Bookshop Thread Guide

The finished Bookshop needlepoint held up in front of pink hydrangeas
Thread guide

Bookshop thread guide

Every thread I used for the Bookshop, with a link beside each colour so you can add them straight to your cart.

As always, this is a guide. Always follow your creativity.

This design is available as a chart and as a canvas.

Shop the canvasGet the chart

How to use this guide

I wanted to make this as easy as possible for you, so the names of the threads are clickable links and it’s easy to add them to your cart. There is also a full printable shopping list at the end for both premium threads and DMC colours.

A word on detail

This is a very detailed canvas, with a LOT of colours. It isn’t my intention that you have to use all of them. I put the extra detail there as an option, so it’s up to you if you’d prefer to simplify.

As a general rule, extra details like shading work really well if you are doing standard continental stitch. If you are looking to do decorative stitches, you will want to simplify.

It looks like it has a lot of colours, but it basically has a lot of shades of brown (roof, shading, windows and stairs) and two shades of cream for the facade. Most of the variation comes from the books and flowers, so there is a lot of opportunity for colour swaps, and it’s a great way to use up colours in your stash.

The most important part is being happy with the browns and the facade colours you choose. Everything else is in smaller quantities and a lot easier to swap.

Bookshop needlepoint design overview

Purples

The purples are mainly for the hyacinth flowers in the window and also some books.

DMC

  • 211
  • 208

Silk & Ivory

Pinks

The pinks really are just book colours in this design. I like these shades, but it’s an area where you could really get creative or use what you already have.

DMC

  • 963
  • 602

Silk & Ivory

Yellows

Two shades of yellow for the lanterns and also some flowers and books.

DMC

  • 744
  • 745

Silk & Ivory

I colour swapped the handle of the door and used metallic gold instead, to create a brass effect. The metallic threads are linked further down this page.

Reds

Three shades of red: one for the bows and two for the flowers and books.

DMC

  • 606
  • 321
  • 817

Silk & Ivory

Oranges

Three shades of orange for the pots. If you choose to do decorative stitches, I think this could be simplified.

DMC

  • 977
  • 976
  • 3826

Silk & Ivory

Greens

There are four shades of green in this design: two on the wreath and garlands, and two as the greenery in the flowers. It really can be flexible as to which exact shades you use, and it’s a great way to use up colours from your stash. Here are some suggestions.

DMC

  • 704
  • 702
  • 989
  • 987

Silk

Browns

The roof, the shading under it, the sign text and the door.

DMC

  • 3031 : roof outline and window fill
  • 898 : roof fill
  • 3032 : roof shading
  • 3790 : roof shading
  • 433 : Bookshop text
  • 435 : door fill

Neutrals

The two creams for the facade.

DMC

  • 3866
  • ECRU

Silk & Ivory

Grey-ish

These are the shades under the roof that create a shadow. You can be pretty flexible here: any shade that could realistically create a shadow effect will work.

DMC

  • 3024
  • 822

Silk

Colour swap: the blue door

I decided to colour swap to make the door blue. Here are some colours to use for the same effect.

DMC

  • 3841
  • 3753
  • 3838
  • 322

Milan

Specialty threads

For the gold and red decorations in the garland and trees, I chose metallics. My favourites are Fyre Werks, in these colours.

Fyre Werks

Shopping list

Everything above in one place. Tap any thread name to add it to your cart.

DMC

  • 208
  • 211
  • 321
  • 433
  • 435
  • 602
  • 606
  • 702
  • 704
  • 744
  • 745
  • 817
  • 822
  • 898
  • 963
  • 976
  • 977
  • 987
  • 989
  • 3024
  • 3031
  • 3032
  • 3790
  • 3826
  • 3866
  • ECRU

You can order every DMC colour at once by copying and pasting this list into the quick order form here.