Which brand thread to you prefer? and why?

[Loopy]

I am currently using DMC threads. And I am not happy. They frey. They break. They are dull in colour.

I have just done a little project for my daughter, and I experimented with Anchor threads and I was very impressed. The threads seemed stronger and they were definately 'glossier'.

I use thread heaven on both, but the Anchor was a pleasure to work with.

Has anyone had similar experience? Or the complete opposite

[Rose]

I have always used DMC and I don't have any problem with them. I never need to use Thread Heaven on the DMC and they don't seem to frey hardly at all.

Anchor is harder to find in the States and I find that the colors are so similar, to say that one is a better color then the other would be hard.


I just like the DMC as a better option for me.

When I first started stitching.....a hundred years ago I had some Anchor and it seemed to work well to stitch with but I got a better feel with the DMC.

[DgyJff]

I have only ever used DMC mainly because it's the only one I can find in stores.

[Lessa54]

I've never had an issue with DMC - certainly never fraying or breaking. I have used some Anchor before and to be honest don't notice any difference between Anchor and DMC. I tend to use DMC simply because most of the charts I do are charted in DMC and it seems to be more widely available.

[RosemaryH]

When I was growing up I used Anchor threads for my embroidery because that was what my grandmother used but when I started to cross stitch my daughter talked me into buying DMC. Once I had gathered together both full sets I interchanged them according to the colour that I wanted and found no difference at all between them. I have stock of Anchor that I used to sell to stitching groups prior to moving to Spain so I should really be saying that Anchor is best but I cannot as I definitely think that they are equal.

Rosemary

[Lizzy]

I've never had any problems with DMC and I usually use it all the time. To me there's no difference between DMC and Anchor..

[*barb*]

Always used DMC as anchor was not available here until a few months ago and i am so used to using conversion charts, i wont be getting anchor as i have the whol DMC collection.

I use thread heaven with the metallics and silks only, but I am a newbie to these special threads so struggle with them. I am sure eventually i will get the hang of it.

I have never had any problem with DMC, except one colous i bought here was faded in regular places and when i went to take it back the shop refused saying i could have swapped it, cut some off ect ect :rollI rarely go there now and when i do I make a mess at the stand as i unwind the threads to make sure the one i get isn''t faulty. they do not like me but i remind them each time why i do it. I only go there when the other shop doesn''t have the thread colour i need which is a rare occurance these days.

[wendywombat]

I use Anchor! They are unavailable in France! so I buy mail order from UK.

I started out with Anchor because:

1 I was subscribing to New Stitches magazine and Mary Hickmott, the designer, used them in her designs.

2 The local shop supplied them and I found the owner really helpful and knowledgeable. (She was French but I didn't know at that time I would be living here or I'd have joined her french classes!! )

3 Now I have a 'full set' it's not echonomical to change to DMC

4 I have a small bundle of DMC threads and I can't detect any difference in quality or sheen.

I wonder if your DMC threads have been bought from a 'reliable' source. I bought some Anchor from an e-bay seller and they were a bit different in texture. I only buy from http://www.sewandso.co.uk/" target="_blank" target="_blank http://www.willowfabrics.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank or http://www.xstitch4u.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank now. I may pay a bit more that way but if I'm going to stitch something worthwhile I want to know my threads are up to standard.

[kell]

I mostly use DMC, occasionally Anchor, but my favourite is Venus - their threads have such a nice sheento them and they're lovely to work with - smooth and soft.

[Sarah Gixxer]

I have no preference between DMC and Anchor and find them both just as good. I use DMC more, simply because I have about 90% of the colours, having had to buy them for my HAEDs so if I stitch anything else I just use what I already have, which is normally DMC.

I do have about 25% of Anchor colours as well though and I do use them when I have the opportunity. I bought some charts from a graphic design company once who use Anchor so I bought quite a few of the colours to stitch those designs rather than convert them to DMC.

[Nachstenliebe]

I use DMC.. didn't really know anything about anchor until I had a really good collection of DMC.. I do have a bag full of anchor though.. and it seems to be the same quality as DMC. None of the store around here carry anything but DMC
Faith

[pamelam]

I use whatever thread comes in the kit. If I buy a chart, I use DMC because it's all I can find.

[koko]

I use DMC mostly, because they are readily available in all the stores here. I've never had a problem with it fraying and the colors seem pretty standard to me. I have started using some hand-dyed floss in special projects & LOVE it. I've tried Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler Threads, and Crescent Colors so far and really love all of the colors

[stitchenaddict]

I'm definitely a DMC fan. I've tried Anchor and JP&Coats, but just really didn't care for them.

[Angel]

I mainly use DMC threads and I've never had a problem with them. In fact, they only ever fray for me after I've frogged the same thread a few times.

I've found they both have the same strength threads.
They both have the same brightness.
They both have the same sheen.
DMC has far more colours.

I use DMC when I'm given the option, but I bought anchor threads too because the work involved in converting was just too much hassle. So when I work on an Anchor exclusive I use anchor threads, the rest of the time I use DMC.

[Catwoman]

I have always used DMC threads and have never had any problems with them. Having said that though, they are becoming increasingly difficult to find here in Cornwall as most suppliers seem to be going over the Anchor.

[Kute Kitty]

I prefer Anchor, but I have a decent stash of both Anchor and DMC. I believe they both have over 440 colours in their range, so the range of colours is fantastic. I think the DMC might be a little bit more of a sheen, but it's only noticeable to me if I hold up a bobbin full of both brands next to each other, certainly not in finished projects.

[Cecilia]

I mostly use DMC mainly because they were cheaper than Anchor threads and most of the kits I bought used DMC. I have never had a problem with DMC threads breaking or fraying.

[nettie]

I use DMC purely because thats what I started with and I started doing magazine charts long before I discovered kits. I have the full set now so I can lay my hands on whichever ones I want when I want.

[Loopy]

Interesting to read everyone responses. I wonder if I did just get a dodgy batch of DMC's in my last order. And like most things today, quality of anything is just not what it used to be.

Price-wise, my local craft supplier who stocks both DMC & Anchor (Spotlight for those in Oz) - DMC is $0.90 and Anchor is $1.30.

When my new kit comes I'm going to use Anchor this time, exclusively, and see if I notice any difference overall.

Thanks for all your responses .... always great to get comparisons and feedback