How to choose Aunt Lydia's crochet thread

Choosing the right thread comes down to three decisions: the size, the color and the number of balls. This page walks through each one, using only the details printed on the products.

The range is built on one core thread. Size 10 is the fine, bedspread-weight option, and size 3 is the heavier option for bolder work.

Start with the project size

Size 10 suits lace, doilies and tablecloth edges, where a fine stitch shows. Its hook range is 1.6 to 2.25 mm.

Size 3 suits edgings and motifs that should be seen from across a room, and it is paired with a larger hook. Size 10 remains the choice for finer edges.

Aunt Lydia's yardage before the color

A solid ball of size 10 carries 350 yards, white and natural carry 400, and shaded colors carry 300. Work out how many yards the piece needs before you pick a shade.

Dye lots in shaded and variegated colors can differ between orders, so buying the full amount at once avoids a visible change in the middle of a piece.

Aunt Lydia's pack sizes for the piece

A single ball or two-pack covers ornaments and small motifs. A three-pack covers a tablecloth border, and the jumbo ball or the twelve-pack covers a full bedspread.

Care after the project is finished

The printed care is a gentle machine wash in cool water, drying flat and no bleach. Following that guidance is the simplest way to keep a finished piece looking the way it was worked.