A standard skein of six-strand embroidery floss, like DMC Mouliné, holds 8 meters (8.7 yards) of thread. How far it goes depends on how many strands you stitch with and how big each stitch is.
The rule of thumb
Stitching full crosses with 2 strands on 14-count Aida, one skein covers roughly 1,800 stitches. That number is what our color keys use. Real results vary between stitchers by a few hundred stitches, depending on how you start and end threads and how much you waste on the back.
On other fabrics the stitches are bigger or smaller, so the same skein goes further or less far:
| Fabric | Strands | Stitches per skein (about) |
|---|---|---|
| 11-count Aida | 3 | 900 |
| 14-count Aida | 2 | 1,800 |
| 16-count Aida | 2 | 2,050 |
| 18-count Aida | 2 | 2,300 |
The 11-count row assumes 3 strands: a skein splits into two sets of 3 strands instead of three sets of 2, so it covers fewer stitches. Our color keys assume 2 strands on every count, so buy about half as much again if you stitch 11-count with 3 strands.
How to work it out
Take the number of stitches of a color from the color key and divide by the stitches per skein, then round up. For example, 2,500 stitches of red on 14-count need 2,500 ÷ 1,800 = 1.4, so 2 skeins.
Tips so you don't run out
- Buy one extra skein of the main colors. Dye lots can vary slightly, and a skein bought months later may not match.
- Cut lengths of about 18 inches (45 cm). Longer threads tangle and wear thin as they pass through the fabric.
- Keep the back tidy. Long jumps across the back between distant stitches use a lot of thread; end and restart instead.
- Backstitch uses much less. A few meters usually covers all the outlines of a small design.
Diamond painting and beads
For diamond painting, our keys count every drill and add 10 % spare, because some always roll away. For fuse beads, the key gives the exact number of beads; buy a little extra of the main colors.