Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

geekishly wrote: Tue Nov 18, 2025 2:20 am
I’m excited to be working on the same SAL as you. It’ll be fun!

Maybe we should set up a separate thread for it?

@Mabel: here is an image of the difference between Sulky 12wt (top) and a single thread of DMC 310. Stitched on 28ct Brittney (stash!).

A separate thread might be nice. I haven’t started yet, I’m trying to get this gift finished up so I can mail it off so it gets to my friend in time for Christmas. But I know I work quickly on blackwork once I get started, so I’m hoping to catch up fairly quickly.

ETA: decided to do a test. Not pictured is the horrible attempt with DMC E310. From left to right we have DMC C310, sulky 30wt, and standard DMC 310. I think I’m going with the C310.



You can’t tell in the photo, but the C310 has a lovely subtle sparkle. (Also the stitching is a bit sloppy because I was doing this on a tiny scrap in hand.)

I never considered C310... 30wt is hardly there! C310 is a bit thicker than the others, but I must say that I find that thread quite soft. Anyway, I'll not steal your thunder, because the sparkle will look a bit like frost on the snowflakes and railings -- perfect. Perhaps you could use DMC 310 on anything that might not be perceived as "outside" in the design??

I'll set up a separate thread. And I'll see if I can figure out how to move relevant posts into the new space.

(ETA: success!)

Excellent!

That’s a possibility I hadn’t considered. But I’m planning to do it on opal fabric, so I think it will look great if it’s all subtly sparkly. It should give it a look like you’re outside while it’s snowing looking in.

i rather like the chunky look of the 12wt. What is the C-type DMC?

C stands for Etoile threads. It has a sparkly strand twisted into the thread. https://www.dmc.com/GB/en-GB/products/mouline-etoile

Ah yes, I've heard of it. Is it easy to work with? And does it have the same sort of sparkle as normal DMC combined with blending filament?

It’s slightly different because the sparkly filament is the same colour as the thread, except in the case of black and white, I think, where the sparkle is silver as in a typical filament thread. I find it soft, but the results are quite pleasant. Certainly simpler than dealing with blending filament.

Still worth using a thread conditioner with it like when using filament, but it does work much better for blackwork than using blending filament since it can bend a lot more smoothly.

Got a start on this finally.

Pretty! Blackwork always looks so delivate and lacy.

Lovely!!

Thanks! I meant to share this earlier, but further progress as of a couple days ago.

You've turned corners!!

I'll be getting back to this, probably (gulp) Monday. This week has been full-on and non-stop! (and it's not quite over yet...)

Sadly, that's as far as I can get until I return to Michigan in January. It was simply too big to take on the train with me since I basted it onto a scroll frame.

I'm very tired of the "snowflakes". Especially as I've had to take about five of them out down the left-hand side and will restitch them. I've gone all around the right side, turned the corner and did about 4 motifs at the bottom when I realised with horror that it wasn't going to meet up properly with the left side. One stitch out. One.

And no way of fudging it successfully I suppose? I am really sorry that happened and i just hope it doesn't put you off the project!

It's come close, believe me. Luckily for the project, there is still a bit of rugby on the TV and rather too many rainy days.

It’s coming along. I’m very tempted to put it away for a bit and work on some of my other UFOs. But then, would this become a UFO or a PO (postponed object)? It’s deceptively difficult in places.

Coming along very well! I can see the temptation to take a break and do something different, but I can also see the danger of another UFO.... Perhaps have two very different projects on the go, and both "out in the open" so it's easy to pick them up alternatigly? You are the only one who can make that call I'm afraid.