DMC Pearl Cotton No 5

No 5 is the thickest standard size of the DMC pearl cotton range; it comes in 25 m skeins and a single strand is about as thick as three to four strands of floss. The tight twist and mercerised gloss make stitches round, full and lustrous. This category lists more than 300 colours of No 5 by DMC code, the same codes as floss. For all sizes and a comparison see DMC Pearl Cotton.

Where Is No 5 Used?

Punch needle: with the medium punch needle (Hobianna fine punch needle and adjustable needles) No 5 gives dense, lofty, durable loops, the most practical thread for small hoop panels, coasters and brooches. Hand embroidery: satin, chain, stem, French knots and filling stitches cover ground fast; it is the basic thread of modern textured embroidery. Hardanger: satin blocks on 22 ct in No 5, wrapping and filling in No 8. Cross stitch and tapestry: full coverage on 11 ct Aida and 10–12 ct canvas, finer than wool and glossier than floss. Cords and tassels: twisted into cord, wrapped into tassels and pompoms.

Needle and quantity

Use a size 3–5 sharp embroidery needle on dense fabric or a size 22 blunt needle on Aida. Pull one end from the label without opening the skein and cut 40–45 cm. One skein covers about 15×15 cm of full cross stitch on 14 ct, one motif in a 10 cm punch hoop or the main colour of a medium embroidery design; buy one extra of the main colours.