RETURN POLICY ON THREAD: Like most needlework retailers, we do not allow returns on thread except when there has been an error on our part. Please keep this in mind before you buy. When in doubt, we recommend you buy and test a small amount prior to ordering larger quantities. We have very low shipping charges of approximately $4.25 (subject to change) sent to US addresses(subject to change) for small thread orders to enable you to do this affordably. There are many reasons for this policy, but a primary reason is that once the thread has left our store, we can no longer verify that it has been kept clean and unused, and in most cases, we can no longer tell which dye lot a given thread came from. Therefore you can be confident that the thread you buy from us is clean, unused, and that we can send you multiple skeins from a single dye lot when that is important. If you buy thread from a company that accepts returned thread, how do you know where the thread they sell you has been before it gets to you?

CONVERTING THREAD: From time to time we get requests to convert thread from one brand to another or one type to another. This can be an extremely difficult and time-consuming task and we regret that we are no longer able to offer this service.

WOOL THREADS

This page last updated May 1, 2023.

Wool is an animal fiber which has a soft look when stitched, and which does not reflect a lot of light. It is a wonderful thread to use for a "homespun" effect or for soft backgrounds. When used for needlepoint, it wears better than most other fibers over time.

DMC BRODER MEDICIS or "medici" used to come in 180 colors. This is a very fine weight wool used for canvas embroidery, crewel embroidery, and even counted cross stitch. Color cards have not been available for several years, and the announcement was made a while back by DMC that this yarn will no longer be available from them. We do still have the same yarn but now without DMC labels (except for some existing inventory). The yarn itself is the same, the yardage is the same, the colors are the same, the primary difference is that hanks are NO longer available and the 25 meter/27 yard skeins do not consist of continuous lengths but now consist of five 5 meter lengths.

Currently available in a range of 193 colors, 5 old colors were discontinued and several new colors added. Currently available colors (sorry, for now we can only list them by number) are:

We are unable to accurately show colors on the internet. You may order by old color numbers if you know them. We are limited due to time constraints to help if you don't have color numbers to give, but let us know your needs and we will see if we can help.

DMC TAPESTRY WOOL (Laine Colbert) is a heavy weight non-divisible yarn primarily used for canvas work on larger mesh sizes (size 10-14), although in Australia it has also been used for lovely bullion stitches and other forms of embroidery. It comes in 390 colors. All colors are available in 8.7 yard skeins. A VERY limited color selection used to be available in 42.7 yard hanks but DMC is no longer producing hanks of this wool. DMC Tapestry Wool actual thread color cards are no longer available to stores to sell to customers which makes it hard for us to help you select colors (showing wool colors online is too inaccurate). This makes it very hard for people to buy DMC tapestry wool unless they have listed specific color numbers to purchase. If you uncertain which color or colors to buy we recommend you buy a single skein of a color first in case the color you get is not what you expected as we do not accept returns of thread. If it is important that you can see a thread color before you buy it, we recommend you pick a brand of thread or yarn that has color cards available for purchase.

In 2009 DMC reduced the color range of this yarn to 390 colors from 460 colors, a loss of 70 colors. We still have inventory of some discontinued colors but over time they will disappear and we will not be able to replace them. Click here for a list of the 390 colors that will continue to be made.

APPLETON TAPESTRY WOOL is a heavier, tapestry-weight yarn which comes in all the same shades as Appleton crewel wool. Appleton tapestry is similar to DMC tapestry yarn, but perhaps slightly thinner and a little bit less tightly twisted. Several older colors of Appleton wool have been discontinued by the manufacturer and our supply of them is now starting to dwindle or disappear; but a number of new colors have also been added to the line recently.

The most accurate way to see the actual Appleton colors is to buy one of their actual yarn color cards (see below); you may also look at the images available on this Appleton color family page, with images provided by the Appleton company, with the caveat that color accuracy is not guaranteed:

An actual thread Appleton color card is available for $75.00 (card shows colors for both crewel and tapestry yarn).

Also available by special order (please allow extra time) are hanks of Appleton tapestry, which measure approximately 65 yards, for $8.50.

APPLETON CREWEL WOOL is a finer-weight wool than Appleton tapestry; imported from England where it is produced in a gorgeous range of colors (with some older colors now discontinued by the manufacturer but several new colors added to the line). An actual thread color card is available for $75.00 (price is discounted from normal retail and card shows colors for both crewel and tapestry yarn but samples on card are of tapestry weight).

The most accurate way to see the actual Appleton colors is to buy one of their actual yarn color cards (see above); you may also look at the images available on this Appleton color family page, with images provided by the Appleton company, with the caveat that color accuracy is not guaranteed:

Also available by special order (please allow extra time) are hanks of Appleton crewel, which measure approximately 164 yards, for $8.50.

ANCHOR TAPESTRY WOOL is slightly heavier in weight than Appleton and roughly comparable to DMC tapestry wool. Although we still have stock of most of the 400+ colors, we are no longer able to get Anchor tapestry wool. The only company in the US authorized to import Anchor products to the US will not import the tapestry wool so we can't replace colors as we sell them. We are also unable to order this yarn directly from Europe as the people in Europe are prohibited from selling to the US.

Over time we will have fewer and fewer Anchor yarn colors in stock so please check with us prior to trying to place an order for Anchor yarn. While it lasts, Anchor tapestry wool is available in 10 meter (11 yard skeins).

Price per 11 yard skein of Anchor tapestry wool: $1.50

PATERNAYAN PERSIAN WOOL is no longer being produced as the company is out of business. We still have a fair amount of it on hand; please check with us for availability. Instead of Paternayan, we are now able to offer Colonial Persian wool (see next entry) which is available in most but not yet all of the old Paternayan colors.

Colonial Persian Yarn by Colonial Needle is a traditional 3-stranded Persian wool, using the same yarn/suupplier supplier as the old Paternayan company. Currently (October 2018) available in 249 colors, all colors are available for us to order in 1/4 pound hanks for $21.00 or on 8 yard cards for $2.50. NOT all are in our store currently. We will continue to sell our existing supply of Paternayan yarn while it lasts and fill in with the Colonial Persian when we can.

Wisper by Rainbow Gallery is a very fine thread/yarn made of 70% kid mohair and 30% nylon. Although we do not stock it in every color, we try to keep it in stock in color W-88 (white) and W-89 (ecru) plus most gray and brown tones. Please inquire if you need a color other than white or ecru. This thread looks extremely fuzzy on the card, but when you stitch with it typically you will "trap" the majority of the fuzzy part in the fabric or canvas. For the best results at achieving a truly fuzzy look, brushing it with a bunka or nap raiser brush is advised.

Price per 20 yard card of Wisper

.....

$3.00

Copyright 1998-2023. All prices are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice.