Crochet with embroidery floss means using the six-strand cotton floss sold for hand embroidery as your working thread instead of yarn, producing very fine, delicate crochet suited to jewelry and miniature motifs. I use floss constantly for tiny amigurumi accessories, since the thin strand gives detail yarn simply cannot match. This guide covers the hook size it needs, how to prep the floss, and where it works best.
Materials and Setup
- Six-strand embroidery floss, either used as all six strands together or split down to two or three for finer work
- A steel crochet hook sized 1.5mm to 2.25mm, much smaller than a standard yarn hook
- A separate embroidery needle for weaving in ends, since floss slips through a standard yarn needle’s eye poorly
Working with Floss
Keep the floss in its original skein wrapper while you work rather than winding it into a ball, since floss tangles far more easily than yarn once separated from its packaging. I split my floss down to three strands for anything requiring fine detail, like a tiny flower motif, and use all six strands together for something slightly sturdier, like a keychain fob.
Floss projects stay extremely small in scale: a finished motif that would take 10 yards of worsted yarn might use under a single yard of floss, so plan for a project the size of jewelry or ornament trim rather than anything wearable.
Frequently asked questions
What hook size works for embroidery floss?
A steel hook between 1.5mm and 2.25mm suits most embroidery floss projects, depending on how many strands you use at once. Six strands together needs a slightly larger hook than two or three split strands.
What can you make with crocheted embroidery floss?
Small jewelry pieces, tiny flower appliques, ornament trim, and miniature amigurumi accessories all suit the fine scale of floss. It is not practical for anything wearable at full size, since the finished fabric is very thin.
Want a slightly heavier fine-thread option?
Embroidery thread and perle cotton offer a step up in thickness from floss.
Compare crochet thread options