What Is the DMC Mini Ball?

The DMC mini ball, officially Special Dentelles No 80, is a very fine, tightly twisted mercerised cotton thread made for needle lace and fine lace; it comes in tiny 5 g balls (the size of a hazelnut) and in more than 60 colours matched to the floss codes. It is known as the coloured thread of Turkish needle lace, scarf and headscarf edges, tatting and Bruges lace; it holds the knot, does not pill and stands upright when starched. This page gathers every mini ball colour at Hobianna; the Special Dentelles categories in the cross stitch and embroidery branches link here.

What to Make with the Mini Ball

Needle lace: flowers, leaves and three-dimensional lace on scarf, headscarf and prayer cloth edges; a size 11–12 long lace needle. Tatting: lace edges of rings and chains; wound tightly on the shuttle. Crochet lace and miniature lace: small flowers and motifs with a 0.6–0.75 mm steel hook. Beaded lace: beads are strung on the fine thread and worked. Cross stitch and embroidery detail: a very fine single-strand outline on 32–36 ct linen.

Size, Quantity and Care

No 80 is the finest size in the range; for heavier lace use Cordonnet Special No 40–60 (white-ecru), for crochet lace Babylo. One 5 g mini ball is about 90 m; one ball per colour is enough for a scarf edge, 3–5 colours for flowered lace. Cut 50 cm lengths and tie the knots at even tension; starch the finished lace with sugar water or spray starch and shape it. Washes at 40°C, highly colourfast. As the colour codes match floss, you can use the same tone in embroidery and lace.