Any beginner cross-stitcher can get a little overwhelmed in the cross-stitch section of the craft store.  There are all kinds of fabric, designs, and threads that can be used for different projects.  One of the areas that tends to get to stitchers is the multitude of embroidery floss available for projects.

Knowing What You Need

If you are working from a specific pattern, there should be a list of the types and colors of embroidery floss you will need for that project.  Often the patterns will list the colors and the numbers for specific brands of embroidery floss.  It is important to use the colors and types of floss listed so that you can maintain the integrity of the design.

Still, if you want to add your own embellishments to a design or you have created your own design, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different types of floss available.

Cotton Embroidery Floss

Out of all the different types of embroidery floss, this is the one you will work with on almost all of your projects.  It comes in just about any color you can imagine to fit any of your needs.  The most common sellers of cotton embroidery floss are DMC and Anchor. 

Cotton embroidery floss comes in a skein.  They almost all have six strands of floss that you will divide as your pattern dictates.  Some cotton floss even comes in multicolor strands that allow you to flow from one color to another.

Glistening Floss and Thread

Metallic flosses and threads have gained popularity lately.  They allow you to add some shine to your designs.  For instance, if you are stitching an angel, you may want to use gold floss for the halo or add some shimmer with a blue or pink in the design. 

To make your design really stand out, some manufacturers even offer florescent and glow-in-the-dark threads.  Others allow you add some shimmer without too much flash through pearlescent and jewel floss.

Some more recent patterns may include some of these specialty colors, but older patterns do not.  The numbers on these flosses often correspond to the regular cotton colors, so they can easily be placed into any pattern.

There are also metallic embroidery threads.  While the floss has to be separated into threads for your project, the embroidery threads come on a spool and do not have to be separated for use.  They are often used to accent your design.

Linen Embroidery Floss

While the linen embroidery floss may be a newer product, it is actually an effective floss for making authentic-looking period pieces.  It gives your projects a very natural feel and offers a textured effect.  However, there are not as many colors to choose from with linen rather than cotton.

Rayon Floss

Rayon embroidery floss can be used for cross-stitch projects to add extra shine without having to go as far as metallic floss.  It is a little slicker than cotton and can be more challenging to use for the beginner, but it will make the stitches stand out next to the cotton floss. 

Floche

Floche is a little thicker, non-divisible thread.  It is often used for specialty pieces.  While some cross-stitch patterns may call for the thread, it is rare.  Usually it is used in embroidery rather than cross-stitch.

Silk Floss

Silk embroidery floss is more expensive, but will provide you with a rich looking design.  It is not as shiny as metallic or rayon floss, so it gives an elegant look to your work.  It is not used as often in cross-stitch, because you can get a similar effect with cotton floss.

Understanding what floss you need and the different types of floss available will help you find the right product for your cross-stitch project.  If you are a beginner cross-stitcher, you should spend some time in your local craft store feeling the difference in the floss to get an idea of why each type of thread is different.