Tidbits - 2025 Edition - Different Colour Ways and Variegated Threads

I really enjoy playing with different colours in a design.  Tidbits is a great project to do just that.  You would be amazed that, by changing out just one thread colour, the whole look of the design can change!

Add some sparkle, use your favourite colour - make Tidbits uniquely your own!  Do a test block - pick any one of the blocks to test out your new colour palette - that's the best way to find out if you are happy with the colours you have chosen.

The pattern for Tidbits - 2025 Edition has been written in a blue/purple colour way (two of my favourite colours):

Choosing Your Own Colours

You can stitch this piece using the blue/purple colour way as written in the pattern, but the real challenge comes from choosing your own colours to make Tidbits uniquely yours.

Start by choosing your over-dyed threads – you’ll need three (I chose two different Caron Watercolours threads and one Vineyard Silk Classic thread). Then look for 3 or 4 DMC Perle 5 solids that match with the colours in these skeins, even remotely. You will probably have way more threads than you will end up using, but that’s OK.  Select your top 3 favourites!

Just remember……. There is no right or wrong in choosing your threads. If it looks good and feels right, it is!

Different Colour Ways

Here are some thread suggestions that may help if you choose a different colour way than what I have used in the Tidbits pattern.

If you want to have more green in the design – replace Caron Watercolours – Ink 253 with Caron Watercolours – Moss 169

This is Block #6 - the Norwich stitches in the corners and the Rhodes Octagons are stitched with Caron Watercolours Indigo (which is very similar and a good alternative to using Vineyard Silk Classic C-108).  The rows of backstitching are stitched with Caron Watercolours - Moss instead of Caron Watercolours - Ink

If you want a more neutral/brown look – add DMC 841 in addition to DMC 926, 927 and 928

This is Block #5 - the two rows of Smyrnas are stitched with DMC 841 instead of Caron Watercolours - Ink

For more subtle pops of colour in the border and through the design, use Weeks Dye Works Perle 5 – Williamsburg Blue instead of Vineyard Silk Classic - Granite C-108

This is Block #7 - the corner Norwich stitches and backstitching have been stitched with Williamsburg Blue.   The small Rhodes Diamond stitches have been stitched with Caron Watercolours – Moss 169 instead of Caron Watercolours – Ink 253

Add Some Sparkle!

We all like sparkly things and it would be very easy to swap out any of the colours with a metallic thread.

A suggestion would be to use Caron Snow - Violet 28 instead of Caron Watercolours - Ink 253.  The little bit of sparkle would totally transform Tidbits!

A Completely Different Look for Tidbits!

One of my very good friends, Jenn, is stitching Tidbits using a completely different colour way.   She has chosen 3 lovely Caron Watercolours and has kept the 3 DMC Perle 5 colours the same.  Here's her thread selection: 

Tips on working with variegated thread

If you are kitting this project in advance, I highly recommend that you purchase an extra skein or two of the Watercolours and Caron threads (or the overdyed threads you decide to use).  Make sure the skeins you purchase are from the SAME dye lot!!  Dye lots change and sometimes the colours can change dramatically between dye lots!  Also keep in mind that there can be significant colour changes between skeins that are in the same dye lot.

As you are stitching, you will need to keep the colour variations between skeins in mind. 

I recommend that, before you start this project, open all of the skeins of Watercolours .  Pull from all of the skeins, as you work the border.  I found a big difference between the skeins I used – even though they were from the same dye lot!

This keeps the colour variations of the thread consistent through the entire project.  If your skeins are highly varied, you can go one step further by pulling from different sections from different skeins as you stitch the border and each section. 

Fussy Cutting Variegated Thread

You may want to “fussy cut” the Watercolours (or your choice of variegated/overdyed) threads to control the colour flow in smaller sections of the block interiors.  For example – you may want to have an area with more purple in it. You can trim your threads so the sections you use have the purple in them.  Note – buy and extra skein or two of Garden Path as you’ll need more thread.

To learn more about using variegated threads please see these articles from Mary Corbet’s Needle ‘n Thread

How to Stitch with Variegated Threads - Part 1

Stitching with Variegated Threads - Controlled Shades and Solids Part II

The colour choices are endless - just remember to have fun!