Table of Contents
- What are Blended Threads and Why Use Them in Cross Stitch?
- How to Read Blended Thread Instructions on Your Cross Stitch Pattern
- Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Blended Threads
- Stitching with Blended Threads: Techniques for a Flawless Finish
- Adapting Blended Threads for Different Fabric Counts
- Troubleshooting Common Blended Thread Challenges
- From the Comments: Real-World Wins and Aha Moments
- Quick Reference: FAQs
What are Blended Threads and Why Use Them in Cross Stitch?
Blended threads—sometimes called “tweeding”—mean stitching with two or more colors in the needle at the same time. The effect is a subtle mingling of tones that reads more like paint than pixels, smoothing jumps between shades and adding believable texture to areas like hair, fur, foliage, stone, and more.
In the video, Cat demonstrates why blends shine: place a blended shade between a light and a dark, and the transition feels gradual instead of stepping from one solid block to another. This gives you “extra” colors without adding new skeins to the palette, just by pairing strands you already have.
Pro tip
- When a design needs to look soft and natural (think fur or leaves), use the blend to bridge tones around edges and in curved areas—it helps shapes read smoothly.
Watch out
- Don’t assume all blends are two strands with one strand of each color. Some charts call for three strands, or two of one color plus one of another.
Quick check
- If your stitches look twisted or one color dominates, you’ll likely benefit from railroading on the top arm. We’ll get to that soon.
How to Read Blended Thread Instructions on Your Cross Stitch Pattern
Different designers lay out blends in different ways, but each blend should tell you: which colors are included, how many strands total, and how many strands of each color to use. Cat walks through several real keys so you can see how this appears in practice.
- Dimensions example: A dedicated “combined colors” section lists the symbol, two thread numbers, and strand counts. It’s clear and separate from single-color symbols.
- Bella Filippina example: The blend exists in the main symbol list, but the strand count appears in tiny notes—easy to miss if you don’t scan the whole key.
- Magazine charts: You may see instructions like “cross stitch in one strand of each,” or an asterisk that changes the strand distribution (for example, one of one shade and two of another). Read all the footnotes.
Watch out
- Confusing a blended symbol with its constituent single-color symbols is a common slip. Always match symbol to its blend entry, not to a single-thread entry that happens to share a color number.
Quick check
- Before you thread a needle, make a short list of your blends: symbol, colors, and strand breakdown. A sticky note parked on your pattern board can save you from re-reading the fine print every time.
Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Blended Threads
Blended threads flow best when you take a minute to set them up right. Here’s how Cat does it with the fox motif in two oranges: DMC 3853 and DMC 3854.
Selecting and Combining Strands
- Pull one strand of each color and lay them side-by-side so their ends meet.
- If your strands are longer than you typically use, cut them down to a comfortable length. Cat folds her strands and cuts to roughly half, creating manageable working lengths.
- If you’ll need a lot of a blend, prepare multiple lengths in one go.
Optimal Thread Lengths and Storage Tips
- Store extra blended lengths on a dedicated floss drop, separate from the single-color drops, so the blend is easy to grab. This avoids mixing and re-sorting mid-project.
- Using bobbins or a thread card? Add a new hole or bobbin labeled with both shade numbers and the blend symbol.
- Keep a small “blend map” with symbol, colors, and strand counts clipped to your project board.
Pro tip
- When you cut down long strands, trim both ends neatly so the fibers don’t snag during threading.
Watch out
- Overlong blends tangle easily; shorten them before you start, especially if you’re stitching in tight areas or working lots of single stitches.
Stitching with Blended Threads: Techniques for a Flawless Finish
The mechanics are simple: thread the two strands together, anchor without a loop start, and railroad the top arm for a clean look.
Starting Your Thread (No Loop Start!)
Because you’re combining two separate colors, you can’t fold one strand to make a loop start. Instead, weave under a few existing stitches at the back to anchor. Cat shows a quick way to find her starting hole by placing the needle at the front, turning over, and anchoring under nearby stitches—then bringing the needle back up to begin.
Watch out
- Don’t pull your anchoring tail all the way through. Tug gently and check from the front so nothing pops out.
Quick check
- The front should look untouched—no knots, no extra bulk at the start.
Mastering the Railroading Technique
Railroading means sliding your needle between the two strands on the top arm before you enter the fabric. This keeps the strands parallel and prevents twisting, which is more noticeable when the colors differ.
- Work the bottom arms as usual.
- On each top arm, guide the needle between the strands, then down into the hole.
- You can stitch in rows (bottom arms across, top arms back) and railroad only on the return pass.
- Consistency helps—but you don’t need to micromanage which color ends up “on top” every time unless you prefer that extra control.
Pro tip
- If you ever stitch with three strands (like two of one color plus one of another), railroading as shown won’t separate all three evenly. Use a laying tool to keep strands spread as you form the top arm.
Result - Done right, your blended stitches lie flat, both colors show, and the finish looks intentional rather than mottled.
Adapting Blended Threads for Different Fabric Counts
Sometimes your fabric count or personal preference nudges you to alter strand counts. Cat demonstrates a neat workaround for one-strand stitching and discusses a three-strand option.
Creative Blending with One Strand
You can mimic a two-color blend with one strand by stitching the bottom arm in one color and the top arm in the other. Test which order you prefer—the top arm color reads slightly stronger.
Adjusting for Three or More Strands
If a design calls for two strands (one + one) but you want more coverage, try two of one color plus one of the other. Again, sample first; tiny changes in dominance can shift the look.
Watch out
- Designs full of blends can look odd if you change coverage drastically without testing. If you dislike the results, choose fabric that suits the original strand count.
Quick check
- Make a small swatch—two squares of each option is enough to compare. View from arm’s length and under your usual room lighting.
Troubleshooting Common Blended Thread Challenges
- One color overwhelms the other: Railroad the top arm and shorten your working length to reduce twist. Consider swapping which color you place on the top arm if you’re doing the one-strand method.
- Symbols feel confusing: Build a “blend legend” card with symbol, colors, and strand distribution. Keep it clipped beside your chart key for at-a-glance confirmation.
- Starting looks bulky: Re-anchor by weaving under two to three stitches on the back and avoid knots. A little extra patience at the start saves cleanup later.
- Lots of single stitches (“confetti”): Precut a few shorter blended lengths and park your needle so you’re not constantly re-threading.
- Left-handed railroading feels awkward: Try changing your stitching direction or the angle at which you guide the needle between strands; prioritize what feels natural.
Pro tip
- Prepping a session’s worth of blended lengths and parking them on a dedicated floss drop prevents constant color matching and re-measuring mid-stitch.
From the Comments: Real-World Wins and Aha Moments
- A stitcher working a large chart on a higher-count fabric felt more confident choosing fabric and strand counts after understanding one-strand and three-strand adaptations.
- Several viewers starting Dimensions kits noted it took a moment to “decode” the blend symbols when not listed in a separate combined-colors section, but the results were worth it.
- One beginner reported their very first project had multiple blends and, with patience, it came out beautifully—proof that blends are beginner-friendly when you take it step by step.
- A left-handed stitcher found railroading easier after adjusting stitch direction and the way the thread is guided—comfort matters.
- Another viewer pre-sorted all their blended lengths before stitching a novelty motif and found the process smoother and more enjoyable overall.
Quick check
- If you’re stuck, do what these stitchers did: slow down, make a tiny test, and adapt the method to your hands and fabric.
Quick Reference: FAQs
Q: What is “tweeding” in cross stitch? A: It’s another name for blended threads—stitching with more than one color in the needle at the same time to create a mixed effect.
Q: Can I use a loop start with blended threads? A: No. Because you’re combining separate strands, you can’t fold one strand to form a loop. Instead, weave under a few stitches on the back to anchor.
Q: Why railroad the top arm? A: Railroading keeps strands lying parallel, so both colors show clearly and twists are minimized—especially important when the two colors are different.
Q: How do I adapt for one-strand stitching? A: Stitch the bottom arm in one color and the top arm in the other. Test which order looks best for your fabric and lighting.
Q: What about three strands? A: Use two of one shade plus one of the other for more coverage, and consider a laying tool for a neat top arm.
From the studio
- The fox motif in the video uses a blend of DMC 3853 and 3854—one strand of each—showing where the blend softens transitions on the head, tail, and body.