To Valdani or not to Valdani.....that is the question....and the answer may surprise you!

**I first wrote this blog in 2015 and have still learned so much about this subject so some parts have been edited.
Julie ~ 9/16/2017

I have so much to do, the last thing I should be doing is blogging.  You see, this is the week of our "Gathering of Friends" here at The Old Tattered Flag.  71 Rug Hookers, punchers, stitchers will be making their way to our Old Stone House this Saturday.  We are so excited, and relatively ready, just those few last minute things that we should be doing.  So, with that, I cannot get my thread predicament out of my mind and wanted to share my thoughts with you.  I would really appreciate feedback on this one as I am trying to figure out what options to offer my customers for their punch kits.
So, a few years ago when I started designing hooked rug patterns, then made the decision to miniaturize them into punch needle patterns I decided to go with a brand of thread called Sullivans.  It is similar to DMC, they even give the DMC number on the skein so you can match it if necessary.  I chose Sullivans as they offer smaller ordering quantities than DMC and it was a better value.  As a small business owner I need this option.  I am thrilled with Sullivans floss and discovered that I am a 6 strand puncher.  I do not like to separate the floss and keep threading the punch needle so punching continuously with the whole skein of floss was ideal for me. 

Sullivans Floss ~ above and below

 I very quickly discovered that when punching, you need some movement or variegation with your thread.  I looked at some hand dyed skeins but was astounded at the prices.  Many of my designs are quite large and take between 20 and 30 skeins of floss.  Some hand dyed floss out there can be as much as $3 or $4 for one skein AND they didn't even offer the full 8.7 yds on the skein.  This was unacceptable.  So, I decided to try dyeing my own floss. 

My Dirty Pumpkin hand dyed floss. 

My Grungy Green hand dyed floss.

 It's not my favorite thing to do, very labor intensive, time consuming, but Ohhhhh the results.   

My "1831 Antique Floral"  background done with my Dirty White floss.  Grungy Gold used for the vase, stars and leaf middles.

My "Farm Friends ~ Lg." My New Denim Blue was used for the background, the sheep was done with my Dirty White.

My "Key Nose JOL" design, background done with Dirty White and a brown to resemble a chippy board.  JOL done with my Dirty Pumpkin.  

So, for two years now I've been happy with my own hand dyed floss but, I'm finding that with close to 200 designs available on the website and as my business increases, I better do something and something quick or I'm going to lose control.  All my punch needle patterns are available as pattern only or my customers can choose the option for us to "add the thread" thus making it a kit.  This requires me to always have a tremendous amount of thread ready to go.  

So, to switch to Valdani?  That is the question.  I knew that Valdani balls went for around $4-$5.  Could I justify this?  Oh no, this is where math is going to come into the equation, not a good thing for a busy blonde.  

So, here's what I came up with.  Most punchers use the 3 strand cotton ball.  (in the picture below).  There is 27 meters of floss on the $4 ball which equates to 29.52 yards of floss or 3.39 skeins.....not bad compared to the other hand dyed flosses, but again, my problem is that I am a 6 strand puncher.  The 3 strand cotton floss is GORGEOUS, but just too fine for me. It takes longer to fill in and in my opinion twice as long to punch, again, just my opinion.  So, I was back to square 1.  

Valdani 3 strand Cotton floss, the go to for most punchers...

Then I found the pearl cottons.  Valdani offers pearl cotton balls in the same wonderful colors as their 3 strand cottons.  So, I ordered it to test it...in the picture below see the Ball on the bottom left, pearl cotton #8, 

a 3 strand equivalent (67 meters or 73.27 yards or 8.42 skeins.....great value) and.....tada, the ball on the top, pearl cotton #5, a six strand equivalent (42 meters or 45.9 yards or 5.27 skeins.....another great value...for hand dyed).  

 But, pearl cotton is more of a "twisted" thread, would I like it?  The answer is a resounding YES.  I have been experimenting to show you the differences with my "Baxter's Star" design (Baxter is my dog).  The middle star is done with a solid red, Sullivan's floss.  The wonderful antique black around the star is P11, Valdani pearl cotton #5 (6 strand equivalent) and the outer circles (the blue, gold and green) are the 3 strand cotton.  I found that the twisted threads of the perle cottons gave me the primitive, chunky look I want, so yes, the twisted pearl cotton will work for me.  
Edit ~ I have since become more comfortable working with the #8 perle cotton.  When I first started using Valdani I had heard a rumor that the #5's were going to be discontinued.  I have since learned that this was just a rumor, but have continued to use the #8 happily. However, the #8 was still a little too thin for my liking so I pull the strand from the inner center of the ball and the outside of the ball, line them up and thread both strands through my medium tip.  I punch primarily on a height of #2. 

My Baxter's Star design punched with 3 different flosses. (click on the picture to get a good close up)

So, the next thing.....cost.  Could I justify spending $5 on a ball of floss.  Well, the answer is yes.  I charge $1.20 for my skeins of hand dyed floss..........way less than any other hand dyed floss out there.  Still, if you figure that a ball of #5 would have a bit more than 5 skeins of hand dyed floss that adds up to $6.  The Valdani ball was a better deal.  And, if you choose to punch with 3 strands, the pearl cotton ball which has the equivalent of over 8 skeins is a tremendous savings (it would cost 10.80 in my hand dyed floss)....and you get to have amazing punched pieces!!  A #8 ball has 73 yards of thread in it or an equivalent of 8.4 skeins of floss.  At 1.20 per skein that would be over 10.00.  Again, a great value for hand dyed floss.  

You should know that I have no affiliation to Valdani in any way.  This has been a slow realization for me.  And truthfully I still love my own hand dyed floss.  I just cannot keep up with it.  So, I am happy to say that now I will be gradually switching over to Valdani for all my punch kits.  I still plan to use a skein of my own here and there as certain elements may not require an entire ball of Valdani and I want to keep the cost down for my customers.  

It's a slow start, but here is the Eye Candy in my shop and how appropriate to have this old candy rack as the display.   

So, that is my opinion on the Valdani versus others conundrum!  I hope this has been helpful to you, it has almost been cathartic for me to write about it and convince myself that I have made the right decision.  Let me know your thoughts! By the way, if you haven't visited our website, it is:

www.theoldtatteredflag.com

Until next time......