Canvas: Which Thread Type Should You Choose?

Olivia Miller
Product & buying expert with 15+ years of retail experience

Buying Guide Canvas buying guide dmc threads canvas

Found a canvas you love but can’t decide which thread to use to stitch it? La Maison du Canevas et de La Broderie is one of the only sites offering its canvases in all 4 DMC thread types: Matte Cotton 89, Colbert Wool 486, Pearl Cotton 115 and Special Stranded Cotton 117. Our team is here to help you find the thread type that best matches the result you want for your project.

What are the different thread types available?:

To stitch your canvas, La Maison du Canevas et de La Broderie offers 4 DMC thread types, all renowned for their quality:

– Matte Cotton 89
– Colbert Wool 486
– Pearl Cotton 115 in 25m
– Special Stranded Cotton 117.

While wool was traditionally the most commonly used fibre in canvas work and tapestry, twisted cotton is today the most popular choice among canvas enthusiasts worldwide. Cross-stitch fans, however, tend to prefer pearl cotton or stranded cotton. It’s easy to feel lost if you’re a beginner or casual canvas hobbyist. The key to choosing well is knowing the strengths of each DMC thread type so you can pick the one that best suits what you want to achieve.

Good to know:

The thread colours supplied with the canvas match the selection provided by the manufacturer (see the colour chart on the back of your canvas). Since the designs are printed in advance, the manufacturer matches the shades as closely as possible based on the colours available in the chosen thread. There may therefore be slight differences between the colour on the canvas and that of the thread. If you’d rather choose your own colours, we recommend buying the blank canvas alone and selecting shades using a DMC colour chart for your chosen thread type.

Key details to help you choose:

1 – Matte Cotton 89:

DMC Matte Cotton 89 is today the most widely used thread for canvas work. It’s made from 100% high-quality cotton fibres, combed and singed to produce a soft, supple thread. Thanks to DMC’s expertise, it offers excellent working comfort, doesn’t fuzz, and holds its colour well in light. On Penelope canvas, Matte Cotton is worked exclusively in half cross stitch. As its name suggests, this thread comes exclusively in matte shades, with only 285 colours available. There may therefore be a more or less noticeable gap between the colour on the canvas and the thread colour chosen by the manufacturer.

In short:
+ A pleasant, soft thread ideal for half cross stitch.
– Fewer, matte shades that stray from the canvas’s original colours.

2 – Colbert Wool 486:

Wool was traditionally the most widely used thread for tapestry and canvas work. Though less common today, it remains a trusted choice for canvas lovers. DMC Colbert Wool 486 is made from 100% pure virgin wool and comes in over 390 vivid colours. It gives your work a bright, even, slightly fuzzy finish. On Penelope canvas, this thread is worked in half cross stitch, not pulled too tight, to preserve the wool’s “plush” texture.

In short:
+ Vivid colours and a plush texture, ideal for half cross stitch.
– A thicker thread that’s trickier to work evenly.

3 – Pearl Cotton 115, 25m:

DMC Pearl Cotton 115 is a 100% cotton thread combining a beautiful twist with a shimmering sheen, available in over 300 colours. Pearl cotton is worked in cross stitch for canvas and gives your projects an unmatched raised texture.

In short:
+ Glossy colours and a unique 3D finish for vibrant, textured work.
– Worked in cross stitch, which requires more skeins.

4 – Special Stranded Cotton 117:

DMC Special Stranded Cotton 117 is made from the finest long-fibre, double-mercerised cottons, adapting to every type of embroidery thanks to its 6 separable strands. Glossy, supple and silky, it also boasts the widest colour range available at DMC, with 500 shades. On Penelope canvas, it’s worked in cross stitch.

In short:
+ High-quality cotton with an extensive colour range, giving you the closest match to the canvas’s original colours.
– Since the thread is made of separable strands, it’s a little trickier to work with, and cross stitch requires more skeins.

Video demonstrations:

To help you choose, the La Maison du Canevas team has put together tutorial videos showing you how each thread type is worked and the results you can achieve with each one. Watch these videos below or on our YouTube channel, which features many more demo videos. And remember, our team is always on hand for further advice via our customer service or by phone at 02 40 45 86 10.

Isabelle’s tip

Whichever thread you choose, remember to follow a few simple rules to protect the fibres: use thread lengths no longer than 40 cm and work hole to hole. This will keep your thread from fraying or splitting as you stitch.