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Hi, i've been an avid cross-stitcher for about 25 years and have quite a collection of Anchor threads. I usually don't have any problems with colours but i've just started a project, went to the faithful old cross stitch threads and got which colours I needed and started stitching. However, when I went to buy a second skein of a couple of threads I need to complete the project I notice Anchor have now changed the colours slightly...so I have got to now unpick the sections i've done to make sure they all match. Is this a regular thing these companies do? Does anyone have any idea how I can check what colours I have to see if my old threads tally with the new charts they have as i'm at a loss as to why they have done this? One colour is quite a difference in shade - a lot darker, the other is slightly deeper in colour meaning it will be noticeable if I do use the new colour. I'm so frustrated as i've never had this happen before

It happens sadly! Dye lots change. I, too have Anchor threads and what I've done when this happens is to 'tweed' 2 strands of the colours together, one old and one new. Not a perfect solution, I know, but unless you (unpick) the lot it's the only way! Perhaps you could just those areas where the colours are different and tweed those.

I also know how frustrating that can be. I know I should get all the colors at once for large projects, but I don't as I have a huge collection of DMC threads. I have rarely had the color change from old to new skeins, but I did have that happen on one large project which I have officially labeled a UFO until I decide what to do about it. Wendy's suggestion is the best one I could think of also. I hope this works out for you.

Carole

Thank you. It's something I never thought of...that the company would change the colours. So frustrating to unpick all that work so thanks for the idea, might have to go for that option

I feel you on this. I had to replace and add thread for a Dimensions kit. I used the cyberstitcher's conversion chart. Spent a small fortune on threads that are way off. There is no Anchor dealer in my immediate area. I ended up buying 2 to 3 shades either darker or lighter than the conversion # to get a match. Then I went to local hobby store and tried to match with DMC colors.

Good part I found some new colors that I love: Anchor 150 and 127. The best navy and dark purple to me.

Maybe I will be able to trade some of the threads colors I won't be using anytime soon.

I know DMC had to change a number of colours a few years back due to new environmental protection rules in the European Union. I think Anchor might've been in the same boat.

I imagine the companies would try to avoid colour changes if possible! They must know how irritating it is for stitchers.

Wendy's answer is by far the best. I have used the tweeding method a few times. My local stitching shop only holds Anchor threads so when I ran short of DMC I just found the nearest Anchor thread to it and tweeded. It doesn't show!!