From: Lynn
Date: June, 1996:

1 skein 6 strand floss covers
4 sq. inches on #18 mesh canvas.

1 skein #3 perle cotton covers
6 sq. inches on #13/14 mesh canvas.

1 skein #5 perle cotton covers
6 sq. inches on #18 mesh canvas.

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Estimated Stitch Counts

Jim Cripwell posted this table on r.c.t.n. this week. It gives estimates as to how many stitches can be obtained from 8m skeins of 6 strand floss for various stitches per inch on canvas, based on figures obtained for 14 stitches per inch.

He assumed a linear relationship between stitchess per inch and number of stitches produced. He also assumed that using 3 threads produces two thirds of the number of stitches as using two threads. Again, this gives no guidance as to how many threads should be used at the same time. Jim emphasized that the table is based on very little data, and the figures are rough estimates only.

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Alice Mask writes:

Anchor floss tends to give better coverange than DMC. DMC, being a little thinner has historically been used by cross stitchers and Anchor by eedlepointers / canvasworkers because it gets better coverage. Although many of the colors are a good match, many are not. So, by using both you increase your color range. Needle Necessities uses Anchor as the base thread for the overdyes whereas Weeks Dye Works used DMC.

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For Floss Conversion charts, read my Tips & Techniques letter: Conversion Chart Links

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From: DorseyClem@aol.com
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999

(in regard to how much silk fiber is needed...)

It depends on the thickness of the silk and the count of the fabric and weather or not you like a heavy coverage on a lighter coverage.

There are 3 thickness of silk thread that I personally have used. Caron and Needle Necessities are the same thickness. YLI silk is about half the thickness of Caron and Needle Necessities, so you would need to use twice as many strands. YLI's 100 diner silk is about the same thickness as #8 PERL cotton, so you would only use 1 strand for 28 count--for example.

So here's a very general guide line for using silk on 28 count fabric:

Carson: 2 strands
Needle Necessities: 2 strands
YLI silk: 4 strands
YLI 1000 diner silk: 1 strand

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Ideas based on an article in Crafttalk newsletter from Herrschner's
Summer/Fall 1999 edition

Calculate floss usage by working a one inch square area in the desired stitch (basketweave, cross-stitch, etc.) Before stitching, measure the length of your floss strands into equal lengths. Stitch the one inch area, keeping track of how many strands you use. Once the sample is complete, calculate how many square inches your design area will use. For example, a 10" x 16" design is 160 square inches. Multiply the number of inches of floss by the number of square inches in the design. This gives you the total number of inches of floss needed for the design.

Read your floss label to see how many yards each skein contains. Multiply that yardage by 36 (36 inches in a yard) to see how many inches of floss are in your skein.

Determine how many strands of floss you will use at one time. If you use all six strands of floss, your inches per skein remain as in the step above. But if you use only three strands of floss, you'll need to multiply the number of inches in your skein by two to determine how many inches of floss are available in that skein.

Next, calculate how many skeins of floss are needed. Divide the total inches of floss needed by the number of inches per skein.