DMC Retors Mat Art. 89 Thread: what it is, how it differs, and how many skeins you need

If you embroider needlepoint, sooner or later you will come across it: DMC Retors Mat Art. 89 is the go-to thread for tapestry and needlepoint. But it raises very specific questions: how does it differ from the everyday mouliné?, how many skeins do I need to finish my piece? Let's break it down.

What is Retors Mat

It is a matte, high-twist cotton, thicker than classic mouliné. It is embroidered with a single strand, without separating, and completely covers the canvas with a matte, velvety finish very similar to wool — but without moths and without lint. That's why it's the natural substitute when an old kit is missing wool of a certain color.

Retors Mat vs. mouliné: the practical difference

• Mouliné (Art. 117): 6 fine separable strands, satin sheen, for cross-stitch on fabric.
• Retors Mat (Art. 89): one thick strand, matte finish, for needlepoint on canvas.

If you try to embroider canvas with mouliné, it doesn't cover; if you embroider fine fabric with Retors Mat, it bulges. Each has its own domain.

How many skeins you need

The approximate rule we use in the haberdashery: a 10 g skein covers about 30-35 cm² on canvas with 4-5 stitches/cm. For a medium piece (30×40 cm), estimate between 25 and 35 skeins distributed among the design colors — the backgrounds take up most. Our usual advice: buy an extra skein of the dominant colors; dye lots vary between batches.

Where to buy it by individual skeins

In our store, we have individual skeins of Retors Mat Art. 89 with a visual color selector: you choose the exact shade from the chart and that skein arrives, without buying entire packs. Ideal for finishing inherited kits or replacing a color you ran out of.

And if you're just starting, here's our guide on what needlepoint canvas is and how to choose yours.