These days, we have wide access to all kinds of embroidery threads – an “embarrassment of riches” in that regard – as long as we’re willing to shop online.
Because local needlework shops with specialty threads are few and far between, we often have to purchase threads unseen. So, in order to take out some of the guesswork, now and then I like to write about hand embroidery threads, especially those that are a little more obscure. Hopefully, this will give you a greater knowledge of what’s available to the stitcher, and maybe give you a better idea of what you’re going to get and how it can be used when you order embroidery thread.
Today, I’d like to show you a thread by DMC. Here in the States, it’s not a well-known thread, and it’s not available (to my knowledge) through the regular DMC-USA channels. It’s fairly widely available in the UK, though, and probably throughout Europe. It’s also available in Australia, according to a quick Google search. In the US, I only know of one shop that carries it.
The thread is called DMC Diamant.
DMC Diamant is a metallic thread. Unlike the 6-stranded DMC metallic thread sold in the floss section of stores, Diamant is softer and it holds up to stitching very well. It is smooth, compared to other metallics. And it works quite well for surface embroidery.
Diamant is made in Japan out of viscose wrapped with metallic polyester coating and treated with silicone. This is why it is such a smooth thread to stitch with. It really passes through the fabric easily, unlike oh-so-many metallic threads that can be a super-duper big headache to work with!
Diamant (French for “diamond”) comes in six shades: soft silver, bright silver, black wrapped with gold, bright gold, copper, and soft gold.
The thread is a 2-ply, non-divisible thread (I guess you could divide it if you really wanted to, but it isn’t meant to be divided).
Here, you can see it side by side with one strand (from six) of regular DMC floss. When stitched up, Diamant is equal in thickness to about two strands of DMC floss. For cross stitch, on higher count linens like 34-36 count, Diamant works well over 2 threads of fabric.
Just for the fun of it, a few little squiggles with the black-gold Diamant. It really does work incredibly well with surface embroidery stitches. Stem stitch (the tightly curved line) was a breeze with it. Cross stitch (especially over two threads on this 26 count linen) was simple with it, too. And regular stitches like chain stitch work great!
So, if you’re aching to add some metallic sparkle to your cross stitch or surface embroidery projects, but you’ve despaired when working with more frustrating metallic threads, you might want to give DMC Diamant a try.
As far as care goes, it can be hand washed.
In the States, you can find DMC Diamant through Needle in a Haystack in Alameda, California. It runs $3 / 35 meter spool.
In the UK, you can find it through various retailers. A quick online search brought up Sew and So, which also, incidentally, carries other good DMC threads, like coton a broder for whitework. (Joy! Bliss!)
In Australia, I found online at Victoria House Needlecraft and The Quilter’s Store.
