Melitastitches4fun's Blog

The New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) chapter decided to do a birthday plaid. They handed out a template to make a name tag. But, I want to try and make it reversible. So, I will be making it into a bookmark. If it works out, I’ll do one for Bill too.

I decided on using the color wheel colors plus one row of black. I went to Nimble Needle in NJ who had the full line of colors in DMC Pearl Cotton #5. While I was there, Karen showed me how to use my DMC Color Card correctly! I had no idea that the colors are not available for all types of DMC threads. My card is probably older than hers but the grayed out boxes indicate 211 is available for all thread types including floss, #3 Pearl, both #5 Pearl (not sure why there are 2 listed – maybe skein and ball?), #8 Pearl, and #12 Pearl; 210 & 209 has all except #12; 3837 is available in floss only; and 327 is available in floss, #3, and one of the #5 Pearl. Thanks, Karen, now I know!

I read on Needlepoint Nation that the DMC red label is the “new” version of Perle Cotton. If the Perle has gold and black in the band around the threads, it’s older and a bit thicker. If it has a red band, it’s newer and not as thick. When the company was bought by an English company a few years ago, they changed to the red label. That label also has dye lots on them, so now you have to make sure you get the same one. Now that I read about it, I’ve noticed the red label for the first time. However, it doesn’t feel any different to me.

I worked it out on graph paper before stitching. I’m not sure why I did that, but someone mentioned they had at the meeting, so I did too. There are 5 rows for the month of May in red, 2 rows in orange, and 2 rows in yellow for the 22nd, then the year (I’ll make you count that part). This is the first pass. Front photo followed by back photo. I’ll cut the tails when I am ready to finish. Looks reversible so far.