Cross-Stitching

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What floss do I use for red hair?
Thu, Oct 29, 2015 12:13 AM
Posted by In stitches
I am trying to change an existing pattern to better match the likeness of my son. I am having the hardest time finding the correct DMC color floss to make his hair look authentically red and not clown red/orange. Does anyone have any suggestions on which DMC floss to use? Thank you in advance.
  • Reply from Interlacements
    Saturday, October 31, 2015 9:45 PM
    One trick that I've used successfully for years is to mix the thread colors. Two strands of different colors in the needle will give a tweed effect. If you find a deep auburn and then use a different shade of brown with it, it will blend on the fabric and the eye will perceive it more as a solid color. I think that in hair it adds quite an authentic look. Another tip here is to use different shades of brown that are very dark, dark, and medium and perhaps not even in the same color family of brown to show highlights in the hair. You can use different colors of the auburn red also with the browns.

    To check how a mix will look before you stitch with it, take the two strands of colors and twist them together. That blend is what the eye will perceive. It's actually the way that I found some of my most successful blends: brown and wine, orange and hot pink --you'd think that they'd clash horribly, but if you twist the four together, you get a lovely oriental carpet effect. In the pairs, you get a light and a dark blend that works well together. Go to top