Updated September 25, 2018
Several years ago DMC discontinued their beloved crewel weight wool, Medici. I probably get more questions about finding Medici so folks can finish projects than on any other topic.Medici had a lovely smooth quality that has kept it popular in stitcher’s eyes for decades. I have mini-socks stitched with Medici 30+ years ago and they still look perfect.
There is a reason why folks love this thread.
If you want to use a crewel weight wool and have not started the project, there are many lovely wools from which to choose. Bella Lusso from Fleur de Paris is my favorite of these, it is closest to Medici in look and feel. Many companies make wool in this size from old established names such as Appleton, to companies now making hand-dyed crewel wool such as The Gentle Art or Weeks Dye Works.
But what do you do if you really need Medici? Threadneedle Street, a needlepoint shop in Issaquah, WA, has a substitute for Medici they say is like old Medici. It is spun in the same mill and uses the same dye formulas as the DMC thread. It uses the same color numbers and comes in skeins the same size. The mail difference is that it is pre-cut lengths instead of continuous-thread skeins.
To see if it really works, I asked Threadneedle to send me samples of colors where I had some DMC Medici to compare the two. The results are pictured here. DMC Medici is on the left, Threadneedle Street’s is on the right.
First I tested the feel, I closed my eyes and could not tell the difference in the two threads. It has the same smoothness and thickness.
Then I stitched with them. I had two colors to test and I stitched a block with both old and new Medici. They both had the same coverage.
Now we come to the real question for many of you: Are they the same color? Remember that dye lots change and so skeins from different dye lots of the exact same thread may not match. You can see that with the lavender the colors are close, but with the violet, they are further apart, but apart in a way that is consistent with different dyelots.
So yes Threadneedle’s Medici is about as close to Medici as you can get and works well as a substitute. However if you are adding this to a project in process, blend in the new thread to get seamless transitions.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Thanks, Janet. I enjoyed following you through your testing process. It was an education in some of the ways we can evaluate prospective yarns and threads.
It is good to know there is a substitute for Medici out there. Will check their site and find out how many colors are available.
Marlene
I don’t have a color card for Medici, and have no idea of some of the numbers. Does anyone have a color card for Medici I can purchase? Thanks
Susan
Medici has not been made by DMC for several years. It will probably be quite difficult to find a color card for it these days.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Hello!
I have several unopened 50 g hanks of Medici wool for sale. Feel free to post a reply if I can be of help. The shades and dyelots are as follows: one each
8113 pink 24169
8100 Bordeaux 332178
8422 dk green 323851
8412 med green 285213
8402 green 2177
8322 gold 326582
Thank you!!!
I have a 4th edition of Broder Medicis color card and 23 uncut 1/4 lb skeins-
2 and1/2 lbs of once cut skeins
1660 knots(approx. 24″ & 20 strands)
79 colors of original Medici …This yarn has been in air tight containers since I closed my shop in
Carmel, Ca. I am now 83 years young, but I could not possibly live long enough to use much more
of this yarn or the Lbs of persian yarn.
Make an offer…… Doris Dahlgren
What is the name of the new medici like wool so I can check a couple shops in 2 large cities with in driving distance of my small town of 1200.
Thanks
You are probably thinking of Bella Lusso, which is similar to Medici.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Does this shop sell an alternative to medici? I have a pattern I love and need 7 colors
You would need to contact the shop directly to see if they have what you need.
Keep stitching,
Janet