250.

Post purchase

Whilst initially I started using a few new threads, I quickly found another problem. Over-spill. I had worked with 230 threads for the better part of 3 years, and when I brought my new set, I also got those 230.
So I had to work through all 230 threads first.

It took 9 months, and a load of stitching, but I got through it all. Now, I can use any color. Now I have so much choice every piece uses a new thread just for the hell of it.

And you know what? I finally have choice when it comes to skin color. Skin tone threads! Ahhhh!

Is it worth it?

Yes. Oh my word yes.

Even though it doesn’t seem it at first, a complete set means you can always pick the right colour. Hold it up to your screen to check its perfect, or put multiple threads next to each other and pick the best.
And it really shows in your work…

You can pick up a set yourself on at SewAndSo.com