At the moment, it feels like every month I learn of a new DMC thread. From the super rare official Disney DMC threads, to the rather crazy plans like DMC linen threads and DMC Secret Perfume threads. But there is one thread that sits right at the top of my list for rarety. But unlike 724, this is rare for a whole different reason. A limited edition thread that people don’t know about…
Today, I want to talk about DMC 127, a now discontinued variegated thread, that holds the title as the only limited edition DMC thread. Well, the only one not made of solid gold!
What Are The Limited Edition Threads?
As far as we know (more on that in a future post), there are only 2 known limited-edition threads. The 24-carat gold 270th-anniversary thread from 2016, and DMC 127, a variegated thread from 2013.
The variegated thread 127 has been given an official number (and came with this on its skein label), and was likely limited to less than 4000 skeins.
But the 24-carat thread does not have an official designation and was limited to 17,460, far higher numbers, and less likely to be stitched with, so easier to come by.
The Story Of The Golden Thread
The story of the 24-carat gold thread from DMC is a simple one, and one that most people know rather well. Back in 2006, the DMC company announced a limited edition thread to mark the 270th anniversary of the company’s founding. The thing that makes this particular thread unique though is that it was blended with 24-carat thread.
However, DMC had always intended this to be a collector’s item. After all, no one but Lord Libidan would stitch using the expensive thread. And with this, they created 17,460 of the threads and numbered each one. But the thread itself didn’t have a number designation in any way.
For those that are interested, the 24-carat gold was blended with E3852, their metallic gold thread (which isn’t as good as Diamant Threads by DMC), and so is technically a blended thread, rather than a limited edition.
However, driven by this golden angle, the story of the 24-carat DMC thread took off, with many outlets reporting it as the ONLY limited edition thread DMC had ever created. But was all that glitters gold?
No. Back in 2013, there was another limited edition thread. And it’s far rarer.
The Story Of 127
DMC 127, a number rarely heard of, is truly the crown wearer when it comes to rare threads. Not only is it variegated, which tends to be harder to get your hands on, but it was a limited edition and is now discontinued. But its big claim to fame is that most people simply didn’t know it was limited edition!
Somehow, and we’re not too sure where, the idea also came about to create a limited edition thread just for this sampler.
So the stage was set, and with the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of the Just Cross Stitch magazine, readers not only got a full kit (with full skeins) but also received the fabled limited edition 127 thread.
However, as you can see from the cover of the magazine here; no mention was made of this thread. And in fact, having read the whole magazine cover to cover, I can tell you that it doesn’t even mention it inside the magazine!
This thread entered the world as a celebratory limited edition, and somehow was completely overlooked!
Thinking this through, the thread was likely created at the last minute, and the whole magazine had already been created, although the previous issue did have a shot of the thread, so that may not be the case.
This meant that the thread went out to the world, without people knowing its importance. Not only that, but you couldn’t purchase the thread directly from DMC (despite them sending out images that suggest otherwise), leaving this edition of the magazine to be the ONLY place to pick up a skein.
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So, what is it like? Well, it’s not the most interesting. It’s very similar to DMC 121, but a little darker. It isn’t worth picking up, even if you can find full skein’s on eBay sometimes.
Are you tempted to collect these limited edition threads in your own journey to a complete set?
Happy stitching!
Lord Libidan