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Fabrics
Counted stitch work such as cross stitch, blackwork and whitework use evenweave fabric. Evenweave fabric is so called because the warps and weft threads are equal. It is usually made from cotton or linen, but there are synthetic versions on the market. The 'count' sze refers to the number of warp/weft threads to an inch. The range is generally 12 count to 32 count where 12 is the coarsest and produces the largest holes and 32 count is the finest with the smallest holes.Aida is the fabric most used for cross stitch. It is made from cotton and it's count range is between 7 sts and 22 sts. It comes in a range of colours and can be dyed.
Linen is used primarily in blackwork. Linen is also a good choice for cross stitch, but is usually used by more experinced stitchers as it generally ranges from 18 count to 36 count. It also comes in a range of colours.
Hardanger is a specialist fabric used for counted embroidery of the same name.. It is usually found with a stitch count of 22 per inch. It is a stiffer fabric than other types as it needs to support stitching.
Needles
Tapestry needles
Have a blunt point and a large eye for easier threading. They range in size 12 - 28 and are mainly used in conted stitch work and canvas work.
Curved needles
Curved Needles can be used for lacing up work ready for mounting.
Threads
Stranded cotton
Stranded cotton is so called because it is made up of 6 strands of cotton. It is the most used of the threads as it can be separated into smaller groups to created different thicknesses of stitching. It comes in many different colours, including metallics and overdyed.
Pearl Cotton
Pearl Cotton is a 2 ply stranded cotton often used in counted embroidery. It has a silky sheen and comes in a range of thicknesses from 3 - 12 with 12 being the finest. It comes in a wide range of colours.
Coton `a broder
Coton a broder is a 5 ply cotton that makes up on thread. It is a soft thread that comes in a range of sizes from 16 - 30 with 30 being the finest. It usually comes in black and white as it is mainly used for Blackwork and Whitework. However, size 25 does have a range of colours.