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I've started a project on Monaco, a fabric I absolutely love. But the dark threads don't cover the white canvas completely using just two strands. Has anyone tried 3 on Monaco before? How did it work out?

Is one of the dark colours in fact black DMC or Anchor? You might be better trying Madeira black, which is a bit thicker. 3 strands of anything on 28ct is going to be a tight squeeze.

Otherwise railroading and really watching your tension might help. I notice what I think is inadequate coverage under the magnifier is, in real life, just fine...

It's actually darker colors in general, but I do railroad anyway. Maybe my tension is a little tight. I was afraid 3 strands would be too much, so I guess I'll just deal with the situation as it is. Thanks!

You could also try Anchor black which is thicker than the DMC. I also think 3 strands would be a lot. I tend to have tight stitches if I'm not concentrating but have found if I don't stitch tightly 1 over 1 on 25 ct and even 22 ct is giving me good coverage, which surprises me.

Carole

I've been stitching 2 strands DMC black over 1 on 25 count lugana. Coverage is great & it's not too hard to stitch. (Mostly went with 2 instead of 1 strand so I could use the loop start )

Maybe a silly question, but are you stitching over 1 or 2 threads?

I'm stitching over two. I think my vision would really struggle if I tried to stitch over 1 on anything higher than 22.

I've stitched 3 over 2 on Monaco before without any problems. The cross stitches in the piece below were all 3 over 2 and the backstitches/half stitches were 2 over 2.

debupnorth wrote:Maybe a silly question, but are you stitching over 1 or 2 threads?

I said it was a silly question!
Here's another, are you separating your 3 strands & then putting them back together to stitch? The reason I ask, is that at least 2 members of my monthly stitching group don't do this. Their coverage looks fine & it works for them - I'd just learned that the coverage would be fuller if the strands were "untwisted".
Otherwise, I agree with Serinde.

Serinde wrote:I notice what I think is inadequate coverage under the magnifier is, in real life, just fine...

Thanks, everyone! Maybe I should try it. I can always frog if it doesn't look right.