A practical guide to choosing the right threads, beads and colours for your next embroidery project
We created Match & Stitch for embroiderers and for those familiar moments when the stitching is ready to begin, but the colours and materials still refuse to cooperate. From our own experience, we know how much time can disappear while matching a thread with a bead, finding a reliable RGB or HEX value, or turning the precise shade in your imagination into a thread you can actually buy. With hundreds of threads and thousands of beads to choose from, finding the right combination can become a project in itself. That is time we would all rather spend at the embroidery frame. Match & Stitch helps you compare materials, explore colour possibilities and prepare new designs with less searching. You bring the thread, bead, photograph or idea. We help you find a practical way forward.
Already have a thread or bead in front of you? Start with the number on its label.
Enter a DMC, Anchor or Miyuki Delica number, and Match & Stitch will find the closest corresponding colours in the other two collections.
For example, you can enter:
Type the number into the search box, then press Enter.
When entering a DMC thread number, please include all four digits. For example, to search for DMC shade 1, enter DMC 0001.
You can start with any of the three supported collections. Enter a DMC number to find the closest Anchor threads and Miyuki Delica beads, or begin with an Anchor or Miyuki Delica number to explore the closest matches in the other collections.
You may be imagining a winter sky, a faded rose, sea glass or Delft blue without knowing the official name or product number of the shade you need. This search is designed for exactly that kind of creative starting point.
Type your colour description into the search box and press Enter. Match & Stitch will find the threads and beads that come closest to the colour you described.
Try to be as specific as possible. A broad term such as “blue” may return a wide range of results, while a description such as “Arctic blue”, “Delft blue” or “stormy blue-grey” gives the search a clearer direction. You can even search the thread by emotion. Try typing “Friendship” or “Love” and see which materials fit into your mood or the feeling you want to see in your finished piece of art.
We will continue to add new colour descriptions and material information, so the range of available suggestions will grow over time.
Embroidery belongs to the wonderfully tangible world of threads, beads and fabric, but many of us also plan our designs on a computer or tablet.
RGB and HEX values are digital colour references. They can help you represent a thread or bead colour in a digital drawing or design, although its appearance may vary depending on your screen settings.
Enter a DMC, Anchor or Miyuki Delica number into the search box, and Match & Stitch will show the RGB and HEX values recorded in our colour libraries.
When entering a DMC thread number, please include all four digits. For example:
DMC 0001
These colour values can be useful when preparing digital sketches, charts, presentations or colour plans for a new embroidery project.
Perhaps you have taken a beautiful photograph, found an inspiring image or discovered a subject that seems to be asking to be embroidered.
Upload your image to Match & Stitch and choose your preferred design settings from the available options. For your convenience, we added some filters which shall help you create your design. After you upload your image and choose criteria, Match & Stitch will then create an embroidery design based on your selections.
Your completed design will include:
The page will guide you through each stage, so you do not need any specialist technical knowledge.
This option uses our design assistant and is available within selected paid packages.
Sometimes the design is already clear in your imagination, but you do not yet have a photograph or drawing to work from.
Describe your idea in your own words. You might tell us about the subject, colours, mood, embroidery style and level of detail you would like. We created for you some useful criteria to choose from, so that your journey is clear and simple.
After you describe your creative idea and select criteria, our design assistant Hoopy will guide you through a few simple choices and help turn your description into a finished design concept. You will be able to review the direction before the final version is prepared.
Your completed design will include:
Once the first version is ready, you can request further adjustments using the revisions included in your package.
There is no need for complicated instructions. Simply write as though you were describing your idea to another embroiderer across the worktable.
This feature uses our AI-assisted design tool and is available with selected paid packages.
You can begin with three free matching searches without creating a Profile.
Use all three searches within one section - for example, Match by Number - or explore several different matching options.
Once you have used your first three free searches, we will ask you to create a Profile. After registering, you will receive three additional free matching searches.
When you create your Profile during the same browsing session, your earlier matching results can be saved to it, so you will not need to start again.
Once you have used all six free searches, you can choose the paid package that best suits your projects.
Purchased matching searches and design requests do not expire. Any unused requests will remain available in your Profile until you are ready to use them.
Completed matching results and designs will remain saved in your Profile for the storage period included with your chosen package.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Unused matching searches do not expire. They remain in your Profile until you use them.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Designs include: contour drawing with legend, coloured design and materials list.
Unused matching searches do not expire. They remain in your Profile until you use them.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Designs include: contour drawing with legend, coloured design and materials list.
Unused matching searches do not expire. They remain in your Profile until you use them.
Your Profile keeps your searches, designs and remaining requests together in one convenient place.
After creating your Profile, we will send you an email asking you to confirm your email address. Once your address is confirmed, your Profile will be ready to use. In your Profile you can:
Colour matching is a careful craft, and sometimes an experienced eye spots something that numbers alone may miss.
If you believe another thread or bead would make a better match, please write to us at:
feedback@matchandstitch.com
We will review your suggestion and may add it to Match & Stitch for other embroiderers to use.
We also have a special thank-you programme for our most active contributors.
There is always a little more waiting on the worktable. You can also use Match & Stitch to:
Prefer to keep a printed copy close at hand? Download the complete Match & Stitch guide as a PDF and refer to it whenever your project needs a little help.
