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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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Hank, I Love You!

 

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Dear Hank,

I’ve never told anyone how much I love you!

Silk Embroidery Floss Hanks

You’re so handsome. You’re so substantial!

And your longevity is second to none.

Silk Embroidery Floss Hanks

You’re humble. You don’t put yourself forward.

Many people don’t even know you exist.

Silk Embroidery Floss Hanks

Compared to the little guys…

Silk Embroidery Floss Hanks

… you’re such a hunk, Hank!

Silk Embroidery Floss Hanks

You alone fulfill all my needs.

Silk Embroidery Floss Hanks

I love you, no matter what your mood.

When the trials of life loom large, I know I can always count on you, Hank!

You’re my one and only!

Silk Embroidery Floss Hanks

Next time you’re working on a large embroidery project – especially with more specialized threads (vs. standard stranded cottons) – check with the manufacturer to see if their threads come in hanks as opposed to skeins. Hanks are substantially larger than skeins. They can save you money, time, and worry. Money: the per-yard or per-meter price of thread in a hank usually works out to quite a bit less than the same per skein. Time: you’re not likely to run out of the color as quickly, if at all – saving you shopping time and waiting time. Worry: when you order a hank, all the thread in the hank comes from the same dye lot, so you don’t have to worry that there might be slight variations in shades, especially if the thread is hand-dyed.

Soie d’Alger, which is the silk I’m using for the ecclesiastical project I’ve been working on, comes in 5 meter pull skeins and 45 meter hanks. Retail, the 5-meter pull skein runs anywhere from $4.30 – $4.50. The special order hank, which has 9 times more thread to it, runs $28 – $30, which is a savings of of at least $10 for the same quantity of silk.

So the next time you’re working on a large project that will require a lot of the same color of thread, check with the manufacturer (or your local needlework shop owner) to see if the thread is available as a hank. You’ll probably have to special order it, but once you’ve got it, you’re set for a long time!

Then you’ll understand why I love Hank so.

But I don’t mind sharing him with you!

If you’d like access to all the tips and techniques discussed in the Medallion Project, including complete step-by-step coverage of the Tudor-Style Rose, conveniently collected in one document, interlinked, referenced, and indexed, why not add the Marian Medallion Project e-book to your library? It’s packed full of all kinds of embroidery tips for undertaking a project like this, all in a convenient electronic format for easy searching.

 
 

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(13) Comments

  1. Ha..HA..Ha..!!!
    Funny, funny :)Such humour, early in the morning! Sure your going to have a nice day. You’ve put a smile on my face as I near the end of my work day.

    So true…. always cheaper when you buy a larger quantity. I also find the thread is much smoother in the hanks.

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  2. G’day there Mary,
    Thanks muchly for this fun and tantalizing introduction to a really neat, umm…bloke.
    Pleased to meet you Hank. You can probably yodel too, eh?
    Cheers, Kath

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  3. Very funny! I can’t order from Access Comm, where I guess you’d get these hanks from. They don’t sell retail. Do you think another source would have them available to non businesses? I can do the research, I’m just being lazy! Thanks again for a great blog.
    Audrey

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    1. Hi, All! Thanks for your comments!

      You can order hanks of Soie d’Alger from any retail shop that sells goods from Access Commodities. In any case, you’ll have to special order them, because most shops (I don’t know of any, actually) don’t stock hanks. So, Hedgehog Handworks … Needle in a Haystack … Fireside Stitchery – any of them can special order hanks for you.

      ~MC

  4. Whaaa! Mary, he told me his name is Henry and he’s all mine! But then I’ve found out he’s also referred to as Silky by some soooo I guess he gets around – what a guy!

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  5. Goodness, I come for the stitching. I had no idea I was going to interrupt such a private moment, Mary, between you and Hank. 😉

    But you’re right. He sounds like a hunk. Here’s hoping you’re not ‘stringing’ him along.

    Claire

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  6. LOL! I was just carressing the 50g hank of DMC Coton a Broder no. 30, colour: B5200 that I ordered from Italy, it is literally still in my hands as I just opened the mail. You are not Hank’s only girl!

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