What Is DMC Broder Special?

DMC Broder Special (Coton à broder) is a non-divisible, slightly glossy and smooth mercerised cotton embroidery thread in which four plies are twisted into one; No 25 comes in a 32 m skein and is close to two strands of floss in weight. Available in white (Blanc), snow white (B5200), ecru and colours matched to floss codes. Because it needs no separating and lies flat in the stitch, it is the standard thread of traditional whitework, cutwork, hardanger, Richelieu, monograms and edge overcasting; also used in fine outline embroidery and counted work. This page gathers all the Broder Special colours at Hobianna; the Broder categories in the cross stitch and embroidery branches link here.

What to Make with Broder Special

Whitework and monograms: names, letters and edge motifs in satin fill, stem stitch and knots on linen. Cutwork and Richelieu: the edges of areas to be cut are reinforced with dense overcasting; the non-divisible thread gives a neat edge. Hardanger: wrapping, filling and needle weaving in No 25 on 22–25 ct fabric, satin blocks in pearl cotton No 5–8. Counted embroidery and blackwork: a clean single-strand line on 28 ct evenweave. Fine outlines: single-strand stem and back stitch in modern embroidery.

Needle, Fabric and Care

A size 7–9 sharp embroidery needle on linen and cotton, a blunt size 24–26 on evenweave and aida; cut 40–45 cm lengths and stitch single. Closely woven linen, batiste and hardanger fabric are the ideal grounds. One 32 m skein is enough for a monogram or a small cutwork motif; buy 5–10 skeins for large whitework. Washes up to 60°C, iron from the back; highly colourfast. For an untwisted matt thread see DMC Floche, for a heavy twisted thread DMC Pearl Cotton, for lace Cordonnet Special.