In my hurry to see my Dresden plate appliqued onto the background fabric, I chose a most delicious deep rust thread from my stash. LOVE the color, love the sheen (it is a cotton covered poly, but so pretty), love the way the applique popped....all was well. WAS is the word here! I decided it might be a gamble to think I could get 32 plates appliqued with one spool of thread. What if I got down to number 28 and ran out! So before I proceeded any further, I went in search of more thread to match. Alas, this thread color must not be manufactured any longer. I can't find anything close! The closest is a deep maroon, close but blends with 4 blades per plate.....not the rust I love! Now I am thinking, just how old is that thread???? Should I even use it??? Should I rip out the double applique stitch that is so lovely and start over with another color? Should I hold my breath and pray that that one little spool will produce 32 plates???? Is there a way to know how many stitches or how much applique that spool would produce? Should I look for someone else that might have a spool of the same older thread? Help! I am so excited about appliqueing these plates, but I am stuck now in indecision land. Is there some other idea that I haven't considered? HELP????? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!