In one of my embroidery stash give-aways, I asked readers what their favorite embroidery thread is. The majority said they use DMC because of the good color range and the availability. DMC makes good quality threads, and they actually produce more than just the 6-stranded floss that's so widely available.

For example, have you ever tried DMC floche? Floche is a non-divisible, long-staple, 5-ply cotton thread with a beautiful sheen. It's used for all kinds of applications, especially cutwork and surface work where heavy coverage is desired. It's the same thing as coton a broder (sometimes it's called floche a broder or cotton floche or floche coton a broder... ), except that you can usually special order coton a broder in a variety of sizes, all the way up to 40 (the finest). Coton a broder in other sizes than 16 usually comes in white or ecru. Floche comes in a good range of colors. If you want to see a really lovely example of a piece stitched with floche, check out Jeanne's post with her completed soft shading project on Just String. The project was worked with floche!



These buttonhole flowers were also worked with floche. Although floche is technically non-divisible (meaning you use the whole thread, you don't strip it into separate smaller strands like you do with regular stranded embroidery floss), with care, you can actually divide the plies, then blend them with another divided strand. Check out the pansies in the photo below. You can see a kind of creamy yellow blended in with the purple if you look closely!



Floche and regular stranded cotton are standard threads in my stash, and I use DMC stranded cotton pretty regularly. When I teach children's embroidery in the summers, I use DMC stranded cotton solely, because of its easy availability, its affordability, and the wide range of colors. With the kids, I also use DMC perle cottons (especially #5) regularly, since the thicker, non-divisible thread is easier for children to work with.

Finally, though, the news: DMC is coming out with a new thread, and I'm looking forward to trying it! It sounds enticing! It's a new specialty thread called Satin Floss, and it's supposed to be a nice smooth thread with a nice sheen. They're producing a 36-color palette, and the colors are nice! The thread is 100% rayon, but it doesn't look like the finicky rayon - it looks a bit more substantial. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm hoping to soon - at which time, I'll review it and give you some comparisons.

DMC is a tried-and-true embroidery company. It seems they're trying to "come of age" with embroiderers today by offering some more trendy projects and so forth to their repertoire. You can see some of these in local craft stores: the Linea projects that were popular a couple years ago, and other clothing / accessory embellishment projects. I'm rather more keen on the "old country" (France) DMC offerings! For example, I'd like to see certain threads become more widely available or easier to order here in the US - like the floche, which can only be found through some specialty shops.

Hedgehog Handworks is a good source for floche. You can order two different sized hanks from them, which is nice: a 32-yard twists made up of 21 strands 55" long ($1.25 each) or the standard 168-yard hank ($5.25 each).

DMC has a good website here in the US - DMC Creative World - which, from what I've heard, will be expanding with more informational and instructional items. I'm hoping to see more of their products on their DMC shopping pages some day, too, especially their specialty threads.

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery resources, pictures, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, April 25, 2008
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One of my goals this weekend was to sit down with the new Gilt Sylke Twist and try it out with different embroidery stitches. I didn't get very far, but at least I started!

First, I mused about what to embroider. I didn't want to work random stitches. The thread is a bit dear to use on random stitching. But then, I didn't want to spend a lot of time thinking up or sketching out a design, either. I just wanted to get to the stitching!

I had a piece of good linen already framed up that I was "trying" a different failed experiment on (more on that later), so I salvaged a corner of that, took a pencil, and drew whatever came to mind straight on the linen.



There's nothing too naturally accurate here - stylized leaves, an attempt at some sort of blossom, and a strawberry. Spring must be coming - I've had strawberries on my mind lately!

My plan was to embroider the strawberry in red GST, in satin stitch, with a lattice over it in pink GST. That's still my plan. I just didn't do the strawberry first, but I'm thinking I should have.



To get familiar with the GST, I thought I'd stitch a line of stem stitch. I began with a #7 hand-made Japanese needle, but I think it was too small. I switched to a #10, which seems a little big, especially when working the stitches in the picture below. But it was ok for the stem stitch.

You can see that the stem stitch is a bit on the wobbly looking side. It took me a bit to get used to the thread. It's quite stiff. I should have been a little more careful and a little more patient.

One you get used to the thread, though, it's great to work with. I don't suggest a "sewing method" with stem stitch. Take your thread all the way to the front, all the way to the back ("stab" method). I like the noise the thread makes passing through the fabric, actually. It's a barely there kind of zipper sound!



I'm pretty sure I'm working this out of proper order. But I wanted to lift the strawberry leaves above the strawberry itself, and to do that, I figured I'd have to stitch the leaves, leaving part of them detached, lift them up, and stitch the strawberry underneath. I now wonder if I've left enough room to manage that, but we'll see.

The middle leaf may be abandoned altogether. We'll see on that, too!



Here's a close-up, so you can see the sparkle. The Japanese #10 is not ideal for the detached buttonhole in a tiny space - it's too fat, in my opinion! I outlined the leaves in backstitch in a matching dark green, and couched the area of the outline of the leaf where I wanted to lift it up from the ground fabric. You can see the red couching stitches in the leaf outline on the right. After filling the leaves with the GST, I took a barely lighter green - one strand - and stem-stitched around the leaves to give them a finished edge. I whip-stitched the part of the outline that was couched, so that I could still lift the leaf off the ground fabric.



And that's a little bit of an angled close-up so you can see the dimension.

My plan from this point: finish the leaves, then do the strawberry (in padded satin stitch with a lattice over it). Some of the leaves will be long-and-short stitch with regular stranded silk, but I will probably edge them and add veins with the GST.

I haven't quite decided what to do with that ridiculous-looking "blossom" yet. I'm open to suggestions!

And the stems and vines will be worked in different line and chain-type stitches. The main stem, I think, will either be worked in chain stitch or in heavy chain stitch - or perhaps just a wider band of stem stitch worked as a filling, so that I can add some shading. We'll see!

More updates later - back to my needle and thread!

Labels: Gilt Sylke Twist, goldwork, needlework pictures, pictures, silk, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, March 31, 2008
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Thanks to Joey, I have two snippets of the red gilt sylke twist from the Plimoth Plantation 17th century jacket project. All I can say is ---- WOW.

This embroidery thread is exquisite. I could never have been prepared for the surprise, though, when I actually saw it. It's much, much tinier than I expected! It is an absolutely fine thread, tiny, about the size of a heavy duty quilting thread. I don't know how to measure the actual size of a thread, so that's the best I can do in comparison.

The Gilt Sylke Twist is a bit stiff (because of the gold) but not super-stiff. The red is gorgeous - really beautiful. This is the thing: I wound a snippet around a little stick to see how it might look satin stitched. I think... I think it would look stunning!

Although I was taken a-back at the fineness of the thread, I have to admit that I think I like it even more, having seen it, than I did just having seen close-up photos.

Here's a shot of the Gilt Sylke Twist next to a single strand of DMC cotton, so you can get an idea of the size.



I've already got a little "savings fund" set up for purchasing some of this thread when it comes available to the general public. I'm looking forward to its release! (In case you couldn't tell!)

Labels: historical needlework, pictures, silk, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, February 23, 2008
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Stash, glorious stash! If you dabble in needlework as a hobby or even as a "serious" pursuit, chances are, you've built a stash. That's a great part of the fun of needlework - setting in your supplies! It's also a part of the creative process - exploring new items, seeing how you can integrate them into your techniques, or just plain playing around with "stuff" because it looks fun! I love stash! But it has its downsides...

An obvious downside of stashing a lot of stuff is organization. Organization of supplies is a huge topic, and since most people have their own approach, it's kind of hard to go into it thoroughly. Suffice it to say, if you're going to invest in "stash," you should develop a system to keep it organized, so that you know what you have and can access it when you want it.

Another downside is that you can end up spending a lot of money, often unnecessarily, simply because something catches your eye. Oh golly. I've done that a lot. You can regulate this by setting up a "budget" for your hobbies. In your regular budget, make a little concession for your hobbies, and add to it a little at a time as you can. Then, when you have the opportunity for one of those "fun days out," when you go visit a favorite store (or even a website!), or you go explore a new store, you know how much you can spend and you are cautious about what you buy. Set your limits and don't go beyond them. Think of things you know you want or that you'll really use, and try not to get distracted by Peripheral Stuff. Avoid impulse buying, just for the sake of buying! You'll feel better later about your superior sense of self-control, and you'll avoid "buyer's remorse"!

All that having been said, I thought I'd share some photos of goods I added to my stash this past summer when I had the opportunity to visit a few needlework shops I had never been to. I'll also share with you a couple of observations and one big mistake!



Here's the general colorful pile. You can note the things in the pile that are typical of me, if you've read my website: silk floss (soie d'alger) in a couple colors I like and will use and some Caron Collections waterlilies (silk) and watercolors (cotton). There's also, in the far background, barely visible, some little white cotton lace trim, perfect for linens. Ribbons, ric-rac, and a big blob of Sari Silk yarn.... some of these were definitely impulse items, and one was just plain a big mistake!



The Sari Silk yarn was actually not a mistake - when I came across it at one shop, I was delighted, because I've wanted to play around with it for a while, but the one time I had tried to place an order for it, the place was out of it. So here it was in person, I could touch it, examine it up close, and consider seriously whether or not the $14.00 was worth it. I thought, in the long-run, it would be - if not for me, for one of my nieces who crochets or one who knits, or even for my mom. Is it suitable for embroidery? Well, I want to see how it couches, just out of curiosity. So I will do that someday!



These are Rajmahal Art Silks. I've never actually worked with this thread, but I've always wanted to. It's from Australia, in fact, and it isn't silk! When I came across it that fateful day, I was already familiar with what it is, and in fact, I had one skein on hand, and I figured this was a good opportunity to expand to a few, so that I could give them a good test.

This particular shop experience was one of "those" experiences. You can always tell what store clerks know or don't know about embroidery by certain things they say. In this particularly fine store, which focuses more on "unique" supplies, antique ribbons, and various antique needlework items - a beautiful and rather ritzy store - the clerk greeted us at the door with the "warm" enthusiasm of someone who would not mind taking the time showing us around, if she had to! She was dressed sleekly, in a skilled imitation of "haute couture" fashion. I was duly impressed and let her show me around, although I pretty much knew where my interests lay once I walked in. I asked if she were the owner - no, no. But she and the owner, she told me, are both artists - textile artists, actually. She pointed out several of the focal points of the shop, including antique buttons and beads, antique ribbons, "modern" ribbons, some fun trims, and whatnot. I wanted to take a closer look at the real antiques they had on display - a beautiful shawl all worked over in goldwork, and a fantastic Victorian crazy quilt behind glass, covered in gorgeous stitchery - and many other items of delectable interest! I asked if I could take pictures of the shop, and it was the first retail place where I'd ever been told "no." (Next time, I'll contact them in advance and speak to the owner instead of the clerk!)

Then, as she warmed up a bit and realized that I wasn't there to pilfer the shop or to ask "stupid questions," she asked me if I was a textile artist. Textile artist is a strange phrase - I wouldn't use it to describe me at all, because it's far to professional and polished, (especially when you're in a store like that!), and none of my degrees are in the study of textiles by a long stretch!
"No, I just dabble in embroidery," said I. "I'm particularly interested in goldwork."
"Oh," was her rather non-committal reply.
"That's why I wanted to take a photo of that shawl."
"What shawl?"
"The goldwork shawl?"
"I'm not exactly sure what you mean by goldwork."
So I explained. "I've never really heard of goldwork. I'm sure Gretchen has." (Apparently, the shop owner...)
Then I mentioned I like working with silk. "OOOHHH - we have some marvelous silk thread here." And she showed me .... the Rajmahal. "It's so nice. We use it for all our needlework. We love silk. And Gretchen swears by this brand because of the sheen." [I was chuckling internally by this time]... "Natural silk," she continued to explain, "has the highest sheen."
I was in awe of her knowledge. I showed my approval by selecting the three colors above, and by agreeing with her that the thread had an extraordinary sheen. Considering there were a few other folks in the shop, I didn't want to... you know, put her on the spot!

Then I went on to look at the various ribbons, and this is where I made My Big Mistake! And this is what I get for feeling so SMUG about the "natural" silk!



I explored the various typical but darling tiny ric-racs and trims, and bought a few of those, and I picked up a couple yards of the above trim, only because it was different and rather neat. I could see it used to trim out a little something at some point.

And then I saw this stuff:



Isn't it pretty? It really is pretty! I could see it trimming out a collar on a little girl's dress or blouse. And I fell in love with it. I'm not super "up" on ribbon, types of ribbon, and whatnot. I saw it, saw that it was beautiful, and wanted some. I glanced (key word - glanced) at the casing, on which I saw marked $1.10. I had just bought some $.80/yard ric-rac, some $1.00 / yard other stuff, and even, yes, some $2.50 / yard other stuff. So I saw that, and I thought, "Wow, it's so pretty - and so inexpensive!"



The whole ribbon is actually a composite of little ribbon pieces, put together very attractively so that they look like flowers and bows.



You can buy all the separate types of ribbon, actually, and make up your own composite ribbon, if you're game for it!

This specialty ribbon, I've since learned, is Mokuba ribbon. Mokuba is a company name synonymous with high quality trims in the fashion world. I might know my silk, but I don't know my ribbon!

I decided on a yard, of course - why not? And it also came in violet - so a yard of that, too. While the clerk cut the first yard (working behind the sign that clearly read, "All cuts final"), I continued to explore. She asked how much of the violet flowered trim I wanted. "Oh, a yard is fine." She hesitated. I wondered. She measured it out. And then she said (God bless her!) "Are you sure?" I suddenly figured it out. "How much is it?" I asked. "It's $1.10 an inch."

Oh well. I swallowed my pride. I declined the violet, but in all fairness, paid for the coral flowered trim, because, after all, all cuts were final. She was just doing her job - and she did save me from a SECOND $40 mistake. She explained that most "clients" didn't purchase even a yard at a time. Well, heck -- if you're not buying a yard of ribbon, what could you possibly be using it for??? I know, I know - little things.

As I checked out, trying not to visibly wince, I did manage to mention that Rajmahal is actually viscose - as it says on the tag - and not silk. But I did concede that it does indeed have an exceptional sheen!

Labels: miscellaneous embroidery musings, pictures, supplies, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, September 13, 2007
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Yesterday, I compared four kinds of silk used in hand embroidery. Here are some photos of a few stitches in each type of silk. I think it would be heaps of fun to work up an embroidery sampler using all my favorite silks - perhaps I need to add that to my list of things to do!

The first silk thread sample is worked in Soie Gobelins. I'm working on Edinburgh linen (36 count).



From left to right: straight stitch, which would be the equivalent of a satin stitch, if the thread filled the area. Gobelins is too fine to fill an equally spaced area on 36 ct. fabric. However, it makes great very fine lines - the two parallel lines show how it can be used to outline. The top line is stem stitch and the one below it is backstitch (Holbein stitch, actually). To show you the coverage for cross stitch, the second set of stitches on the left is cross stitch over two threads, and the tiny set right next to that is cross stitch over one thread. The last set of stitches on the right is chain stitch. The needle above the stitches (to give you some perspective on the stitches and the fabric) is a #9 crewel (it's pretty fine).



Here's the Soie Perlee. You can see that it fills the space better in the satin stitch on the left. To the right of the satin stitch is cross stitch worked over two. I think it's a bit bulky for that, but it certainly gives a good fill. It's far too bulky for cross stitch over one on 36 count fabric - shown are half-cross stitches (angled stitches over one thread). It works fine for backstitch (the bottom line) and stem stitch (the top line).



This is the separated Trebizond, worked in individual holes right next to each other. You can see what a nice satin stitch it make. I like the waves! On un-separated Trebizond, I could not stitch through the 36 count fabric without a bit of a real squeeze.



This is one ply of Soie de Paris, separated from the six-ply strand. It's about as fine as the Soie Gobelins. I think it's very nice for cross stitch over two on the 36-count fabric.



The Soie de Paris in one strand works great for chain stitch, too!

Labels: pictures, silk, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, July 05, 2007
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Hand embroidery worked in silk is beautiful, but there are so many silks out there to choose from! So here are some up-close photo comparisons of a few popular twisted silk threads: Soie Perlee, Trebizond, Soie Gobelins, and Soie de Paris.

Of the four silk threads mentioned above, Trebizond is the only one not made by Au Ver a Soie. It's imported into the States by Access Commodities.

So here's a photo of all four silk threads side-by-side. For a bit of a size reference, they're lying on Edinburgh linen (36 ct) and that's a #9 crewel needle in the fabric.



The finest of the four threads is Soie Gobelins, which is a 2-ply twisted silk. It's a filament silk, which means it's taken in long filaments straight from the cocoon, has a great lustre, and is strong. It comes in over 100 colors, the numbers of which match the Soie d'Alger color chart. It's great for counted thread work on higher count linens, and it works fine on plain ground fabric as well. I have a friend who uses it with a teeny, tiny crochet needle to hand-crochet lace, and it's beautiful! In size, it seems to me to be comparable to a strand of DMC, but the twist on it seems a little tighter, and it's a lot "smoother" to work with (when passing through the fabric). It fits in a #9 needle with a little room left over - a #10 crewel or embroidery needle would do as well. As with all four of these silks, it's a little bit "boingy" - but less so than the other three.

Soie Perlee is the next silk thread up on the list, and it's the next up in size of these four. It fits fine in a #9 needle. Soie Perlee is a 3-ply twisted filament silk. I would say it's comparable to a cotton perle #12. It comes in some 365 colors! It's a favorite for needlepoint and counted thread work, and can be used in regular surface embroidery embellishment, crazy quilting, and whatnot.

Here are the two above right next to each other:



Next up the line is Trebizond. It's nice stuff, a lot thicker than Soie Perlee. I've read some descriptions that say it's comparable to a #5 perle cotton. I'd put it somewhere between a #8 and a #5 in size. It works great on 25 count linen. I find it a bit of a squeeze on 36! It works well on 18 mesh canvas for needlepoint. It's a 3-ply silk, pretty "boingy" when you use it, but really a nice, nice thread.

Here's the Perlee and Trebizond side-by-side:



Finally, there's Soie de Paris, the last one up the line. This is a 6-ply silk, and it's divisible into individual plies. The individual plies seem slightly larger than the Soie Gobelins - but they may be the same size. You can stitch with one or more plies, just as you can with stranded cotton or silk. Soie de Paris doesn't seem as tightly twisted as Gobelins or Perlee. It's got a very narrow range of colors (around 75), and they correspond with the Soie d'Alger color chart, too.

Here's the Trebizond and Soie de Paris side-by-side:



The Soie de Paris is divisible, and here you can see the individual strands:



Amazingly enough, the Trebizond is divisible, too! Most people probably don't use it this way, but you can divide the Trebizond carefully, to produce a wavy flat silk thread. To separate, cut short lengths (no more than 12 inches, I'd say), and grasp one end of the thread between two fingers. Pick out one ply and pull it slowly out of the bunch, still grasping the "neck" of the other two plies. (The same way you separate stranded cotton or silk.)



You might wonder what the heck you can do with a thread that looks like that - but really, it's great for adding a different "look" to your satin stitching. The thing about silk is this: depending on how the light plays off it, it looks different. So if you satin stitch a small area with a wavy thread like this, you'll end up with a nice effect because of the way the light will play off the silk.

To follow up on this comparison, I'll show you some stitches worked in each of them, so stay tuned!

I've also written up a comparison of flat silks, if you're interested. I'll be working in another comparison of the flat silks this week, adding TESS (True Embroideries Sleave Silk - just like Piper's Silk) to the comparison.

Labels: pictures, silk, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, July 04, 2007
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Have you ever tried recycled silk for embroidery? I haven't - not yet, that is! Recycled silk is interesting stuff, and I think it would look neat couched on a piece of embroidery.

First of all, what is it? There are a lot of websites out there that are devoted to recycled silk and recycled silk products. Basically, the "leftovers" from the silk mills where fabrics are made (to use for saris, which come in a range of colors and patterns), which are taken and spun into a multi-colored yarn. The yarn is irregular, colorful, a little hairy, and sometimes rather "slubby," but it's the color and texture that makes it interesting and pretty stuff.

Recycled silk is used primarily for knitting and crocheting. But why can't it be used for embroidery, too? I doubt this question is original - I imagine there are heaps of needleworkers out there who have done just that. I think, to maintain its look, the yarn would have to be couched. Perhaps others use it differently, though. On the right sized mesh, it would probably work in needlepooint.

You can get recycled silk through many sources online, but the one that caught my eye was the Wool Peddler. I think it caught my eye, firstly, because of the name. It didn't match what I was looking for! Secondly, I like the logo on the site. Thirdly, they promise quality yarn, and they deliver quality yarn.... and, fourthly...



I like their pictures of the yarn!

So I've added recycled silk to my list of things to do, and one of these days, I'm going to give it a try. If you've worked with it, feel free to leave a comment and tell others what you like or don't like about it, or to share resources.

Labels: silk, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, June 22, 2007
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One thing I noticed when I was perusing various embroidery shops on the East Coast was that the ones I visited carried the full range of Needlepoint, Inc. Silk. So here's a little word about this silk thread...

Needlepoint, Inc. is a reeled filament silk (as opposed to a spun silk), which means that the individual fibers that make up the threads are longer and stronger. The luster of a filament silk is also greater than that of a spun silk. The threads are 8-ply, meaning they can be divided into 8 individual threads, and they come in 5 meter skeins (or really large hanks of 45 meters, for those BIG projects!). The company produces its own Chinese silk for its threads; they claim that they therefore have better control over quality and over availability, which makes sense.

What I like about the Needlepoint, Inc. threads is that the shades are carefully graded, so that you can easily select from the color card or the rack a series of colors (say blues, for instance) that will blend into the next lighter or darker shade really nicely.

When comparing the Needlepoint, Inc. silks to Au Ver a Soie's Soie d'Alger, this is what I found:

1. Needlepoint, Inc., silk is slightly more expensive - averaging around $3.80 - $4.00 / 5 meter skein, whereas Soie d'Alger averages around $3.40 - $3.75.

2. Needlepoint, Inc., silk has one more ply per strand, which means you are getting a little more thread in 5 meters.

3. Needlepoint, Inc., comes in 476 colors, whereas Soie d'Alger comes in over 600 colors.

4. Needlepoint, Inc., is "softer" thread - it does not have the same body as Soie d'Alger, and the twist seems somewhat looser

5. In my opinion, Soie d'Alger has a "richer" sheen to it.

For stitchability, Soie d'Alger always wins out with me. It may be because I'm used to it. I do use a variety of threads, though - and I do like stitching with the Needlepoint, Inc., silks. Still, I seem to get better results, and a smoother stitching experience, with the Soie d'Alger.

If you're looking for a pretty good silk, I don't think you can go wrong with the Needlepoint, Inc. silks. Try not to be bothered by their label - it's bright yellow and can really be a turn-off at first glance (like a whole rack of defective clearance items - not that I have anything against clearance items, but that much yellow on a display of colors is a bit annoying!)



If you want to see what colors they have available, check out the Needlepoint, Inc. color card. You can also browse the Needlepoint, Inc. website for needlework items, primarily (as the name implies) needlepoint. The most intriguing part of the website, in my opinion, is the furniture section - some really ambitious and beautiful stuff in there!



If you want to find out if there's a store near you that carries Needlepoint, Inc. silk, they have a convenient store locator online as well.

As soon as my camera's back, I'll post some photo comparisons!

Labels: embroidery resources, silk, supplies, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, June 19, 2007
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When I stop in at a needlework shop, the most difficult thing to do is to leave without buying anything! While on vacation this summer, I visited a few shops and added to my embroidery stash. When I buy new threads, fabrics, kits, or patterns - anything, actually - I try to make certain I'm buying stuff I actually WILL use. So I'd like to share a few finds with you. Perhaps they aren't too extraordinary, but they're beautiful threads!

Since the shops I visited in the Southeast focused mainly on needlepoint or counted thread techniques, the threads I picked up are highly suited to those techniques. For the first time, I got to feeeeel some threads that I've read about but have never come across in shops.



Here's a rather disorganized pile of all the embroidery goods I bought: Silk 'n Ivory, Vineyard Silk, Soie d'Alger, good ole cotton perle, ribbon floss, Rachelette by Caron, a couple little kits, and some stretcher bar, which aren't pictured!



Vineyard Silk is a Chinese silk that's produced in thicknesses suitable for needlepoint, but its use is not limited to needlepoint! It's an excellent, lustrous substitute for the traditional wools used in Jacobean or crewel embroidery, and would do well, I think, in any surface embroidery where you want a thicker thread. If you want to read about Vineyard Silk and see what's available in their line, check out the Vineyard Silk website. The classic colors are fantastic, and the subtle shades are perfect for long and short stitch flowers, etc.



Silk 'n Ivory is one of those threads I've longed to see up close and feel, but haven't had the opportunity to do so until now. Again, another thread good for needlepoint, but not limited to needlepoint. Silk 'n Ivory is a 50% wool, 50% silk thread, non-divisible and twisted. It has a nice sheen (not as much as the 100% silk threads, but very close), and it comes in a fantastic color range. It's distributed by a company called Brown Paper Packages, and is Swiss in origin. They also distribute the thread Trio, which is similar to Silk 'n Ivory, but it is divisible.



I probably don't need to explain Soie d'Alger by Au Ver a Soie, as I write about it quite often. But for those of you who are not familiar with this fine silk thread, it is French in origin, and possibly the best silk on the market. It comes in 5 meter skeins of 7-ply thread, one strand being about the same size as one strand of DMC stranded cotton. The difference between the silk and the cotton is the beautiful natural sheen of the silk, which will last for generations and generations. Soie d'Alger is a very strong silk; it doesn't fray easily and is great for any embroidery project. It's produced in well over 600 colors, so you can imagine the variety of color and the subtle shades you can achieve in your needlework with this thread! I just love the stuff.



Here's a jumbled little pile of DMC #5 perle cotton. I guess it's not something that you'd go "WOW" over, since it's pretty commonly available everywhere. But I liked these colors, and I use the #5 perle in my summer embroidery classes for kids, so... I bought a bunch of it in colors I knew they'd like. Their first project this summer is embroidery notebook covers worked on wool felt, so these threads will be great for that.



You may be wondering what ribbon floss is, and I will tell you truthfully that I'm wondering the same thing. I gather it's a floss that looks like ribbon, or a ribbon that behaves like floss, or something along those lines! I've never used it before, and, as you can see, I haven't even unwrapped the packages yet, but it intrigues me, so I'll have fun trying it on something. It's rayon, which could be a big drawback, as rayon threads can be a pain to work with. But given the general width of the floss (or ribbon?), I don't think it will boing up the way other rayon does. It apparently is comparable to one full (6 strands) of DMC, size-wise, and it works like ribbon, with the flexibility of floss. We shall see! I imagine it makes a pretty good accent thread for any kind of project.



I thought the Rachelette by Caron looked like a cross between funky and gorgeous. It's a nylon thread, with an outer net-like thread over it, and it's got a metallic sparkle to it. Another item which will make neat accents in the right place on the right kind of piece.




And finally, I bought two little kits - The Sweetheart Tree makes some really pretty counted thread kits. They aren't all cross stitch; many incorporate specialty stitches as well. I had such plans for these little gems! I didn't take any needlework along with me, so I bought these at the beginning of my trip. The only thing the kits lack is scissors. So I bought a pair of those, too. Anyway, I left the kits behind me in Florida when I left, so as I was sitting on my balcony in Charleston, overlooking the water and enjoying the evening views, I couldn't do one stitch of anything! My sister kindly mailed them home to me. Ah well - that's life!

So those are some fun new supplies I've picked up. If anyone's used any of these threads, I'd love to hear whether or not you like them, how you use them, and if there's anything out there you prefer to them!

Labels: embroidery resources, pictures, supplies, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, June 15, 2007
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