Tutorial · 5 min read
Embroidery Floss, Strands & Needles: How Many Strands Should I Use?
How to separate six-strand floss, how many strands to use for each look, and how to choose the right needle.
Six-strand embroidery floss is the thread most hand embroiderers use. Each length is made of six fine strands loosely twisted together, and you separate them to choose how thick your stitches will be.
How to separate floss
- Cut a length about as long as your forearm, roughly 18 inches. Longer pieces tangle and wear thin.
- Pinch the end, tease one strand loose, and pull it straight up slowly. The rest will bunch up and then relax.
- Pull out as many single strands as you need, one at a time, and lay them back together side by side.
Pulling strands out one by one, even if you need three, makes them lie flatter and gives smoother stitches.
How many strands should I use?
| Strands | Effect | Needle size |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine detail, tiny lettering | 9–10 |
| 2 | Delicate outlines, small text | 7–9 |
| 3 | Everyday outlines and fills | 5–7 |
| 6 | Bold lines, chunky texture | 3–5 |
Choosing a needle
For hand embroidery, use crewel (embroidery) needles: they have a sharp point and a long eye that holds several strands. Higher numbers are finer. Choose a needle whose eye is just wide enough for your thread. It should open a hole the floss passes through easily without leaving a gap.
A mixed pack of sizes 3–9 covers every project on this site. Tapestry needles have blunt tips and are meant for cross stitch on Aida.
Why does my floss look fuzzy?
Usually the length is too long or the needle eye is too small, so the floss rubs every time it passes through. Cut a fresh 18-inch length and try a slightly larger needle.
