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Mary Corbet

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I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more

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The Silk Mill: Trying Out New Silk Threads

 

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Have you heard of The Silk Mill? It’s a company in France that produces silk thread for needlework. It’s a nice company – professional, friendly, and… silk producing. What more could you want? I had the opportunity to try out some of their threads this week, and so I thought I would introduce them to you.

The Silk Mill produces an amazing color range of silk threads for hand embroidery and other needlework techniques. They have over 500 colors, and it looks as if they are producing new colors with regularity.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

Along with the packet of threads came a very nice brochure with all the colors (with corresponding names and numbers) illustrated. I’m just weird enough to really enjoy spending time looking at these types of brochures. I read them. Yes, I do! Like a book. There isn’t a lot of information in the brochure, but I read the names of all the colors and look at the colors. I am sure this is a result of my fiber infatuation, but at the same time, I think it’s also an attraction to color. I find the variety of names we give to colors fascinating!

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

The brochure groups the colors according to… well, colors! So in the yellow group, you’ll find great names like Tiger Flower Yellow, Golden Sultana, Corn-on-the-cob, Saffron Crocus, Yellow Wagtail, and so forth. In the Orange list, some of the colors are Glazed Carrots, Firecrest, and Mexican Sunset. In the pink list, try Salmon Mousse and Popsicle Pink!

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

Besides individual skeins of colored silk, the Silk Mill packages skeins in different “theme” colors. For example, the package I’m reviewing here is titled “Winter at the Beach,” and the colors correspond to a wintery beach. There are color packs (they call them mini-sets) titled enticing names such as “Moonlight and Champagne,” “Summer Dress,” “Winter in the Woods,” and so forth. And all the colors work for the names! I love that!

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

You can purchase The Silk Mill threads individually, but they are more cost effective if purchased in groups of ten, or in mini-sets or full sets.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

Here, you see my first set of Silk Mill silk, “Winter at the Beach.” It’s a five-skein set. The sheen on the silk is quite nice! This is monofilament silk, so the sheen is much higher than that of spun silk (like Soie d’Alger).

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

The skeins are actually a twist that, when untwisted, come apart into a large circle.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

To untwist the skein, just find the knot that holds the bunch together. Once you find the knot, hold onto it and take the twist out, until you have a large circle. I’ll show you below how I prepare this type of thread for stitching, in order to avoid frustration from tangling…

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

The silk is stranded – 6 strands in a bunch, like DMC floss.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

After I opened the skein into a large circle, I cut the point where the knot was, so that I had a bunch of very long strands of silk. I divided the bunch into three equal lengths. You can divide it just in half, but I think the stitching length would be too long, for reasons mentioned below.

After cutting the threads to my stitching length, you can see that I had a rather boingy mass of silk… which would be a pain in the neck if it were left just like this – destined to knots and disorder… Plus, I don’t like the boinginess of some silks. I prefer, if possible, to calm that down a bit.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

Here, you can see that the thread is significantly “calmer.” How did I manage it? I put the kettle on for a cup of tea, of course! I didn’t think it right to play with silk from France without enjoying some good tea!

As soon as the tea kettle was whistling, I took the silk bundle in my hands, holding one end in one hand and the other in the other, and moved it back and forth in the steam coming out of the whistling tea kettle. I do this with a lot of different types of threads and have never had any adverse effects. I don’t leave it soaking in the steam – I just pass it through. It goes straight immediately.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

Once the thread was straight, I let it sit while I found something to hold it with. I used a key tab, as demonstrated in my previous article on thread organization and key tabs. Using the method shown in that article and the article on preparing coton a broder, I looped the silk onto the key tab ring and loosely braided it. I secured the end of the braid with a slip knot made out of soft cotton thread, gently and loosely secured. Now, I can pull one individual strand at a time from the braid.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

At last! The comparison: on the left, one strand of DMC. On the right, one strand of Silk Mill silk.

Do you notice something? Look closely at the twist. I didn’t notice this until I lined these two threads up for the picture. DMC is an S-twisted thread. The Silk Mill is a Z-twisted thread. If you are already familiar with rayons and some other silks (I believe Trebizond is also Z-twisted), you have stitched with Z-twisted threads. It doesn’t make much of a difference in stitching, except with a few specific types of stitches. For example, if you work a stem stitch with a Z-twisted thread, it will look more like outline stitch (the stitches will roll around each other and be less distinguishable). If you want your stem stitch to look like a stem stitch, with the “rope” look and more noticeable separation in stitches, when stitching with a Z-twisted thread, you have to actually work an outline stitch. Also, with bullions, you twist the thread
around the needle in the opposite direction. But for most stitching, the difference is minor, if not at all.

Back to the strands themselves: you can see that one strand of DMC is slightly smaller than one strand of Silk Mill silk.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

Looking at a thread is never enough to tell you whether or not you will like it. You need to stitch with it! Put the thread through some paces and see how it feels. The thing is, I can never really “know” a thread until I stitch with it quite a bit. Still, a little bit of stitching should tell you right away if it’s likely you’ll like it.

So I stitched a few small bits. First, I stitched a little satin stitch swash. I also worked the chain stitch using two strands together.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

I worked some cross stitches, stem stitch, Holbein stitch (double running stitch) and back stitch, and some split stitch.

The Silk Mill: Producers of Fine Silk Threads for Needlework

Conclusions:

1. The silk is beautiful! It feels good in the hands – it doesn’t snag or anything like flat filament silk is prone to do. It’s smooth and luxurious feeling. The colors are vibrant and consistent. The thread is soft and fine.

2. I found it requires short lengths for stitching. As I neared the end of lengths of thread I was playing with, the thread started to exhibit some definite fuzziness. In short lengths, it performs fine (14 – 15″).

3. It stitches beautifully. The sheen is nice, and thread, though boingy at first, behaves ok. In this regard, I would classify the ease of managing the thread somewhere between managing regular cotton and managing rayon (which I always find to be more persnickity than other threads). The stitches looked nice, and the sheen is exceptional.

4. Would I buy the thread? The brochure I received says the skeins are £2.75 each, or £2.50 for 10 or more. Mini-packs (5 skeins) are £8.50 each, and larger sets range from 11 skeins in a certain color group at £19.50 each, up to 27 skeins for £39.50. On the brochure, there’s also a sticker that indicates that all skeins are £2 each, so perhaps there’s a price reduction thing going on there? Also, on the website, you can see deals such as 10 skeins for £17.50…

With the current exchange rate, £17.50 ends up to be about $24.35 – $24.50. So one skein of silk would be $2.43 – $2.45US. And you know what? That’s not a bad price! Of course, there’s shipping to consider, but even with shipping, if I were ordering a larger order, I still think the silks would be a good price. This all depends, of course, on the fluctuation in the exchange rate, but right now, it’s not bad! If the skeins are £2 each, the work out to about $2.70… I think the economical way to go is to buy them in packs.

So… would I buy Silk Mill silks? I think I would! In fact, I think I will! I like them! I like the threads – especially the feel and the sheen; they have a magnificent color selection; and they are reasonably priced.

Just for the sake of comparison:

Treenway Silks: 10 yards – $5.00
Soie d’Alger: @ 5.5 yards – $3.75 – $4.00 (it’s got seven strands in each length, though)
Caron Waterlilies: 6 yards – $5.75 – $6.35
Needlepoint, INC: 5.5 yards – @$4.00
Thread Gatherer Silk ‘n Colors – 7 yards – @$6.50 – $7.00 (12 strands per length)

So, if you’re looking for silk, and you want to try something new, try the Silk Mill silk threads! If you order from them, tell them I sent you!

And let me know how you like the threads… I’d like to hear other people’s opinions on them! Have you tried them already? Do you like them? What type of needlework do you use them for?

And, finally, just so you know – I’m not affiliated, this isn’t a paid advert or anything like that! It’s just my review and my opinion… you may have a different opinion – if you do, don’t hesitate to share!

Ahhh. It’s Friday – enjoy the weekend!

 
 

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(16) Comments

  1. Thanks for the review, Mary. I haven’t had a chance to try these threads yet and I’m glad you got to go first! 🙂

    Questions: How would you compare the sheen of Silk Mill to other flat silks? Can you rank it in terms of your preference to other flat silks that you have tried?

    Note to anyone who might be interested in these threads:

    I don’t know if the Silk Mill is still doing this, but when I ordered their colour chart (which is completely free including shipping and arrived very quickly in California) I also received a sample skein of the silk. So, if you’re interested in a real life example you might try ordering the colour card to see if you get a free sample.

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  2. Hi, Margaret –

    I think it’s easier to compare the sheen of the silk to another twisted silk, like Soie d’Alger, because it’s twisted. In that case, the Silk Mill silk has a higher sheen. Is it as “shiny” as flat silk? Well, it’s close, anyway. The light plays on it differently, because it’s twisted, but it has a very high sheen for a twisted silk.

    It seems to have a higher sheen than Trebizond, which (I think) is also a filament silk (and twisted)…

    Hm. Well, I hope that’s not as confusing as it sounds!

    MC

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  3. I have been reading your site looking for info on silk thread and thanks for posting about
    Silk Mill just what I was looking for beautiful colours !!

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  4. How many yds/meters per skein of Silk Mill? I want to see wether it works out to more silk than d’Alger. It looks like a dream to work with!

    Thanks for yet another wonderful comparison! These are perhaps my favorite aspect of your site, thought I LOVE it all!!!!!
    -Christiana

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  5. Can I ask how long you had been embroidering before you started using silk thread? I ask because I use cotton floss or perle still and think it might be a while before my work justifies the expense of silk…. But I want something to look forward to!

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  6. Hi, Ruth –

    Well, if you don’t count the period of time I embroidered as a little kid, when I used DMC because that’s what everyone used and was widely available (80’s), it was actually silk that catapulted me into serious embroidery. My first real project as an adult was worked on $80 / yard linen using the finest silk! And that project made me take embroidery seriously and say, “Yes, this is the hobby for me.”

    I never really had any serious interest in embroidery until I discovered the extended world of fibers.

    But then, I never considered embroidery as something that I had to practice for years before I actually did something “big.” I saw what I wanted to do one day, said, “I can do that,” and leapt in to it, testing, experimenting, and learning as I went.

    If you have the interest in embroidery – if you are sure you like the notion of this kind of needlework – then don’t be shy about your level of “expertise.” Find something that catches your interest and that you think you would love to do (or at least that you look at and love the finished product), and launch in. If you can read and trouble-shoot, and if your will is in it, you can do it!

    Sometimes, the medium helps the artist improve, methinks!

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  7. Mary, my oops! I had flat silk on the brain when I wrote the first comment, but you answered my question fine. Obviously it’s not flat because it has a Z twist. 🙂

    I was mostly interested in the sheen and how you liked working with the thread. Did it catch at all on your fingers, etc.

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  8. Well happily there is something that I learned during my medieval re-enactment time. I picked the Z-twist straight away. Pat on the back for me!

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  9. I am lucky enough to live in the UK and come from the same area as The Silk Mill …. their silk skeins are beautiful and when ordering you almost always get a complimentary thread as well ! … my sister runs a stitching group close to them and they sometimes go visit the Silk Mill where they get coffee and cake whilst browsing ! Lovely people, lovely silk – need I say more

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  10. Wow! What a wealth of information! I am definitely going to have to order some of these now! I ordered the color chart already and signed up for their newsletter. The first one arrived yesterday and they mentioned this article! 🙂

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  11. Mary, just got my brochure and free skein. Thought i wouldn;t like the “sheen” but love it. I;m pleased about the coverage as i;m very fussy. Lovely coverage 1 strand on 40 ct. …just got to get used to the bouncy feel to the thread. How do you know it is a filament? – it doesn;t say on their brochure. I always thought Spun Silk was the superior, but after a bit of research the Spun is made up of all the waste bits, as opposed to Filament which is one long strand. So, i don;t know how AVAS can price their silk so high considering it;s Spun. I did consider myself to be an AVAS snob as nothing wld compare in depth of colour and coverage… but I think I may be converted to Silk Mill. So thanks for finding them out. Great thing also I;m in UK so I don;t have to wait so long for an order…..I;ve been spending months trying to find a better priced silk than AVAS. Discovered Krenik Silk Mori (£1.71) which i loved – but draw back is only approx 150 colours in range. Great thing with Silk Mill is 500 colours in range.
    thks, happy stitching
    debbie

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  12. Hi, Debbie –

    If it doesn’t say on the brochure that it’s a filament silk, then it must say it on the website. That’s a specific bit of info I sought for high and low!

    AVS’s Soie d’Alger is a spun silk – which is often the case with a twisted, stranded silk. Needlepoint INC silk is spun, Caron Waterlilies is spun silk, Dinky Dyes is spun silk, etc., etc. Just because it’s made from the scraps doesn’t make it necessarily “bad” or “poor quality” silk – in fact, I would imagine the process takes an extra step or two to create the spun silk. It is true that spun silk is not as strong as filament, and it doesn’t have as high a sheen, but this look is somewhat desireable, I think, on many needlework projects. So spun silk definitely has its place and advantages, and is still a very worthy silk to use!

    I’m glad you like the Silk Mill silk, though! To tame the thread, you can use Thread Heaven (I don’t know if it’ll effect the sheen – you might try it to see if it does). The steaming does straighten it somewhat, but in comparison to other types of thread, even after steaming it lightly, it still has a bit of boing.

    Enjoy it! (I still need to place an order with them, but I’ve sworn off ordering new threads until the end of April!)

    MC

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  13. Mary, I just found this company on FB and saw a link for this post. I would very much be interested in ordering from them as well. Could you email me?

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  14. I tried these silk mill and I don’t like them: they slip from hands are not pretty when they are stitched : they rather look like Perlé threads and not silk flosses like Needlepoint for example. Not for me 🙁

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