Empress Elite is a luxury blended thread from The Pure Palette. If you are a knitter you know that “luxury blend” is code for silk and cashmere. Indeed, Empress Elite uses those two threads, along with Merino Wool to make an incredibly soft thread, perfect for 18 mesh canvas.
Two-ply but used as a single strand,this thread is a delight. It’s hand-dyed so there are slight (in my skein very slight) variations in color. It is available in either 20 yard skeins or 1/2 ounce hanks.
There are 108 colors (The color chart is available on-line). At TNNA I saw a couple of canvases stitched entirely in Empress Elite and they were lovely. The thread gives a nice tight stitch and could easily be used instead of any other wool on 18 mesh.
In this mini-sock I used it for the carrots. Because I wanted them padded and I was in a hurry, I used Empress Elite for the padding. Her I found the weakness of the soft hand. It just isn’t stiff enough to be used to give lift to covering stitches.
Even so, I just loved this thread. Now I’m looking for other places to use it.
Please note: These threads were provided to me for evaluation and review. I was not compensated for this review.
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
Is it as fine as Impressions, or more about the size of Silk N Ivory?
I’d say it’s in between the two. It’s thicker than Impressions, which gives light but adequate coverage on 18, but thinner than Silk & Ivory which some people find too thick for 18. The closest thread I can think of to it is Grandeur, but because this is a cashmere blend, it’s much loftier (fluffy) and softer than Grandeur.
Keep Stitching,
Janet