Silk and Ivory is a luscious 50% silk/50% Merino wool single strand non-divisible thread. When Serendipity Needleworks was a retail shop, it was my #1 best selling thread… and with good reason. You can use it on so many different sizes of needlepoint canvas, for starters. And in addition to that, you can use it for cross-stitch, knitting, and crochet!
Brown Paper Packages is the company that imports Silk and Ivory from Switzerland.
Each skein has 28.8 yards, which makes it one of the more economical thread options available to today’s stitcher. There are currently 250 exquisite colors available in a terrific assortment of color families.
The range of colors within each family is quite nice, as well – and the names are super fun! With monikers like Tomato Soup, Salsa, Cherry Tomato, and Tamale, who can resist? And speaking of those resplendent reds, here’s a picture for you, along with some of their vibrant yellows and oranges…
When working with Silk and Ivory thread…
Cut your pieces approximately 18″ long – and remember to keep a short tail (approximately 2″).
Wondering why you should do that? Well, the eye of a tapestry needle is punched and that means it has sharp-ish edges that can damage your thread. If you start with a longer tail and then slide the needle up the length of the thread as you’re stitching, you may end up fraying the thread in multiple places and your stitches won’t look as pretty.
It’s a great thread for stitching all kinds of canvases – from stocking and stand-ups to ornaments and framed designs!
You may also use it for pillows, but be aware that it has a slight tendency to “pill” (i.e., get those little fuzz balls) when used on items that receive a lot of handling. Consequently, I don’t recommend using it to stitch wearables like belts, purses, cummerbunds, etc.
I think it’s the perfect option for 13/14 mesh when you’re working a piece in the tent stitch. You’ll get full coverage of the canvas without having to use a laying tool – and that makes it a terrific thread for beginning stitchers to use.
If your canvas is 18 mesh, I think you’ll find that it’s a little thick when working in the tent stitch – especially basketweave! I stitched the “Roll Tide” ornament in the picture below several years ago and whoa, Nellie – my hands were so tired after each stitching session that I swore I’d never do that again!
Now, I reserve Silk and Ivory for longer stitches when I’m working on 18 mesh canvas.
Below, you can see how well it covers when you’re using decorative stitches. Starting at the top left and working your way around (clockwise), you see the Hungarian ground stitch, the Milanese stitch, the Hungarian stitch, and the diagonal mosaic stitch.
If your canvas is 13/14 mesh, you’ll find that it’s a little too thin to use for decorative stitches that are horizontal or vertical (straight) stitches, like the Hungarian stitch and the Hungarian ground stitch.
Luckily, the smart folks at Brown Paper Packages created the perfect solution: Trio!
Trio is a divisible thread that you can strand. It’s 50% silk/50% Merino wool – just like Silk and Ivory – and the color palette is the same, too, which means you can use both threads on the same piece.
Use one strand of Trio for 18 or 20 mesh canvas and use two strands for 13 or 14 mesh canvas. If you’re working on a 10 mesh canvas, you’ll need to use all three strands.
The beauty of Trio is that you can use however many pieces you need to get the kind of coverage you’re trying to achieve.
I’m using Silk and Ivory on Ruth’s Christmas stocking. Have you ever used either Silk and Ivory or Trio on one of your needlepoint projects? If you did, did you like it? I’d love to hear from you! 😉
Alrighty, that’s all for now. Thank you ever so much for popping in for a visit. Have a terrific week and I’ll see you next time.
Until then, happy stitching!
XOXO…
I always learn something you! Thank you!
Cindy
Awww.. thank you, Cindy! That’s so sweet of you to say. Thank you for being part of our Serendipity Needleworks family.
XOXO!
Ellen
I love Silk and Ivory. Have recently finished two 13 count canvases using all Silk and Ivory.
It’s one of my favorite threads, too, Sally! I’m working on my granddaughter’s stocking right now and a lot of it will be stitched using Silk and Ivory. 😉
XOXO!
Ellen
I’m using Silk and Ivory on a Canvas Works piece and as long as I insert it into the needle with the nap of the thread, I haven’t had pilling on 13 ct. It’s a lovely thread and the colors are beautiful! Thank you Ellen
Hi Kathy!
Thank you for sharing your experience with Silk and Ivory. It’s definitely one of my favorite threads! I think it has one of the loveliest color palettes around. I’m enjoying seeing your progress on your Canvas Works project… thank you for sharing the pictures in our Stitcher’s Club community. 🙂
XOXO!
Ellen
Thank you for your information about silk and ivory, amost beautiful thread that I love using. Have used it on 13 mesh and so easy to use, have not tried on 18ct, but thinking may try that. The colors are just beautiful. Thank you so much for your stitches and your help.
Hi Marianne!
Thank you for taking the time to write. I’m glad you found the info about Silk and Ivory helpful. If you plan to use it on 18 mesh canvas, make sure you’re working longer stitches – and not the tent stitch (or basket weave!). It’s too thick and will make your hands hurt. (Ask me how I know… 😉 )
Have a wonderful weekend…
XOXO!
Ellen
silk and ivory is a very beautiful needlepoint thread which I love. The colors are gorgeous and it is a pkeasure to stitch with. Could you tell me what thread, wool, to usecwithb10 ct. wantbto needlepoint a small rose needlepoint, old but beautiful, whichnisc10 ct. Would DMC wool be okay for this small canvas. Thank you. Marianne
Hi Marianne!
Thank you for your note. DMC tapestry wool is the best option, in my opinion, for a 10 count canvas. The colors are lovely and it’s the perfect size. If your local shop doesn’t carry it, you can order it directly from DMC’s website. All of the colors across thread lines are dyed to match, so if you have access to the DMC floss colors, you can select the best color(s) to complete your project.
Happy stitching… and send us a picture of your project when you finish stitching it. It sounds lovely!
XOXO!
Ellen
Just finished a stocking for my grandson. Used Silk n Ivory for all of it. 14 mesh. Love that yarn. Also, did a seagull in it years ago, but didn’t finish the background. Ugh. Now I can’t match the color. I’ve tried their White, Whipped Cream, Sand, and Pearl with no matches. Any suggestions are welcomed!
Love your posts,
Candy
Hi Candy
Thank you for sharing a little bit about your experiences with Silk and Ivory thread. It’s one of my all-time favorites, too. 🙂
Regarding your question about matching your background thread… do you have any of the original thread left? If so, I may have a solution. If not, I’m afraid the best I can recommend is frogging the background and re-stitching it. (I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, but I think it’s the best option if you don’t have any of your original thread left.)
Happy stitching…
Ellen