By: Vikki Clayton



      The Trials & Triumphs of Stitching with Variegated Floss
      --------------------------------------------------------

  Variegated floss is seldom used today, but, it can create a
beautiful effect. One reason some stitchers hesitate using variegated
floss is because no two pieces can be stitched identically; however,
this same feature is part of the beauty of v/f since each piece is
unique & personal. There are primarily two methods of stitching with
v/f which are commonly used.

Method A:
1) Firmly wind floss lengthwise around a yardstick so that the middle
of the lightest & darkest shade of floss will be at opposite ends of
the yardstick. Cut floss at each end of the yardstick & again at the
center, creating two shade groups of each floss colour approximately
18" in length. Although there will be some variation, one shade group
will be light-to-medium & the other will be medium-to-dark.
2) Group together the strands of each shade group & label with DMC
number & shade identification.
3) Stitch design, completing each cross stitch individually.

Method B: (recommended by the DMC Corporation)
1) If large areas of your design call for v/f, divide each piece of
the design into smaller areas. This technique is referred to as
sectioning & the amount of sectioning needed to successfully stitch a
design with v/f will depend on the fabric count (more sectioning is
needed for lower count fabrics such as 11ct or 14ct; less sectioning
is needed for higher counts such as 18ct, 22ct or 25ct fabrics) & the
desired effect of the design (sectioning is less important in a
sampler style design than when used to shade leaves, trees, brick
buildings, etc).
2) Cut lengths of v/f long enough to include one complete shading of
the particular colour. Begin stitching with the darkest shade of
colour at the end closest to the needle & the lightest shade of colour
at the other end.
3) Stitch one section at a time, working across each row with the
first half of the cross stitch & then back across that same row with
the second half of the cross stitch. Each stitch is not crossed
individually. The sections being stitched are generally small enough
that an entire row can be worked without a drastic colour change.
4) Once a section has been completed, work the next section of the
design in either of the following two ways:
  a) Use the opposite end of the working thread to begin the adjacent
     section (ie if the lightest shade was used to begin the first
     section of stitching, begin the next section with the darkest
     shade).......OR
  b) Skip the adjoining sections & begin stitching another section
     with the same shade which ended the previous section.

(For more detailed information regarding Method B, please refer to
 DMC's No 15235 Cross Stitch with Variegated Floss.)

Regardless of the method you prefer, stitching with v/f can open up
new vistas & stretch your imagination & creativity to incorporate it
into more cross stitch patterns.