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Hi everyone

I have just finished finally doing an inventory of all my DMC stash. Over the past three years this has become quite extensive.

I read somewhere that when kitting up a new project one should take care to make sure that each colour used should be taken from the same job lot as the colours can vary very slightly but enough to be noticable on the finished piece.

For a new project that I am kitting up, it calls for 3 skeins of DMC 820, a royal blue, and 3 skeins of another very dark grey colour. Both of these I already possess enough of (3 nearly full skeins in each case) that were bought seperately at different times for different projects.

Would you advise to buy 3 new skeins of each in this case to make sure they all come from the same job lot? I am very nervous to start on the BAP and then see variances in the colour a year or two down the line:-(.

I'm so happy to have done my inventory at last, because 80% of the colours only need 2 or 3 hundred stitches in colours I already have so I am finally seeing the cost saving benefit of collecting stash instead of using kits.

Thanks for all advice as always:-)
Heidi

I had a similar situation and, as long as I could not see a difference between the skeins of the same color in my stash in a good light, I was ok with them.

If you do see a slight difference in the skeins then you could mix them together by taking one strand from each and 'tweeding' them together. That way you'll have enough floss and there will be no noticeable colour changes.

I agree with Wendy. When I need multiple skeins I take them out into a well lighted room were I have natural light and lay them together. If I see any color difference then I will tweed. That is use 1 thread from 1 skein and another thread from a second skein.

For me.. it would depend on how it was being used.

I would buy from same dye lot if most skeins were used in a solidly (or almost solidly) stitched background. Row after row of the same color.. where variation would be noticed. I would buy new from the same lot. And probably tweed when I got to the end of skeins just in case.

If the color was broken up- a motif here, another over there, a couple rows used in shading.. whatever.. I would use what you have on hand. 3 skeins used in spots all over in a project, you'll not notice different dye lots because the other colors will break it up.
That said.. I would stitch a "thing" using floss from the same skein. Say if it were a coat, the side of a house, a car, cover to a book, etc.. any large block of color, I would use all from the same skein.

I would do what has already been suggested. Also, if there are areas of dark blue in different parts of the design, say an area on the left and an area on the right, I'd use a different skein for each area. As long as the skeins are similar in shade and far enough apart, I don't think the difference would be noticeable. Having said that, I haven't had cause to try it yet, so don't quote me!

I always blend the last strand of one skein with the 1st strand of the next same colour Even if they are the same batch