Several years ago Gloriana made a Cashmere thread on an experimental basis. I loved it, but it never came to market. Now Gloriana Cashmere is back and it is wonderful.
Cashmere, while considered the finest and softest wool, isn’t often found for needlepointing. It’s made by a few companies, most notably Rainbow Gallery. Certainly one consideration for this is whether Cashmere is that much softer when stitched.
When testing this thread I found that it was not as soft when stitched as it was in the skein, it is, in fact softer than wool when stitched. The effect this has on your stitching is subtle but real. Stitches will remain clearly defined, but there is a slight blurring at the edges that is not wiry as is often the case with wools.
In short, I loved working with this stitch and was delighted by the results.
Gloriana Cashmere is only available in two colors, grey and white. Both are used in my bear cub. The white color is solid, while the grey is semi-solid. Although I did not do Basketweave with the white, it could probably be used that way.
The thread is made of four two-ply strands. I found two strands worked nicely on 18-mesh canvas. The thread could be separated easily but not as easily as Persian Wool.
The skeins have five yards in them. To give you an idea of how much this covered, the bear cub, 3-4 square inches, took about half a skein.
This thread will be lovely where you want your needlepoint to look soft, but not very furry. I’m just hoping Gloriana adds more colors to the line soon.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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