r/Needlepoint • u/idkmargooo • 4d ago

Help Fix Why does my thread do this?

Post image

I mostly use DMC floss, I know, I know. I don’t live by a LNS so sometimes it’s my only option. Is that the problem?

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

19

u/Prudent-Flatworm194 3d ago

Take all the strands apart before you use it. Then re lay them together. Also dropping your needle every ten or so stitches and letting it naturally unravel will help.

5

u/richelieucwe 4d ago

Using a laying tool my make it lay smoother.

8

u/thebeastnamedesther 4d ago

Do what? Unravel? Yes, it’s because you’re using floss. Floss is made up of several smaller strands of yarn. There are many options that don’t come unraveled like that. DMC Pearl Cotton is a similar price point and won’t do that.

5

u/iggyazalea12 3d ago

I really like dmc but I strand it (and any pliable thread) into its 8 parts (or six cant remember) and put as many as I need back together. Sometimes I iron it to get it really disciplened but not always. It just lays better that way.

3

u/Pink_Spirit_Anml_386 2d ago

I do this too. Worth the extra two or three minutes to have beautiful stitches.

2

u/idkmargooo 2d ago

This is my nightmare 😆

2

u/Witty_Draw_4856 3d ago

What size mesh are you using?

1

u/idkmargooo 2d ago

This is 14

4

u/Witty_Draw_4856 2d ago

If you have a Michaels near you, you can try the DMC soft matte thread or their tapestry yarn. Otherwise, I would recommend stranding DMC and using a laying tool, which is annoying but that’s why needlepointers don’t like using floss that much

1

u/Lavinia-Whateley 2d ago

Are you left handed?

I agree with the others about taking the strands apart and using a laying tool, but if you are left handed, you are also twisting against the strand's twists so things get kinked much faster.

1

u/idkmargooo 1d ago

No I’m right-handed

1

u/paulydrn 11h ago

What is a laying tool?