A fiber & mesh breakdown for confused (but fabulous) stitchers.
If you’ve ever stared at your canvas, your fiber stash, and your innocent little needle thinking, “Why don’t these go together like peanut butter and jelly?”, you’re not alone.
Choosing the right fiber for 13 mesh vs. 18 mesh is a little bit like choosing shoes for an event. 13 mesh? That’s your comfy, yet stylish block heel. 18 mesh? We’re in stiletto territory now—smaller, sleeker, and definitely not the place for chunky fibers.
So, if you’re constantly playing fiber roulette, here’s your cheat sheet—with a little sass and a lot of stitching love.
🧵 How Do I Know What to Use on What?
Quick Clues:
13 mesh = Bigger holes. Think thicker threads, more strands, or chunkier texture.
18 mesh = Smaller holes. Think finer threads, fewer strands, and delicate coverage.
Sparkly accents? They’re for both! Just make sure you’ve got the right size braid or blend.
When in doubt, test a few stitches on the edge of your canvas and squint at it. If it looks like it’s been stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey, it’s too thick. If you can still see canvas peeking through, like it’s not wearing makeup, it’s too thin.
The Fiber + Mesh Compatibility Chart
|
Fiber |
13 Mesh ✅ |
18 Mesh ✅ |
|---|---|---|
|
DMC Perle Cotton #5 |
✅ (light coverage) |
✅ |
|
DMC Perle Cotton #3 |
✅ |
|
|
Splendor Silk (strandable) |
✅ (6 strands) |
✅ (4 strands) |
|
Tilli Tomas Milan |
✅ |
|
|
Tilli Tomas Essentials |
✅ |
|
|
Planet Earth Silk |
✅ |
|
|
Pepper Pot Silk |
✅ |
|
|
Vineyard Silk |
✅ |
|
|
Impressions |
✅ (doubled) |
✅ |
|
Silk Lame Braid (13/18) |
✅ (13) |
✅ (18) |
|
Silk & Ivory |
✅ |
Bonus Tips
Splendor is strandable, which makes you the boss. Use 6 strands for 13 mesh, 4 strands for 18 mesh, and channel your inner Goldilocks.
Silk Lame Braid comes in versions specifically labeled for 13 or 18 mesh. Pick the right one, and prepare to sparkle responsibly.
Pepper Pot and Planet Earth are both single-strand silks, but Pepper Pot is for 18 mesh, and Planet Earth is for 13 mesh. Think of them as elegant siblings with different shoe sizes.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still not sure… StitchBook it! One of the best parts of organizing your stash with Stitch Sloth is keeping track of which fibers you love on what mesh, so future-you doesn’t have to guess.
Here is my go-to book for thread information:
You can find it here: Needle Nook of La Jolla or Bedecked and Beadazzled