Gear guide
Best embroidery floss for hand embroidery: brand sets compared
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Embroidery floss for hand embroidery and cross stitch, also sold as embroidery thread, cross stitch thread or stranded cotton, is six divisible strands in a skein of about 8 m (8.7 yd). The real choice is between a branded pack and a large unbranded embroidery floss set. Brand matters because patterns call for colors by number, usually DMC and sometimes Anchor. A DMC or Anchor pack answers to those numbers. A no-name 100-skein set usually carries no numbers, or numbers of its own, so colors have to be matched by eye. A set labeled with DMC numbers but made by another company is a closest match, never the same color. This guide compares seven packs by number of skeins, skein length, color numbers and any colorfast claim, using only what each listing states. Nothing was stitched or tested. Unbranded floss may not be colorfast, so test a strand before washing finished work. To move between brands, see the floss conversion chart on this site.
Compare the picks
| Pick | Skeins | Skein length | Color numbers | Colorfast claim | Price | Per skein | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DMC six-strand floss, 36 popular colors, 8.7 yd | 36 | 8.7 yd | DMC (brand's own) | 100% colorfast | - | - | Amazon |
 DMC embroidery floss assortment, 100 colors | 100 | not stated | DMC (brand's own) | not stated | - | - | Amazon |
 Anchor stranded cotton floss, 50 skeins, 8 m | 50 | 8 m | Anchor (brand's own) | not stated | - | - | Amazon |
 Zhenqing 100-color floss set, DMC-numbered labels, 8 m | 100 | 8 m | DMC numbers, not DMC floss | not stated | - | - | Amazon |
 DMC floss Special Selection pack, 16 skeins | 16 | 8.7 yd | DMC (brand's own) | not stated | - | - | Amazon |
 Vilihkc cotton embroidery floss set, 100 skeins | 100 | 8.75 yd | not stated | Non-fading | - | - | Amazon |
 Paxcoo embroidery floss, 124 skeins with 16 needles | 124 | 8 m | not stated | not stated | - | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
If you just want one
- Closest match for the jobDMC six-strand floss, 36 popular colors, 8.7 ydThe listing states a factory sealed package with 1 skein each of 36 colors, so there are no duplicate shades.
- Most for the money on paperVilihkc cotton embroidery floss set, 100 skeinsEach package contains 100 colors, and the floss is stated to be 100% pure cotton.
- Most complete listingZhenqing 100-color floss set, DMC-numbered labels, 8 m100 skeins, each with a DMC number label at the center, so a color can be looked up against a DMC color chart.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · DMC
DMC six-strand floss, 36 popular colors, 8.7 yd
See price on AmazonA factory sealed DMC pack with one skein each of 36 colors, every skein 8.7 yd of divisible six-strand thread. The starting pack for a stitcher who wants floss from the brand most patterns number their colors by.
What the listing offers
- The listing states a factory sealed package with 1 skein each of 36 colors, so there are no duplicate shades.
- Each skein is 8.7 yards of divisible 6-strand thread, described as double mercerized.
- The listing claims the floss is 100% colorfast and fade resistant, with consistent color from skein to skein.
Limits to know
- The title says colors may vary, so the exact 36 shades cannot be checked against a pattern before buying.
- 36 skeins is a small palette next to the 100-skein sets, and the listing bullets do not name the fiber.
Pick 2 · DMC
DMC embroidery floss assortment, 100 colors
See price on Amazon100 skeins of DMC floss in 100 different colors, with no duplicates according to the listing. It suits someone building a DMC collection in one purchase rather than skein by skein.
What the listing offers
- The listing is for 100 skeins of DMC floss in an assortment of colors with no duplicates.
- The assortment is listed as covering purples, oranges, reds, pinks, yellows, white, black, ecru, browns, grays, blues and greens.
- The floss is described as 100% cotton with 6 strands, and the title states it is genuine and made in France.
Limits to know
- The listing does not say which 100 DMC color numbers are included, so a pattern's color list cannot be checked in advance.
- Skein length is not stated, and the three short bullets give no colorfast or care details.
Pick 3 · Coats
Anchor stranded cotton floss, 50 skeins, 8 m
See price on Amazon50 skeins of Anchor embroidery floss in 50 colors, each 8 m long and 100% cotton according to the listing. The pick for patterns charted in Anchor numbers, or for trying the other large floss brand.
What the listing offers
- The set includes 50 colors across shades of blue, green, red, orange, pink, yellow, gray and purple.
- The listing describes the thread as Anchor embroidery floss made of 100% cotton.
- Each of the 50 skeins is stated to be 8 meters long, and all are packed together in a single package.
Limits to know
- The listing calls the skeins strands and does not say which Anchor color numbers are in the assortment.
- The title names J&P Coats alongside Anchor, and nothing is said about colorfastness or washing.
Pick 4 · Zhenqing
Zhenqing 100-color floss set, DMC-numbered labels, 8 m
See price on AmazonA set of 100 cotton skeins, 8 m each, where every skein carries a label with a DMC number. The listing itself notes that this is not DMC-branded floss, so treat each number as a closest match to the DMC shade.
What the listing offers
- 100 skeins, each with a DMC number label at the center, so a color can be looked up against a DMC color chart.
- The listing states 8 m skeins and 800 total meters across the set.
- The listing mentions an indexed box that keeps the threads organized by DMC number.
Limits to know
- The listing states plainly that this is not DMC-branded floss: a DMC number on the label means a closest match, not the same color.
- The title says cotton without a percentage, and no colorfast claim appears: test a strand in water before washing finished work.
Pick 5 · DMC
DMC floss Special Selection pack, 16 skeins
See price on AmazonA small DMC pack of 16 skeins in coordinated shades the listing calls new floss colors, about 8.7 yd per skein. It suits adding newer DMC shades to a collection, or a first small project.
What the listing offers
- Includes 16 skeins of approximately 8.7 yards each, which the listing totals at over 139 yards.
- The floss is described as 100% cotton that divides into six strands for adjustable thickness.
- The listing states the floss is machine-washable, a care detail most sets in this guide leave out.
Limits to know
- Sixteen skeins is the smallest pack in this guide: too few colors for most full cross stitch patterns.
- The shades are described only as new floss colors that coordinate, with no color numbers listed.
Pick 6 · vilihkc
Vilihkc cotton embroidery floss set, 100 skeins
See price on AmazonThe typical large unbranded embroidery floss set: 100 skeins of 100% cotton, about 8.75 yd each, in colors the listing says are random. Fine for practice, bracelets and freehand work where exact shades do not matter.
What the listing offers
- Each package contains 100 colors, and the floss is stated to be 100% pure cotton.
- Each skein is about 8.75 yards long and made of six strands, the same format as branded floss.
- The listing describes the floss as non-fading, though it gives no detail on washing.
Limits to know
- The listing says the colors are random and mentions no color numbers, so a pattern's DMC numbers must be matched by eye.
- Non-fading is the seller's wording only: unbranded floss may not be colorfast, so test before washing.
Pick 7 · PAXCOO
Paxcoo embroidery floss, 124 skeins with 16 needles
See price on Amazon124 skeins of 8 m, six-strand floss with 16 gold eye embroidery needles in sizes 3 to 9. The listing gives the fiber as polyester-cotton, so this is a craft and practice set rather than a match for cotton pattern floss.
What the listing offers
- The pack includes 124 skeins in approximately 124 colors, each skein 8 meters long with 6 strands.
- 16 gold eye embroidery needles in sizes 3 to 9 come with the floss, the usual variety range for hand embroidery.
- The listing states the fiber openly as polyester-cotton, described as glossy and smooth to work with.
Limits to know
- The floss is a polyester-cotton blend, not the 100% cotton of DMC or Anchor stranded cotton.
- No color numbers and no colorfast claim appear in the listing, so shades cannot be tied to pattern numbers.
Read before you buy
- Why does my cross stitch have gaps or look messy? Causes and fixesSeven signs of gappy or messy cross stitch with the cause and fix for each: strands by count, twisted floss, top leg direction, tension and needle size.
- How to wash and iron finished cross stitch and embroideryWash finished cross stitch by hand in cold water with a little non-biological detergent, roll it in 2 towels and press face down with a warm iron.
- How to store embroidery floss: bobbins, drops, bags and binders comparedFive ways to store embroidery floss compared: bobbins, floss drops, zip bags, binder pages and whole skeins, plus a simple inventory sheet by number.
- How to separate embroidery floss strands without tanglingSeparate embroidery floss in 7 steps: cut 18 in (50 cm), tap the end, pull one strand straight up, then recombine. No tangles and no tools.
- How to back an embroidery hoop: 4 ways to finish the backFour ways to finish the back of an embroidery hoop: gathered running stitch, felt circle, glue or a card insert. Leave 1 to 2 in of fabric past the hoop.
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Hoop and Floss chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.