Weeks Dye Works Perle is a colorfast, hand-dyed, and over-dyed cotton, with #5 being the thickest and #12 being the finest of the three weights. Each of these fibers is perfect for blackwork, cross stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, and wool applique.
Perle #5 is the most commonly used of the three sizes because it draws attention to the stitches, without taking away from the overall design. Perle #5 is sold in 10 yard skeins.