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So, I found this beautiful cat-themed cross stitch kit on Pinterest and a lovely poster, Mags, helped me find it online.

I have only ever used DMC thread, so I'm not really sure what the deal is with yarn/acrylic thread. Is there any difference? I think the cloth is different too. The description says 'cotton + flax'.

I just want to make sure that if I buy this kit, I can actually work with the materials. Has anyone ever worked with kits from this company called Riolo?http://www.riolis.com/catalog/details_2531.html

I have never worked with anything from this company so I can't help you there, but I'm wondering if it is thread if it is a crewel type embroidery? I did several of those long before I started cross stitching and if I remember correctly I enjoyed them, but it didn't grab me like cross stitching did. I think the pattern was printed on the fabric in color, but I can't be positive. You might want to look at this YouTube introduction to Crewel Embroidery to see if it is close to what this kit would be. Or the kit, may be something completely different than crewel, and someone else may be able to give you more accurate information.

Carole

Thanks for that info, Carole. I looked at the video but I think this Riolo company is regular cross stitching, just using this woolen thread. I'm so confused! lol!

Just found a riolis site and an article about why they use wool

http://riolis.com/doc.php?doc_id=255" target="_blank

Yes, Mags, I saw that as well. I am not convinced that wool looks better than DMC thread though! lol!

nor me.

The kit seems to be widely available and I just did a search for riolis reviews and came across this review of another riolis kit at sewandso which sounds interesting.
http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/Cider__RIO-R907.aspx" target="_blank

Some of you might remember that about 2-3 years ago a Russian company was looking for volunteers here, to do some market research for them. It was Riolis. I did "work" for them, basically just had to find charts and kits in shops similar in size and style to theirs and write down the prices.

They sent me a packet with some kits. Some use stranded cotton and others wool, but I haven´t tried them yet. Actually, thy are lovely so I might give them a try later on.

That is really interesting. I still prefer cotton threads, but I do admit their samples are very pretty.
Learn something new on this forum almost every day!

Carole

I have a friend who does absolutely amazing prize winning pettit points using Appleton wools (she works with lots of other materials too but that's her favorite).

So I know wool can look spectacular. I use wool in tapestries (along with other threads). I think you should give it a go.

I just saw the kit - it is the kittens? I'd definitely do it in wool, I think wool would really lend itself to the furry aspect (use a fine wool though, like Appleton, not a tick one like DMC's tapestry wool). It will look gorgeous.