Comparison
DMC vs other embroidery floss: does the brand matter?
For a one-color portrait, the brand matters less than one thing: black floss that doesn't bleed when it's wet, because the finished piece gets rinsed. DMC, Anchor and Cosmo all make six-strand cotton floss with colorfast dyes, and unbranded floss can work too. Whatever you buy, rinse a snip first and check it on a white towel.
What you can check, brand by brand
Six-strand embroidery floss: what the makers say and what you can check
| DMC | Anchor and Cosmo | Unbranded multipacks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strands | Six, which separate easily | Six | Usually six; check the label |
| Fiber | Cotton | Cotton | Often cotton, sometimes a blend; check the label |
| Dye | Colorfast and fade resistant, says DMC | Colorfast | Unknown until you test it |
| Color numbers | Printed on the label; 310 is black | Their own numbers | Often none, so it's hard to buy the same shade again |
| Where to find it | Most craft stores | Needlework shops and online | Online, in big multicolor packs |
| For a black portrait | Fine | Fine | Fine, if it passes the rinse test |
There's no ranking here. We haven't tested brands against each other, and we won't pretend to. The table lists only what each maker says, what Needle 'n Thread reports, and what you can check yourself.
The rinse test for black floss
Your portrait gets a rinse at the end to dissolve the stick and stitch sheet. If the black floss bleeds, the gray soaks into the linen around every line. So test the floss before you start, whatever the brand.
- Cut a short snip. An inch or two from the skein you'll stitch with.
- Wet it. In lukewarm water, the same as your final rinse.
- Blot it. Press it onto a white paper towel and leave it there to dry.
- Look. If there's any gray on the towel, use a different skein for your portrait.
What matters more than the brand
- Strands that separate cleanly. Pull one strand out at a time, then lay the two you need back together.
- A sensible length. DMC suggests no more than about 18 inches at a time. Longer lengths wear and fuzz as they pass through the fabric.
- Fresh thread for satin stitch. A new, shorter length lies flatter and looks glossier.
- One skein. A black dog portrait needs one skein, with plenty left over for a second hoop.
More on separating floss in how many strands of embroidery floss to use.
Is cheap floss OK for beginners?
Often, yes. A big multicolor box is handy for samplers and practice. For a portrait you'll keep, the two risks are a black that bleeds and a thread that frays or splits unevenly. You'll know within a few minutes: separate a strand, stitch a few lines on a scrap, and do the rinse test.
If you'll want more of the same color later, buy floss with a color number on the label. With black, that's easy: DMC's black is 310.
Questions people ask
Is DMC floss worth the price?
For a black portrait you need one skein, so the difference is small. A known brand gives you colorfast dye and a color number you can buy again. A cheaper floss that passes the rinse test works too.
Is cheap Amazon floss OK for beginners?
It can be, for practice. Before you use it on a portrait, separate a strand to check it splits cleanly, and rinse a snip to make sure the black doesn't bleed.
Does black floss bleed?
Good colorfast floss shouldn't, but test it anyway, because your piece gets a rinse at the end. Wet a snip, dry it on a white paper towel, and look for gray.
What is DMC floss?
DMC's six-strand embroidery floss: a cotton thread made of six fine strands you separate, sold in small skeins with a color number on the label. It's the floss most craft stores carry.
What is DMC floss made of?
Cotton. DMC lists its six-strand embroidery floss as all cotton.
Sources: DMC: Six-strand embroidery floss · DMC: Mouliné Spécial stranded cotton · Needle 'n Thread: Cosmo embroidery floss, first impressions · DMC: How to use stranded thread