I was dismayed for more than one reason recently to find that my local needlework shop -- who had a wonderful assortment of threads -- closed its doors with a thwack of finality and no notice whatsoever. I had been hoping to go and compare in person the threads I'd bought for the "Floral Sampler" with some alternatives -- but, obviously, no joy. I extended my sphere by quite a few miles, but nobody seems to carry Gentle Arts or Weeks Dye Works, and so I ended up choosing a selection from online photos in order to have them in my hands. Since choosing colors online can be something of a gamble, and because I really appreciate those Etsy sellers who photograph not just a specific color but a selection of shades together, so that we can at least tell, for example, which red is darker or lighter than another, I decided to photograph everything I have and post it here in case it's helpful to others trying to make a similar decision. Some of these are the original ones for the "Floral" (so are partially used skeins!), some are the selection I bought as potential replacements, and some are from my stash that are similar shades, though not actually in contention for this particular piece.
With any of these threads, of course -- Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works, Crescent Colors, and Classic Colorworks -- any given color may vary considerably from dye lot to dye lot. And they can all look noticeably different when stitched than they do in the skein.
In the photo at the top is Gentle Art's "Victorian Pink" (the original for the "Floral"), Weeks Dye Works' "Charlotte's Pink", and Gentle Art's Simply Shaker "Tea Rose." The "Victorian" is by far the most vivid and clear of the three.
GA Simply Shaker's "Ruby Slipper," Gentle Art's "Red Grape," Simply Shaker's "Briar Rose," "Claret" (the original), and below, Weeks Dye Works' "Lancaster Red" and "Williamsburg Red." "Williamsburg" has more purple in it than "Lancaster". "Claret" seems more of a blood-red than "Ruby Slipper".
Gentle Art's "Midnight" (the original dark blue for the "Floral") and "Blueberry," Simply Shaker's "Brethren Blue," Weeks Dye Works' "Williamsburg Blue," Gentle Art's "Blue Jay" (the original medium-blue), Classic Colorworks' "Milady's Teal," Weeks Dye Works' "Blue Jeans" and "Shepard's Blue," and Crescent Colors' "Deep Blue Sea." "Shepard's Blue" is quite on the grey side of blue; "Milady's Teal" has very little green in it to be called teal. "Blueberry," perhaps unsurprisingly, has a touch of purple in it. "Midnight" is not a blackish-blue, but a very deep but clear blue.
Gentle Art's "Gold Leaf" (the original darker golden-brown), Weeks Dye Works' "Schneckley," Gentle Art's "Brandy" (the original lighter gold/golden-brown), and GA Simply Shaker's "Wheat Fields." I wondered to myself as I made out my list if I might use "Gold Leaf" for "Brandy," and use a darker gold for "Gold Leaf" ....
Gentle Art's "Dried Thyme" (the original medium-green), Weeks Dye Works' "Collards," GA Simply Shaker's "Chives", Classic Colorworks' "Jolly Holly," and Gentle Art's "Evergreen" (the original light green). "Collards" is pretty much exactly the color of boiled spinach, but don't let that put you off as it is a gorgeous dark green with just a touch of black.
Classic Colorworks' "Used Brick" and Gentle Art's "Old Brick." "Old Brick" seems to me more of a salmon color than a brick one, but that I suppose is taking exception more to the name of the color than the color itself!
Above, these are O'Steen's original colors for the sampler, all from The Gentle Art: "Brandy," "Midnight," "Blue Jay," " Dried Thyme," "Victorian Pink," "Sable," "Gold Leaf," "Claret," "Old Brick," and "Evergreen." And below is my tentative selection, in the same order: "Schneckley," "Williamsburg Blue," either "Blue Jeans" or "Shepard's Blue," "Collards," "Charlotte's Pink," "Mocha," "Wheat Fields," "Ruby Slipper" or "Briar Rose," "Used Brick," and "Dried Thyme".
