CXC is polycotton, which means it has a polyester core wrapped in 100% cotton. Polyester retains color better than cotton, which means if in direct sunlight, CXC threads will not fade as quickly as DMC. DMC will take decades to fade all that much, so I’m not talking a year or two, just to be clear. They’re also just as colorfast as DMC, so you can wash your piece after it’s done with no worry. The polyester core of CXC gives it strength while the cotton gives it heat resistance, just like a 100% cotton thread would. So you can iron your piece with no worry. CXC is a great brand for smalls or for those that cannot afford other brands (DMC is very expensive outside of the US, even though they’re made in France for the most part). I think a lot of fear tactics are being placed on this brand because it’s from China and is seen as a dupe for DMC. It most definitely is, but it’s a good one! At around 8¢ a skein in USD, it’s hard to beat.
Thank you so much for all this info! I agree that DMC is super expensive outside of the US, I only found out recently that it’s so much cheaper in the states even though it’s from France as you say…
@@BlushingPinkStitches that part makes no sense to me. I can find it here in the US for .60USD. Over in Europe it’s double that, even though it travels less over there. So weird!
I literally just ordered 8 skeins for a trial to see if I would notice a diff in preparing for my next HAED. CXC is 1/3 cheaper than DMC. I look forward to comparing notes!! Great video!! Thanks!
@@BlushingPinkStitches It's going lovely!! I only got 8 for a small pattern to see if I liked them. Well, I'm sold!! No need for thread conditioner! They feel like silk. Saving $'s for a full set asap LOL😍
I switched to using cxc about 5 yrs ago now I think. I use them for all of my fc projects. I always try to make sure the floss matches the pk colour before stitching. I love the sheen that cxc gives to a project. One of my finished ones looks amazing because the horses coats are almost realistically shiny. Also I can kit up a fc pattern for a quarter of the price of dmc here in Australia. Great video Lindsi, an unbiased review and your honest opinion. Take care and happy stitching 💜🧵
Thank you for taking your time to stitch the chart twice. Through the camera the colours don't look different. I bought the CXC full set years ago and noticed that some of the shades were slightly different others were way different. Totally agree regarding working on small charts. Personally wouldn't use them on a Paine's free chart as the shading uses loads of shades and you can't tell when you're using DMC where as CXC might show too much. Again thank you for your time. Take care
Thanks for the video, I’ve often wondered about these threads. The cost in the UK of DMC is crazy so a cheaper alternative is useful. I think after your review I’ll stick with the DMC although I might try a few to compare.
No worries Sarah - you’re right that the price of DMC is pretty crazy! Definitely give them a go and see if you like them, it’s worth seeing what you think because they are so much cheaper… xx
Since the CXC colours are similar to DMC I tend to use those to test out own designs I create. In every other situation I use DMC only - the colours are more vibrant and lively. One should always stick with the best supplies they can afford. The result speaks for itself. I have made that experience with many arts and crafts supplies.
Thanks so much. I've been contemplating CXC but I've always used DMC for over 25yrs but with pennies being tighter it could be a good idea. So I've learnt so much from your vid, thanks
I think these are excellent for full coverage like Artecy, HAED etc as a cheaper alternative to kitting up Dmc. That’s what I use but if it’s a smaller chart or not full coverage I’ll always use Dmc
Also in my opinion in the full coverage if the cxc is only slightly a different shade than Dmc it’s going to take a very good eye to notice and so far I haven’t seen any. Plus I’ve mixed the two threads throughout the piece when I’ve ran out of say cxc and have the Dmc in my stash and don’t see a difference. As a haed takes about 90 colours it’s definitely a lot cheaper.
Thanks for the video I have been wondering about the cycle threads as I do a lot of full coverage, and don’t think I would get them now as the colour changes on the HAEDS is very close and I don’t think it would look right, it takes so long to do them I would worry the would look odd, so thank you so much was a great help to me 🤗
I use CXC as I like the sheen they have and because I can afford the whole set, it's really easy to change colours. I've found that if you use the DMC colour chart you can find an exact colour match, despite the number being slightly different. I don't think CXC are pirated versions of DMC as they are polycotton and the sheen and feel of them is different. To me it's just like different brands' metallic thread or knitting yarn come in the same colours.
Hi, only just found your channel and have binge watched them all. I found this video really very useful and informative. Really enjoying your video's, will look forward to seeing you soon ☺️
One point to note is that DMC is 100% cotton whereas CXC is a poly cotton blend. I have no idea what difference this would make long term to stitched pieces but for that reason (as well as the shade differences) I personally wouldn’t use them for large, full coverage pieces. I’m planning to use my set up stitching smaller projects and then don’t intend to replace them.
Cotton requires a ridiculous amount of water during growing and refining, but polyester isn't exactly environmentally super friendly either. My budget leans more toward CXC, as where I live one skein of DMC costs between $1.9 and $1.3 :(
CXC is thicker and way cheaper. When a project of mine required a specific colour and CXC didn't match that colour, I went and bought DMC. I hated it. The coverage with 2 strands was horrible, I had to do 3 strands and it was really visible compared to what I stitched before. It's ridiculously expensive where I am, I wouldn't be even able to afford the entire colour palette (I have all CXC thread colours), and on top of that it doesn't feel as good as CXC. I would love a comparison between CXC and Royal Embroidery Thread. Both from aliexpress, but Royal one is twice as expensive (at best, usually more expensive).
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and what you stitch with. I have a Royal Broderie vs DMC video and I would say the coverage with Royal Broderie is better than DMC so definitely worth giving it a go… x
Thank you for this interesting comparison. I hesitate to use CXC. I see it as similar to a copyright issue with charts. I would not knowingly buy a chart where copyright has been infringed. With threads DMC has built up their colour range over many years and their reputation. CXC is riding on the back of that. Reminds me of piracy. My budget is limited too. But this is not for me regardless. Thank you Lindsi. You do a great job with your channel. I have only found you recently but I love all I have seen. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your comment - I hadn’t thought about the piracy issue, but it makes so much sense. They are essentially copying what dmc have done, and that doesn’t sit right with me either… xx
Hi Trisha, that’s a good tip, thanks so much for sharing. I don’t have the tags for mine anymore but I bought them from Cross and Crafts on Etsy, so I’m happy that they’re the real deal… xx
I mainly use CXC. The shades are a bit different for some and almost identical for others. It doesn’t bother me I get to afford to stitch all the things 😁
Thank you for giving your opinions, it is totally down to personal preference isn’t it? Most of the shades I tried were pretty identical to the dmc… xx
CXC is polycotton, which means it has a polyester core wrapped in 100% cotton. Polyester retains color better than cotton, which means if in direct sunlight, CXC threads will not fade as quickly as DMC. DMC will take decades to fade all that much, so I’m not talking a year or two, just to be clear. They’re also just as colorfast as DMC, so you can wash your piece after it’s done with no worry. The polyester core of CXC gives it strength while the cotton gives it heat resistance, just like a 100% cotton thread would. So you can iron your piece with no worry. CXC is a great brand for smalls or for those that cannot afford other brands (DMC is very expensive outside of the US, even though they’re made in France for the most part). I think a lot of fear tactics are being placed on this brand because it’s from China and is seen as a dupe for DMC. It most definitely is, but it’s a good one! At around 8¢ a skein in USD, it’s hard to beat.
Thank you so much for all this info! I agree that DMC is super expensive outside of the US, I only found out recently that it’s so much cheaper in the states even though it’s from France as you say…
@@BlushingPinkStitches that part makes no sense to me. I can find it here in the US for .60USD. Over in Europe it’s double that, even though it travels less over there. So weird!
@@jennstns9 exactly! I don’t get it either 🤷🏼♀️ xx
I remember reading somewhere that It's to do with an export agreement after the Second World war.
I know. I have just ordered some CXC, as couldn't afford all the threads I needed in DMC. Over £35 V £8.75. X
I literally just ordered 8 skeins for a trial to see if I would notice a diff in preparing for my next HAED. CXC is 1/3 cheaper than DMC. I look forward to comparing notes!! Great video!! Thanks!
Oh cool, hope the experiment goes well. Let me know what you think! X
@@BlushingPinkStitches It's going lovely!! I only got 8 for a small pattern to see if I liked them. Well, I'm sold!! No need for thread conditioner! They feel like silk. Saving $'s for a full set asap LOL😍
I switched to using cxc about 5 yrs ago now I think. I use them for all of my fc projects. I always try to make sure the floss matches the pk colour before stitching. I love the sheen that cxc gives to a project. One of my finished ones looks amazing because the horses coats are almost realistically shiny. Also I can kit up a fc pattern for a quarter of the price of dmc here in Australia. Great video Lindsi, an unbiased review and your honest opinion. Take care and happy stitching 💜🧵
Thank you Kelly! It’s interesting what you say about the sheen that CXC gives - that must be to do with the make up of the thread? Xx
@@BlushingPinkStitches it's because it is a cotton/polyester blend. Not 100% cotton so has that bit of a shine to it. 🧡🪡
The color of the DMC deer is brighter and shows more life. I prefer the DMC colors.
Thank you for taking your time to stitch the chart twice. Through the camera the colours don't look different. I bought the CXC full set years ago and noticed that some of the shades were slightly different others were way different. Totally agree regarding working on small charts. Personally wouldn't use them on a Paine's free chart as the shading uses loads of shades and you can't tell when you're using DMC where as CXC might show too much. Again thank you for your time. Take care
No worries Angela, and thank you for sharing your opinions too. It’s really interesting seeing what other people think and what they do… xx
Thanks for the video, I’ve often wondered about these threads. The cost in the UK of DMC is crazy so a cheaper alternative is useful. I think after your review I’ll stick with the DMC although I might try a few to compare.
No worries Sarah - you’re right that the price of DMC is pretty crazy! Definitely give them a go and see if you like them, it’s worth seeing what you think because they are so much cheaper… xx
Thank you for the comparison!
Since the CXC colours are similar to DMC I tend to use those to test out own designs I create. In every other situation I use DMC only - the colours are more vibrant and lively.
One should always stick with the best supplies they can afford. The result speaks for itself. I have made that experience with many arts and crafts supplies.
That’s really interesting that you do that and that’s your opinion. I think you’re so right, you should buy the best supplies you can afford… xx
Thanks so much. I've been contemplating CXC but I've always used DMC for over 25yrs but with pennies being tighter it could be a good idea. So I've learnt so much from your vid, thanks
No worries Louise! Xx
Thank you for the comparison review.
You’re welcome ☺️ xx
Interesting. Thank you for this comparison.
No worries x
I think these are excellent for full coverage like Artecy, HAED etc as a cheaper alternative to kitting up Dmc. That’s what I use but if it’s a smaller chart or not full coverage I’ll always use Dmc
Thanks for sharing Lorraine! Have you noticed any obvious shading issues when using them for full coverage? Xx
@@BlushingPinkStitches no not yet as I’m using pattern keeper and the colour is beside the symbol so I just make sure they match and continue on x
@@lorraines_cross_stitch fair enough - thank you for letting me know! Xx
Also in my opinion in the full coverage if the cxc is only slightly a different shade than Dmc it’s going to take a very good eye to notice and so far I haven’t seen any. Plus I’ve mixed the two threads throughout the piece when I’ve ran out of say cxc and have the Dmc in my stash and don’t see a difference. As a haed takes about 90 colours it’s definitely a lot cheaper.
I’ve had the knot joining them together in dmc but it’s not very often that you get that. Thanks for the video
Oh it’s interesting that you’ve had that with DMC too - can’t really criticise CXC for that then if that’s the case…
Thanks for the video I have been wondering about the cycle threads as I do a lot of full coverage, and don’t think I would get them now as the colour changes on the HAEDS is very close and I don’t think it would look right, it takes so long to do them I would worry the would look odd, so thank you so much was a great help to me 🤗
No worries Mary, happy I could help ☺️
Really interesting thank you for sharing!
No worries! xx
This video is sooo useful! It was really a good idea, thanks!
No worries, thank you! Xx
I use CXC as I like the sheen they have and because I can afford the whole set, it's really easy to change colours. I've found that if you use the DMC colour chart you can find an exact colour match, despite the number being slightly different.
I don't think CXC are pirated versions of DMC as they are polycotton and the sheen and feel of them is different. To me it's just like different brands' metallic thread or knitting yarn come in the same colours.
Thank you for that - that’s a good point about using the colour chart, hadn’t thought of that. And you’re right about alternative brands too ☺️
Hi, only just found your channel and have binge watched them all. I found this video really very useful and informative. Really enjoying your video's, will look forward to seeing you soon ☺️
Hi Elizabeth, so glad you found me and are enjoying my videos! Xxx
@@BlushingPinkStitches ❤
One point to note is that DMC is 100% cotton whereas CXC is a poly cotton blend. I have no idea what difference this would make long term to stitched pieces but for that reason (as well as the shade differences) I personally wouldn’t use them for large, full coverage pieces. I’m planning to use my set up stitching smaller projects and then don’t intend to replace them.
I didn’t know that, so thanks for sharing. Not sure what difference that would make either, but definitely worth knowing…
Cotton requires a ridiculous amount of water during growing and refining, but polyester isn't exactly environmentally super friendly either. My budget leans more toward CXC, as where I live one skein of DMC costs between $1.9 and $1.3 :(
CXC is thicker and way cheaper. When a project of mine required a specific colour and CXC didn't match that colour, I went and bought DMC. I hated it. The coverage with 2 strands was horrible, I had to do 3 strands and it was really visible compared to what I stitched before. It's ridiculously expensive where I am, I wouldn't be even able to afford the entire colour palette (I have all CXC thread colours), and on top of that it doesn't feel as good as CXC. I would love a comparison between CXC and Royal Embroidery Thread. Both from aliexpress, but Royal one is twice as expensive (at best, usually more expensive).
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and what you stitch with. I have a Royal Broderie vs DMC video and I would say the coverage with Royal Broderie is better than DMC so definitely worth giving it a go… x
Thank you for this interesting comparison. I hesitate to use CXC. I see it as similar to a copyright issue with charts. I would not knowingly buy a chart where copyright has been infringed. With threads DMC has built up their colour range over many years and their reputation. CXC is riding on the back of that. Reminds me of piracy. My budget is limited too. But this is not for me regardless. Thank you Lindsi. You do a great job with your channel. I have only found you recently but I love all I have seen. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your comment - I hadn’t thought about the piracy issue, but it makes so much sense. They are essentially copying what dmc have done, and that doesn’t sit right with me either… xx
ifYOU LOOK AT THE LAST TWO NUMBERS ON THE BARCODE THE NUMBER SHOUD BE 14,IF NOT YOU DONT HAVE CXC THREADS,
Hi Trisha, that’s a good tip, thanks so much for sharing. I don’t have the tags for mine anymore but I bought them from Cross and Crafts on Etsy, so I’m happy that they’re the real deal… xx
I mainly use CXC. The shades are a bit different for some and almost identical for others. It doesn’t bother me I get to afford to stitch all the things 😁
Thank you for giving your opinions, it is totally down to personal preference isn’t it? Most of the shades I tried were pretty identical to the dmc… xx