All About Weeks Dye Works Embroidery Floss

Weeks Dye Works six strand floss is a hand over-dyed divisible Egyptian cotton embroidery floss. There are currently 343 exquisite colors available. Most of them are quite subtle, but some of the colors are wildly variegated. Aren’t they gorgeous?

Weeks Dye Works embroidery floss is a staple thread for cross-stitchers, but I adore it for needlepoint!

According to the company’s website, “the colors are variegated enough to be noticeable, yet subtle enough to blend naturally.”

Personally, I tend to gravitate to those subtle hues like the one you see in the picture below…

And this gorgeous thread is SO easy to use, too! It’s just like working with DMC cotton embroidery floss.

Just like with any divisible thread, you’ll want to strand (or “strip”) Weeks Dye Works six strand floss before you stitch with it.

Need a refresher on stranding?

Stranding means to separate the strands of a divisible thread, and then put them back together again.

Separate the strands and use as many as you need to get the look you want to achieve. If your goal is full coverage, you’ll want to use 4 strands for 18 mesh canvas and all six strands for 13/14 mesh canvas.

And remember to use a laying tool when working with more than one strand in your needle.

When you’re working with a multicolored thread, like Weeks Dye Works six strand floss…

match up the ends in the same order that you separated them so that the colors line up appropriately.

Cut your pieces approximately 18″ long. Before I cut anything, though, I like to wind the skeins of floss into tiny little balls, just like you’d wind a skein of yarn into a ball for knitting or crocheting.

Here’s another tip for you, too – and it applies to all multicolored threads.

When you prepare to stitch with each subsequent length of thread that you cut, thread your needle on the opposite end of the cut you just made so the color runs remain in sequence. Be careful to avoid leaving long tails when starting or ending a thread, too, since that also affects the color repeat.

And use the continental variation of the tent stitch when working with multicolored threads. If you use the diagonal tent stitch (aka basketweave), you’ll get a weird striping effect.

The range of hues in the Weeks Dye Works six strand floss line of thread is extensive.

Because the threads are hand over-dyed, each skein is a little bit different. It’s always best to purchase all that you think you’ll need for your project from a single dye lot. If you need help in figuring how much thread you’ll need, just grab your free Needlepoint Tips Guide in the banner at the top of this page. 🙂

One of my favorite things about the Weeks Dye Works company is their dedication to our environment.

They are a true “Green Dye House”.

That means all of their dyes are…

• organic and environmentally safe 🌎
• 100% biodegradable and can be discharged directly into the city’s sewer system
• made in America 🇺🇸
• and lead free

AND none of their dyes are listed on California’s Proposition 65, nor are they carcinogenic by IARC, NTP, or OSHA standards.

In addition to all of that, they only use “fast dyes” which means that their threads pass muster as being color fast by industry standards because of their dye selection and a special proprietary process. (I’d still test them, though – especially if you’re going to use the wet blocking method when blocking your finished project.)

Weeks Dye Works six strand floss will work on both 13/14 and 18 mesh needlepoint canvas, but I personally prefer to use it on 18 mesh.

You may use it for stitching all kinds of canvases – from pillows and ornaments to framed designs and stand-ups.

Here are some pictures of stitched samples of Weeks Dye Works cotton embroidery floss worked on 18 mesh canvas…

Alrighty – that’s all for now, my friend. Thank you for dropping by for a visit. Have a terrific rest of your day and, until next time, happy stitching!!

XOXO!!

Ellen Johnson