RETURN POLICY ON THREAD: Like most needlework retailers, we do not allow returns on thread except when there has been an error on our part. Please keep this in mind before you buy. When in doubt, we recommend you buy and test a small amount prior to ordering larger quantities. We have very low shipping charges of approximately $1.75 for small thread orders to enable you to do this affordably. There are many reasons for this policy, but a primary reason is that once the thread has left our store, we can no longer verify that it has been kept clean and unused, and in most cases, we can no longer tell which dye lot a given thread came from. Therefore you can be confident that the thread you buy from us is clean, unused, and that we can send you multiple skeins from a single dye lot when that is important. If you buy thread from a company that accepts returned thread, how do you know where the thread they sell you has been before it gets to you?

WOOL THREADS

This page last updated February 12, 2010.

Wool is an animal fiber which has a soft look when stitched, and which does not reflect a lot of light. It is a wonderful thread to use for a "homespun" effect or for soft backgrounds.

DMC BRODER MEDICIS or "medici" used to come in 180 colors. This is a very fine weight wool used for canvas embroidery, crewel embroidery, and even counted cross stitch. Color cards are no longer available, and the announcement has been made by DMC that they will no longer produce this yarn. Please go to this page to read about developments relating to Medicis yarn.

DMC TAPESTRY WOOL (Laine Colbert) is a heavy weight non-divisible yarn primarily used for canvas work on larger mesh sizes (size 10-14), although in Australia it has also been used for lovely bullion stitches and other forms of embroidery. It comes in 390 colors. All colors are available in 8.7 yard skeins. A VERY limited color selection is available in 42.7 yard hanks by special order - contact us for color availability of hanks. DMC Tapestry Wool actual thread color cards are no longer available from DMC. DMC has not made these color cards for several years and is highly unlikely to make them in the future. This makes it very hard for people to buy DMC tapestry wool unless they have listed specific color numbers to purchase. We do not unfortunately have enough free time to make color choices for you. We also discourage people from using online color cards to make color choices as they are notoriously imprecise. If you choose to do so we recommend you buy a single skein of a color first in case the color you get is not what you expected as we do not accept returns of thread. If it is important that you can see a thread color before you buy it, we recommend you pick a brand of thread or yarn that has color cards available for purchase.

In 2009 DMC reduced the color range of this yarn to 390 colors from 460 colors, a loss of 70 colors. We still have inventory of most discontinued colors but over time they will disappear and we will not be able to replace them. Click here for a list of the 390 colors that will continue to be made.

APPLETON TAPESTRY WOOL is a heavier, tapestry-weight yarn which comes in all the same shades as Appleton crewel wool (currently 420 colors). An actual thread color card is available for $37.50 (card shows colors for both crewel and tapestry yarn). Appleton tapestry is similar to DMC tapestry yarn, but perhaps slightly thinner and a little bit less tightly twisted. The manufacturer raised prices of Appleton wool at the beginning of 2009; current prices are listed below.

Also available by special order (please allow 2-4 weeks) are hanks of Appleton tapestry, which measure approximately 65 yards, for $6.10.

APPLETON CREWEL WOOL is a finer-weight wool imported from England where it is produced in a gorgeous range of 420 colors. An actual thread color card is available for $37.50 (card shows colors for both crewel and tapestry yarn but samples on card are of tapestry weight).

Also available by special order (please allow 2-4 weeks) are hanks of Appleton crewel, which measure approximately 164 yards, for $6.10.

ANCHOR TAPESTRY WOOL is slightly heavier in weight than either DMC tapestry or Appleton tapestry. We have more than half the colors in stock but we do not have the full line (due to lack of space to add 400+ colors of a third line of tapestry wool!) but we are pleased to announce that we can special-order it for those of you who have been looking for Anchor tapestry wool. Please allow 1-2 weeks unless you need a large quantity in a single dye lot, which will take additional time. Anchor tapestry wool is available in 10 meter (11 yard skeins). Color cards are currently not available.

Price per 11 yard skein of Anchor tapestry wool, (not all colors in stock, please contact us if you wish to find out if we have your color(s) in stock): $1.50

OVERDYED FRENCH WOOL BY NEEDLE NECESSITIES is made of fine weight wool (Medicis) which has been overdyed. Like all overdyed threads, this yarn begins as a solid color, and then additional colors or shades are dyed over the original color. Some of these will be lighter and darker shades of a single color, while others will combine two or more colors (such as blue and green and purple) along a single thread. Many colors coordinate with other Needle Necessities' overdyed threads, although because of the way the different fibers accept dye they will be somewhat different than the same color dyed in a different type of thread. Because this is a hand-dyed thread, dye-lots will vary so be sure to purchase enough of a dye lot to complete your project. Sorry, color cards are not available. In September of 2007 this company announced they are going out of business and their thread will not be available from us once our existing supply is gone. Many colors are already gone so please check with us before ordering to confirm availability. Colors are:

PATERNAYAN PERSIAN WOOL is probably the best known Persian wool. Persian wool is a three-ply divisible yarn very commonly used for needlepoint. We stock it in 8 yard skeins in all colors with some hanks in stock of common background colors such as white, off-white and black. Hanks of any color may be special-ordered. The manufacturer of Paternayan yarn is currently experiencing difficulty supplying this yarn (since late summer of 2009). They say the situation is improving but in our experience it is getting worse, with up to half the colors we order being unavailable; some colors have been unavailable since August 2009. If we are unable to supply colors to you in a timely manner, it is because of delays by the manufacturer.

Paternayan Persian Wool, price per 8 yard skein: 80¢
Paternayan Persian Wool, price per 1/4 pound hank (approx. 172 yards): $11.00
Paternayan Persian Wool color card: $45.00

Wisper by Rainbow Gallery is a very fine thread/yarn made of 70% kid mohair and 30% nylon. Although we do not stock it in every color, we try to keep it in stock in color W-88 (white) and W-89 (ecru) plus most gray and brown tones. Please inquire if you need a color other than white or ecru. This thread looks extremely fuzzy on the card, but when you stitch with it typically you will "trap" the majority of the fuzzy part in the fabric or canvas. For the best results at achieving a truly fuzzy look, brushing it with a bunka or nap raiser brush is advised.

Price per 20 yard card of Wisper (new price January 2008)

.....

$2.25

If you are looking for a wool thread not listed here,
please contact us as we may have other threads in stock.

Copyright 1998-2010. All prices are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice.