In our deep dive into threads, we’ve covered two points, how DMC threads are made and why some DMC threads were discontinued. The reason we’ve covered those two points first, is the answer to this week’s query; what are those dots and marks after thread numbers?
You may have noticed when picking colors, or using them, that there are a variety of dots and marks before and after some cross stitch numbers. These are those marks if you’re unsure what we mean:
Thanks to the new DMC color chart that came out thanks to the 35 new DMC threads, DMC make more of these dots, and if you have a keen eye, you’ll notice the pre-2018 color card has different dots to the post-2018 color card.
So what are they? Basically, they’re changes in the formula to avoid using nasty chemicals. In the EU dye usage is highly monitored and as a result, they’ve required suppliers of threads to make sure they use only friendly dyes. This has happened in two stages; firstly in 1994 when a lot of greys were changed to fit in with new laws, and again in late 2017 when lots of the reds were affected.
Well that’s interesting, but why do I care?
I’m glad you asked. Dye lots. And it’s actually quite a problem. You see, they couldn’t just change the color formulation and keep the colors perfect, and as a result, we now need to monitor which version of the threads we’re using; old or new. An example of how different they can be is below on some of the 1994 color changes:
In fact, DMC even carry the warning on their color charts:
Do not mix with the original colours without the dot.
That’s just how serious this problem might be, so from now on, keep your eye out for those dots of colors 304, 321, 498, 815 and 816.
My thanks to DMC and Sidar who supplied information, along with Martha Beth.
I have some vintage DMC (1980s) which has an asterisk after the number. Also a different dye lot from my stash. Do you know why?
I’m not aware of any asterisk threads from the 80s. Would you be able to send us some iamges so we can look into it?
As for the dye lot query, this is actually likely to be poor storage of the threads over time.
I am working on a pattern I created and I am picking colors. I want to use light effects floss as well as regular 6 stand floss. I know all the light effects begin with E. What I want to know is how do I find the compatible/complementary color for the light effects floss in the six strand floss. For instance: E3837 – is 3837 in six stand it’s comparable color?
So we need to know what the light effects range is.
Its the standard six strand divisable thread, with a sparkly element added. They actually start as just a normal thread though. So in the example you gave, they started with DMC 3837, and then added the sparkly stuff to make E3837.
So if you wanted just the same colour without the sparkle; just use the non-“E” version.
And if you want to find a non-metallic thread that goes with it (but isn’t the same color) then you can look it up on the standard DMC color chart under the non-“E” number.
I just got another skein of 930 (labeled “930.”) from a completely different store, the same store I from which I bought in 2023 the skein that matched the 2018 floss card, and it is the same exact non-matching color that I got from the Michaels last month.
Tried to contact DMC about it, but they were extremely unhelpful. They vaguely mentioned the reformulations, that some distributors may have old stock, that there’s no way to tell how old a skein is (even if you have the dye lot number, apparently, because I asked if the larger number and incremented letter at the end meant a newer skein), completely ignored me asking why the 2018 “new 35 colors” edition wouldn’t have the new formulation if 930 had been affected, and then shut down the conversation entirely by telling me they’d given me all available information on the topic
So now I don’t have confidence that my color card is accurate anymore, and am very disappointed in DMC’s customer support.
Do you know if 930 was one of the ones reformulated in the 90s? It’s sort of a grey-blue. I just bought a skein with the label “930.” from my local store and it doesn’t match my floss color card from 2018 or what’s left of the skein I bought in 2023 from a different store. I don’t have the label for the 2023 skein anymore since I use floss drops so I don’t know if that one had the dot after the number or not. The color card does not show the dot for 930, so I’m wondering if I got old stock somehow even though it has the modern plastic label. Or was there a new changes/edition of the floss card I missed?
Its not no.
It could be a fake? Or it could have just been stored poorly and the color has changed due to the sun/internal lights?
I suppose it must be poor storage then, because I got it from my local Michaels. The other skeins I got the same trip all seemed fine, though.