This French Thread was originally made for darning socks and is now resold as a thread for embroidery. Because sock yarns often need other fibers for strength, it is a 50/50 blend of wool and polymide. It comes on ten-meter (11 yards) cards. It’s available in 96 colors.
As the thread comes off the card there are four strands that are not twisted together. I used this thread on a recent project and found four strands covered 18-mesh canvas well. Based on my experience and other advice I have read, a strand of this thread is the size of a strand of floss.
Like most wool and wool-blend threads, Laine St. Pierre is matte. It is not fuzzy on the canvas when stitched, nor is it particularly difficult to use. I really liked that it came off the card in just the right number of strands for needlepoint, I did not have to ply and recombine or gather strands. Even without plying my stitches were full and neat.
I bought my thread from The French Needle. They have more than 70 colors available as single cards, two color assortments, plus a box with one of every color. Single skeins are $5, making this rather expensive for wool. You can get a similar fine matte look with a crewel wool such as Bella Lusso. This comes in 45-yard skeins and runs under $4. Because you only need two strands on 18 mesh, a skein of Bella Lusso will give you more coverage than two cards of Laine St. Pierre.
The expense is not my only problem with this thread, even though for the price I would like all wool. Although the blended fiber that makes up this thread may be long-wearing for socks, does it suit needlepoint? In my experience most blended threads like this pill badly and quickly. This has not happened yet, it’s only been two weeks, and the piece is a picture and will get little wear. Even so I would not use this thread in a pillow or belt.
For the price and because of my concerns about wear, i would avoid this thread.
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
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