Today’s give-away came about in a funny way.
I had already decided to do this 12 Days of Christmas series of give-aways, and had drummed up quite a bit of generous and enthusiastic participation from designers, needlework retailers and manufacturers, tool-makers and so forth.
One day, while in the midst of working out the details, I received an e-mail from a reader who had a question about Japanese flat silk. Since the question was a scientific-practical combination one regarding silk, I recommended the reader to contact Michael Cook of Wormspit, who knows a lot about silk. The reader wrote to Michael, who then forwarded the question to me. While we were going in circles, Michael and I struck up a conversation, and he told me about a whole collection of Japanese silk that he had received from Julie Mar, a needlepoint designer.
It so happened that Michael had surplus silk and he was trying to come up with a clever way of getting the silk into the hands of people who would benefit from it, appreciate it, and use it to its full potential. I told him about the 12 Days of Christmas, and he jumped on board!
So, today, thanks to Michael Cook of Wormspit, and Julie Mar of Julie Mar Designs, we have two collections of Japanese flat embroidery silk to give away!
These are full spools of flat Japanese silk, still wrapped in plastic and never used. There are 18 spools in the first collection in the give-away, and 12 spools in the second collection. The photo above and immediately below belong to the first collection in the give-away.
Gorgeous, isn’t it?
While the first collection contains primarily purples, with some golds and greens, the second collection is a range of blues, pale turquoises, and plummy pinks and purples.
I love the blue-greens on the left – they remind me of a tropical ocean (a very nice thing to think about during cold Kansas winters!).
Both winners of today’s give-away will also receive a copy of the pamphlet, “How to Use Flat Silk.” If you’ve never stitched with flat silk before, this will come in handy. The pamphlet is geared towards using flat silk in Japanese embroidery, primarily.
For today’s give-away, the first name drawn will receive the 18 spool collection of flat silk, and the second name drawn will receive the 12 spool collection.
Give-Away Instructions
To enter today’s give-away for one of the two sets of Japanese embroidery silk shown above, please read and follow these simple instructions!
1. Leave a comment at the end of today’s article. If you click on that link, it will take you directly to the comment area, so that there are no mishaps! Comments delivered via e-mail or on other articles will not be included in the give-away.
2. In your comment, answer the following question:
What attracts you to the idea of working with flat silk? Is it the sheen and beauty of the thread? The challenge of working with it? The mere fact that it’s silk? Any of the above, all of the above, or other?
3. Make sure you leave a recognizable name either in the body of your comment, or on the “name” line above the comment box. For example, if your name happens to be Bella, you might include a last initial or a location to differentiate yourself from the other Bellas out there (example: Bella in Bellevue.).
4. Leave your comment before January 9th, 2012, at 5:00 am Central Standard Time (Kansas, USA!). All winners for this series will be selected on January 9th, and announced that day here on Needle ‘n Thread. You’ll have to check back on January 9th to see if you’ve won, because the winners will need to contact me within 3 days to claim their prizes. The Give-Away is Now Closed. Thanks for your interest!
Merry Third Day of Christmas!
Please do not panic if your comment does not show up immediately. All comments are moderated in the order in which they come in, and they will eventually be posted. If you are looking for your comment, please use the “older comments” and “newer comments” links at the top of the comments section. These will take you through all the comments pages, from newest to oldest.
I would just love to win one of these prizes, because I have never tried flat silk before, and although it would be a challenge, I could don some gloves to prevent it snagging. What attracts me is the lustrous sheen which would add so much to some of the projects I would like to tackle.
Hi Mary,
I think that the challenge of working with the thread and the opportunity to learn something new are the big attractions for me.
The beauty and the sheen definitely contribute to the appeal, but the learning opportunity is the reason I am entering the draw.
Heather (from Ontario)
OMG!!! Look at the silk!!! Oh I love those teal shades. Teal is my absolute favorite color and those are making my mouth water. Several years ago I saw a Shay Pendry episode where she was working with japanese flat silks. i thought the piece was absolutely gorgeous and the sheen of the silks were fantastic. I’ve flirted with the idea of getting some of the silks but could never really come up with sufficient justification to buying what i didn’t know how to use. That being said, If i get lucky enough to win these silks I would use them on the monograms for my granddaughters.
Jugding from what you’ve gifting for these first three days of Christmas once we get to the first day, we’ll all be on sensory overload with wanting and you’ll have so many entries it’ll take a bushel basket to hold them….lol….Thank you Mary and thanks to Michael Cook for giving them to you for us!
sharyn in Cincinnati
Hi Mary,
I love all silk for the beauty of it’s sheen and the color. I’d love to try using the flat silk because I recognize that the effect would be different from any of the other more twisted silks I’ve used in stitching. Both collections contain some of my favorite colors.
Lee C.
I just am delighted with the 12 days of Christmas. Today is very exciting in that silk is a thread that I would like to take to the design not only for its sheen, texture and ease of stitching, but the colors are distinct and bright and almost 3-D! It would be something to win this give a-way!
Oh my gosh! Such glorious colors! I would love a chance to win this. I have been reading your site for a few years now. Oh you are my hero. So brave to start new things. So adventurous with the fibers you use! You are my needlework idol! I would love to branch out and this would be something that would braver about doing so!
Regardless of winning or not, you will remain my needlework idol!
it is the sheen and beauty of the thread
I’d like to try the flat silk to see how it differs in appearance from other silk and to learn to use a laying tool.
I’m taking Japanese Embroidery lessons an d love working with flat silk. It gives a whole different dimension to a piece. And you can use it so many ways – either flat or twisted in so many different ways. I’d love to add these to my supply.
hello again Mary,
I like the lay of the silk on the ground. I like how one thread can either be one of many threads side by side or itself, a stroke of color. JoanB
Having never used flat silk but would love to try it. Such beautiful colors!
I love using silk thread for applique’ but have never seen or used flat silk and would love to give it a try. What brilliant colors.
I love silk! I applique with silk thread and I embroider with silk floss but have never tried flat silk. I’d love to be a winner of this give-away.
Mary, I would have to say “all of the above”! I’m going into a completely new realm of stitching here. Both sets are gorgeous! I want to thank you, Michael and Julie for ALL the possibilities that come with threads like these.
Those colors are SO incredible! BUT I’m glad there’s a pamphlet with it!!
Joyce Harrison
What attracts me to using flat silk? All sorts of things – most definitely the sheen, and I do love working with silk, both fabric and threads. There is NOTHING like it. My mum went out the other day with a ‘commission’ to buy me some silk fabric and came back saying, ‘I didn’t get it dear – it’s very expensive so I got you a sample of this artificial silk that’s half the price.’ I’m sure I don’t need to tell you it was hopeless. 🙂 Nothing like the real thing.
Japanese embroidery is something I’ve had one tiny go at, in a very short taster workshop with the wonderful Midori Matsushima – it’s on the long, long list of things I’d like to do more of and if I won this I would definitely be kicked in to gear and start something off!
Flat silk is gorgeous. The colours are so vibrant and it looks wonderful.Not the easiest thread to work with especially if your hands are rough but well worth the effort. I’d love to win a set. Japanese embroidery is mind blowing!
What attracts me to this silk is the sheen…this is like bling for needlework!!
Thanks for the lovely contest Mary…Merry Christmas!
Hi Mary,
my answer would be “All of the above”.
I love to try it on a fan design or a kimono or just pure and simple japanese flower design..Thank you.
Françoise Y. Beauchamp
Mafyb Créations Textiles
Bois-des-Filion, Québec, Canada
I am a beginner when it comes to working with flat silk. I love the color and feel of the silk which is why I am trying to learn how to use it. I have enrolled in a correspondence course with EGA to improve my skills. This give away got my attention!! Thanks for the opportunity!
I love the beautiful shiny colours of flat silk, the way the light catches the surface of the stitches. It gives a magical quality to quite simple stitches. I really admire Japanese embroidery.
But I have yet to try out working with this type of thread! So I would really enjoy the challenge of using some beautiful silk threads.
All the best for the New Year.
The beauty of the threads is the attraction to me. It would be a challenge to use the threads since I have limited experience with flat silk thread. But the thread is beautiful and would be a joy to work with.
The colors actually remind me of the beautiful shades we see at sunrise and sunset here in the southwest and the color intensity of desert flowers.
I know how wonderful it is to work with silk threads but I have never used flat silk. How beautiful are the colours – like a garden full of summer flowers – and the sheen just like the sun shining on those flowers. How dreamlike it would be to produce a piece of embroidery using such sumptiousness.
I’ve never used flat silk, and would love the opportunity to learn. Thanks for the chance!
The sheen says it all for me, not to mention the rich colors! I would like to use then in my peacock feather project : )
all the above, i have never used silk thread. it would be a great opporunity to try it.
Joanie M in W TN
Good Morning! What attracts me to this is working with these colors in silk and the texture/beauty created in the finished design. Thank you.
What a beautiful selection of silk! I would love to try it having never used it before…love the sheen and the colors. Would be a challenge, I imagine, the first few times of working with it. Trying to imagine it being flat…maybe like a tiny ribbon?
what wonerful colours, I could do a thousand things with these silks. I can feel the texture already.
I love the sheen and soft feel of silk threads.
I have read your posts on working with flat silk and it sounds a little daunting but I have never been one to shy away from a new technique in needlework. And I just made a new batch of lotion and tried a new oil that is really wonderful for keeping my hands smooth so I’d love to try working with the flat silk.
Have never used flat silk and would like to learn to use it.
Happy Third Day Mary.
I’m having so much fun with this! My answer to today’s question is: ALL OF THE ABOVE!!
I have been attracted to the flat silks for quite some time. The physical beauty has grabbed me … I love the challenge I would face in working with it … and, of course, working with silk is satisfying and the results it renders are beautiful. And, Oh, the colors!
I’m going to use LOTS of hand cream for the next few weeks just in case I’m chosen to receive this one. Can’t have any rough spots snagging the precious fiber.
Thanks, Mary! 🙂
G’day Mary…
…And good on you Michael and Julie.
Yes, the fact that it’s silk, and is natural. Enjoyed raising silkworms as a kid and the fascination remains. And the memory of Mum’s mulberry pies and jams off the same tree.
I’d like to use flat silk for all the reasons you named, plus one more. It’d make me go to the manicurist more often! I need that external push to pamper myself.
I have never seen this type of thread. The colours in both sets are amazing . It would be an experience to use the thread.
G’day Mary, woops, sorry, should be in bed but…my comment just now, forgot to sign off!
So, cheers, Kath from Oz.
Can these Christmas gifts get any more exciting? It just makes me sing inside to know such beauty is out there. Whoever wins this will be one lucky person. Good luck to everyone!
Dear Mary, To me it is definitely the sheen and the beauty of silk. With the soft sheen it brings anything you embroider to life. The way it catches the light which makes it appear that you have used more than one shade of a colour, is an added bonus. Looking at the prize I can just sigh in admiration.
Kind regards, Elza Bester,Cape Town
I have never worked with flat silk before, but am intrigued. I am learning embroidery for my 18th century costuming. I also work with knotting shuttles, and want to try making fly fringe with it. I would love to win a set!
Hi Mary,
I have never worked in Japanese flat silks before – they appeared to be very challenging to use, but the colours and sheen are truly beautiful. It would be great to experiment. Your 12 days of Christmas are certainly broadening my outlook. Thank you.
Jenny
gorgeous colors!
i’ve never used silk to embroider but i’d like to try. we used to have a store in the local mall called ‘the jade tree’ ; i’d go in there just to lust after all the beautiful silk embroideries.
thanks
Mary,
I’ll be dreaming about these silks. Gorgeous looking.
I started working with silk on a project kitted up by a local shop. Had always thought silk was expensive, but it was $5 difference on the kit. And I was hooked!
Love the look and feel of silk. Have been noticing how different one silk is from another, and learning to appreciate them. Haven’t really worked with flat silk and want to give it a try. Yes, the lustre attracts me. (One of the things I like about Caron Waterlilies & Soie Cristale). Yes working with it will be a challenge — avoiding snags.
You’ll be making two people very happy, while the rest of us drool.
Hi Mary, To be honest, the only thing that attracts me to the silks is the amazing colours. I have never worked in the medium or even know how to work in it. So maybe having a book to teach me and having the silks would go a long way to getting me hooked. Love this 12 Days of Christmas! Makes us look at alot more stuff then we would normally! Anne Lemke Durban, RSA
My answer: All of the above! Thank you Mary, Michael Cook of Wormspit and Julie of Julie Mar Designs.
I love working with silk on a silk dupioni ground because it looks so elegant. Japanese silk is an item I’ve had my eye on, but not yet tried. I would love to win either of these collecgtions.
Oh my, these are just fabulous silks!! I can see a LOT of beautiful projects coming out of these.
I’ve worked with silk once before and love its sheen and color. It is a bit of a challenge, especially with winter-rough hands, but so beatiful! This collection would be a treasure.
It is all of the above. The sheen and the beauty – I love working with flat silk – I do twist it when required, but like best to work with it flat, and when finished it looks so shining and gorgeous – a special reward.
Peggy of Thornbury.
Hmm-my computer hiccuped right before I hit “submit my comment” so here it goes again! I intended to embroider my husband’s wedding vest with silk–a first project–but got inimidated and ran out of time, so it didn’t get done. He tells me that I still owe him a vest! Before I try that though, I would try something small–maybe for my new step son and his wife who have both traveled in China and Japan. A vest was maybe too ambitious for a first attempt!
The blues are absolutely gorgeous! I’m so glad that silk was able to make the 12 days give away! It makes any work done with it brighter. I love the texture and sheen of the silk. I have been wanting to make some Japanese art for my younger sister who is in love with the culture. But never had the guts to try it because I wasn’t for sure how to work with it.
The silk is gorgeous. I have never worked with flat silk and am always interested in learning new things and enhancing my stash.
What draws me to working with silk is the fancy nature of the materials. Silk makes even the most mundane subject matter seem somehow more rich.
Happy 3rd day!
My answer to today’s question would be “all of the above” AND I have never done embroidery in silk and would love to learn. The instructions for learning to embroider with flat silk would be a great help to a stumbling beginner like me, who is a bit intimidated by the idea of working in silk.
Thanks so much,
Vivian M.
LOVE SILK – my fav thread/ribbon to work with. Its the sheen and the feel of it that I love – oh and vibrancy of the colors!
All of the above and another major reason : unlike any other thread, flat silk directly reflects your inner calmness or turmoil – it teaches me many things, it is a meditative process, a way to reflect on the day’s activities, focus on the important, forgive and forget the rest. It had taught me much and most of all in it’s aplendour it has taught me thankfulness for all the things that make up our world.
N.
Oh, Mary! What beautiful colors! and in Silk! I love the colors, the shine, the feel… everything about them!!! It was so very nice of Michael Cook and Julie Mar to offer them. I would love to have the chance to embroider with such lovely thread.
I love the sheen of the silk and would love to enhance my stash.
Hi Mary!
Gorgeous threads.I love those blues.
The challenge of working with flat silks attracts me more.I’m planning to learn Japanese embroidery soon,so if I’m lucky enough to win this maybe I’ll use it while learning.Thank you Mary for this give away.Also thanks to Michael Cook and Julie Mar.
Anita-MM
How luxurious! One of my favorite things to stitch is Sashiko–great to see the Japanese pattern affiliated with this give away. I’ve used silk thread for applique. Love how it buries itself into the folds of the fabric.
Wow – those colours and that sheen! Silk is challenging to stitch but the results are just so beautiful. I have never used Japanese flat silk but I would love to try.
The challenge of working with this silk is definitely the attraction. There is nothing as beautiful as a well-executed piece made with flat silk. The effort to master this is well worth it.
Hello Mary,
Another fantastic giveaway..I could not believe my eyes when I saw the beautiful silk.
Everything about silk attracts me, I only own black silk to work blackwork patterns and I would love to try other projects with silk.
Good luck to all of us, this is a great giveaway. Thank You.
France from Canada.
I would love to try the Japanese silk! I love quilting with silk so I can just imagine how embroidering in silk would be. And of course, the colors you have are just yummy.
What attracts me to work with flat silk is the sheen, the softness of the beautiful colors, & the challenge of doing something I haven’t done before. Thank you for presenting the information & the possibility!
Thank you for your giveaway. It is fun to see what it will be every day. I would like to try silk primarily because of reading your posts. I can’t afford to invest in it right now, but it looks beautiful. I would have to say that the shine and smoothness of it would be what attracts me. Also, the whole concept that my work has graduated into something that deserves to be done with quality materials.
What attract me to flat silk threads is the beauty that it displays for the greater honor and glory of God when on vestments used for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Nothing more beautiful or breath-taking!
the colours are beautiful. what a unique opportunity! thanx for offer your dedicated readers a chance to win.
I’ve been using silk ribbon embroidery thread lately and would love to accent this with silk thread…thanks for this opportunity
Hi mary, i’m mary varma and i’m from india. Thanks for such a lovely & beautiful gift for the 3rd day of christmas. I’d really love to win it as you had said it the mere fact that its silk that gives the thrill, and the sheer beauty and softness of silk makes it even more appealling. Thank you for the phamplet on how to use the silk, because i have no expirence in using it, but i would love to learn how to use it. Thanks again for this great gift which i’m hoping to win. Thank you
I am attracted to the idea of working with flat silk for its sheen and beauty. I Also appreciate the experience needed to learn to use flat silk well. Michael, thank you for your generosity!
I remember the trouble you had with this silk and gardeners fingers! My attraction to flat silk is the luster and sheen. It’s richness and changeability make it perfect for a project which changes with light.
I’ve been conquering kalocsa and buzaki Hungarian embroidery the last few months and really enjoy working satin stitch. I have recently been to Japan, and I’d be very interested to work traditional patterns in the traditional materials, of flat silk. It’s a really beautiful material.
Wow! This just gets better and better!SILK! I love working with silk fibers and am so excited about these flat silks! I wonder how they will be to work with? So far, I’ve used silk thread from Clover, YLI, and got off Ebay from India. Hair of my mermaids and the Queen were done in silk and I love the sheen and softness of the threads. It would be glorious to work a bird in the colors shown I’m thinking…
Silk! Silk! I love how it shines when properly laid. A friend is working on Japanese embroidery and her work is beautiful! It is a challenge though, especially in the winter in Illinios. But so worth the effort!
The attraction of using flat silk is because of the sheen. I’ve used black flat silk to stitch hair. It was beautiful! The shine is fabulous and it is much easier to use than I had expected. I have a spool of green flat silk to use someday but it is hard to find here unless I mail order, which I hesitate to do since picking colors is difficult sight unseen. So this would be a great treat to use and to share with my stitching friends.
What beautiful threads! Thanks to you, Michael Cook & Julie Mar for these beautiful threads.
I’m exploring all facets of embroidery. I fell in love with this beautiful thread while following your posts about the Marian medallion project. It’s a challenge I’m eager to explore.
“Is it the sheen and beauty of the thread? The challenge of working with it? The mere fact that it’s silk?” For me, the answer would have to be “all of the above.”
Phyllis
The sheen is what I love about flat silk — the difficulty/frustration is what has held me back! Perhaps it is time to get over that and just jump in!
I enjoy the feel and look of wonderful silk. After 65 years old, I need monthly challenges to keep my brain working. Learning to use flat silk for my sampler would do the job.
It’s SILK! that’s what attracts me, and those yummy colors – wow! Beautiful shading, I can see. As I do love anything to do with thread, AND the fact that they are silk – double win! 🙂 karen gass
Work with silk is so beautiful! I just love silk anyway but would welcome the challenge of trying the flat silk in the beautiful colors. Thank you for such a wonderful offering!
Mary,
What gorgeous threads! I definitely LOVE the beauty of the colors and the sheen- the way the threads shimmer once applied to fabric. What a lovely giveaway! Thank you
Peg F. in NJ
Of course my first thought was “shiny” — and my second and third, too, but that’s because my brain is still in pre-coffee fog. Using flat silk would bring some of my historic embroidery closer to the original look and feel and would be a delight to get to use.
Hi Mary
Yet another wonderful give-away! Silk has to be the embroiders dream material. I have not often used it but when I have it is heavenly to work with and the effect is spectacular – probably because it is a natural fibre and gives that dream sheen – what more can one say! Luv it!
Thanks
Eleanor – Isle of Man
SILK, SILK, even the name sounds wonderful. I have used YLI silk, and loved the sheen. I am hoping to win today, so that I can try flat silk. Thanks to your generous gift givers, a couple of us will be able to do just that.
Wow!! I’m sitting here drooling on my keyboard. Gorgeous threads! I would love to win this!! I’m trying to teach DGD (age 10) to sew and embroider. This would be a wonderful new skill to teach her.
Becky in upstate SC
bmgilliam@bellsouth.net
The attraction I have for the flat silk is the beauty of it and the look it achieves when used in embroidery. The first set of silks just happen to be in my favorite colors also. I would love to have the opportunity to use them.
Donna D in Arkansas
I have done embroidery work for many years but it has only been in the last year that I wanted to use silk. It has a gorgrous shine and the feel of silk is an experience in itself. The colors in silk also seem to be more vibrant which I love.
Oh silk! I LOVE SILK! I’ve never worked with flat silk before and I would love to try it.
The sheen and color is what attracks me to wanting to work with it. The colors are so beautiful! I’m so glad that you didn’t make us pick which one is our favorite, that would be a very difficult choice.
Hi Mary and everyone!
For me, it’s the luscious shine that makes the colours so strong and bright. Glorious! The only trouble with one of these packs would be that I would then want to get a goodly number more to complete a palette….
Silk is like wearing your very best dress to a fabulous party! Being adept at laying it into fabric would be a new and interesting challenge for me. The smoothness just begs to be touched by the eye. The colors are fabulous. These will indeed be lucky winners! Thanks for the try. Chris Beresford from Michigan
Oh, my!! My love of silk goes back to my parent’s living in Thailand and being friends with Jim Thompson who took Thai silk from a small production to a business for export. I grew up with raw silk curtains and adore the sturdiness, imperfections, feel, and colors that come from “insect made” silk. I watch videos of it being made and still can not believe that it is possible. I covet the pieces handed down to me by my parents.
The colors of the silk thread sing joyously to me. I would stare at the colors and glow of the threads for hours. For a project, I would use the silk threads on two projects. I am designing a crazy quilt with silks and much embroidery work to keep me occupied for the next 40 years! And, for my stump work beetles, dragonflies and bugs (of course).
This flat silk thread looks just gorgeous! I have never yet worked with silk, but would really like to learn how to do it, as I love the colours and the sheen and I appreciate the quality of the material. Wouldn’t it be great if I could win this?
You had me at “silk”. This was the gateway to a new world of embroidery-the sheen and the deep colors just sucked me in! Using silk has improved all my stitching as I slow down and enjoy the process and resuts. Praise the caterpillar and bless all the workers!
I did Japanese Embroidery years ago and have just started doing it again. I love working with flat silk – especially as you say the sheen, beauty and feel of it. There is so much you can do with it – flat or twisted.
Never having worked with silk before I would love the challenge but the colors and sheen of the threads are what attract me the most. Beautiful.
Would love to learn how to and use flat silk.
Thanks once again, Mary
What an exciting gift, Mary. Honestly, getting up each morning to read the next “Day” of Christmas, is better than being a child in front of a row of penny candy 🙂 (Ooops! No such thing as penny candy anymore, I’ll be bound. But back to your question, I think what draws me to the idea of working with silk is my lifelong fascination with the whole idea of wearing something that a worm spun. When I was a very little girl I remember hearing about silk worms, and though I am sure my memory could be flawed, I believe I recall that they eat the leaves of the mulberry tree. I have a silk robe that is from when I was much smaller that I keep thinking I might cut for a project one day. Wouldn’t it be great to use it to form the framework around my first flat silk embroidery if I were to be the winner?
Flat silk – wow! I’ve never worked with flat silk but have always wanted to – this would be my chance! I just love the sheen and when you look at it at different angles how it just glows! I can see beautiful flowers or butterflies! Thank you Mary for the opportunity!
I love these give-aways. Each day I wonder what the next day will bring. I love the colour and sheen of the Japanese flatsilk. I haven’t used it before, but with Japanese embroidery it will be a new path to explore in terms of embroidery. Gay B, South Africa
It’s all of the above. There is just something about the luster of silk thread that captures light even on a drab day.
Oh my, how beautiful! I would love the challenge of working with these beautiful threads! They are really amazing. I hope I’m the winner!
What attracts you to the idea of working with flat silk? The joy of working with natural fibers first off. Much of my work is done in wool, cotton and silk.
Is it the sheen and beauty of the thread? Partly. Especially the juxtaposition of the sheen of silk on the matte surface of wool.
The challenge of working with it? Figuring out what it wants to do, using it’s natural tendencies.
The mere fact that it’s silk? Silk is a 4 letter word with allure.
The colors in either set are awesome. Thanks again for a great giveaway.
Oooohhh that is so pretty! I’d say its definitely the sheen of the silk that most draws me in… But the colors are great too.
Mary,
The sheen of the silk is what attracts me.
Merry 3rd day!
I love stitching with silk threads, and would love to learn the difference in ‘flat’ silk. The sheen and soft texture are a pure joy to work with! Thanks for these grand opportunities!
Dear Needle’n Thread, When I was a child, I used to play with my mother’s color swatches–owning this silk rainbow would be reliving that experience,so many times over! It’s the rainbow of colors that draw me and the texture of silk itself–for the eye and the touch. I work in bargello and would like to experiment with silk. I have used silk in petit point, but not bargello. I imagine its luster would be beautiful.
And–on vanity’s side, –after reading your post on moisturizing your hands, I’ve been doing that! No more snags–well, with cotton anyway! I wonder what would happen with silk….
I love the luxuriant, radiant beauty of well laid flat silk. Whether the simple shine of satin stitch, or some of the more complex geometric Japanese stitches, divided into small precise single threads or the full width for great coverage, I love that flat silk is both gorgeous and very versatile.
I’m really intrigued by the idea of working with flat silk since, yes, its silk. the sheen and luxury of the pieces I’ve seen worked in it are amazing. On the other hand, I’m sort of terrified of the challenge of it. My hands are never that smooth, Guess it would be the perfect excuse to try some of those lotions you’ve reviewed.
I love the idea of doing something shimmery. The sheen is what grabs me. I’ve always been drawn to that look, but have not really achieve a level of expertise to invest in this very high quality stuff. The silk is so gorgeous – I am drawn to the idea of doing fairy sprites with water and flowers – I’d have to find the right picture to make a design from.
Hello Mary,
What attracts me to working with flat silk?
I have recently retired from work and have found an interest in embroidery. I have planned a project for a monogram ‘thingy’ as a wedding present for my brother; so far I have been trying out samples with various different threads and I have to say that any silk thread stands out as special compared with the other threads I have tried; the lustre, finish and quality of the threads are wonderful. None of my samples have been with flat silk so I would be excited to try that out for this project.
I have been wanting to try a flat silk piece. These would be gorgeous to use.
Wow! I’ve never used silk…always heard it was very tricky to get the hang of. I would be willing to try it since it’s free after all. Hope I win!
The colours are magnificent and so tempting. I will need the pamphlet, but I would just adore having a go at using these silks.
I am very interested in working with flat silk because of the sheen and depth of color. It is beautiful!
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the 12 days series.
Lovely silks! I would LOVE to try them – I never have. I have travelled often, and lived in Asia, and have many examples of both embroidery painting and flat silk embroidery in my ‘collection.’. Otherwise known as pretty things I saw abroad…:). The colors are amazing…..ESP the purples and greens. I’d be proud with either set!
Well, yesterday I have written that I would love to receive the gold thread set because with the purpose of embroidering a small curtain for the church altar my hometown in Brazil using one of Mary’s church pattern. I think that for the religious embroidery the best choice is silk and gold; the flat silk has such a elegant lustre, the wonderful colors can be see from a far distance, beeing perfect for the church presentation. Since I have since the blue medallion work in this site, I am dreaming about silk and gold. Thank you for these beautiful images.Greetings Rita Violante
My answer is “All of the above”.
I love the color and feel of the silk.
Greetings, Aaltje
You are amazing Mary, everyday is getting more exciting. I am a silk “Junkie”, I collect silk in all forms, fabric, new and old even collect old silk Kimonos and pieces of antique silk. Silk threads also in every form. I have tried the flat silk to sew with, but as usual my impatience gets the better of me and it is not perfect, so I buy books to learn. The thought of having these delectable colours and a book to show you how to use them is mind boggling………..I even collect old silk ties and cannot throw any old silk fabric cloths out just in case!!!!!!!!. So to answer the question…….just because it is silk with some instruction thrown in for good measure.
OOHHHHHHHHHH
I would love to try stitching with Japanese flat silk because I have never tried it. I love a challenge. The colors and sheen of the thread are beautiful and can only add to the challenge of using the thread to bring out the best, to make any design come alive.
Oh wow, what a great gift! I love the sheen of silk, and would love to but it to good use with some satin stitching. Plus, it’s classy — I don’t think silk will ever go out of style.
I am just in love with silk. I do crazy quilting and collect discontinued buttonhole twist on the tiny spools. Can’t get enough of silk!
Greetings!! Any of these prizes will give me the opportunity to get into something new… and chanllenging. Thanks Mary for all these goodies!!
What beautiful thread — it is amazing. I want to work with it because I’ve never done it before. I’ve used silk/wool blends and love them. You have the most wonderful things, thank you,
Shelia in Oklahoma
Mary – I love the look of oriential designs and think that the silk would really look great! Though I’ve never worked with it and consider myself an embroidery noob. Thanks for the great giveaways!
Traci in OK
The flat silk appeals to me for the color intensity as well as sheen. We have very limited resources locally for embroidery supplies, I want to expand beyond the standard embroidery floss available at the local Michaels store.
Firstly the colors look gordeous and should look wonderful on the crazy quilts I am working on at the moment. Secondly I have never embroidered with flat silk,
Mary,
only the feeling of the silk, the luster, to see how the thread behaves. something that is so light (I dont’n know if that wordt is wright) and yet so strong. It is the most beautiful material where we can work with.If you work neatley (again I don’t know if that word is correct) than it does not matter what you are making. Your work will always be beautiful.
Anna
I have sewn with silk fabric several times, and love the luxurious crispness and sheen. Learning to embellish with beautiful silk threads is a skill I have wanted to accomplish. I love the colors!
I have used many different silks over the years, but for some reason, never flat silk – I don’t know why. Perhaps because it is not quite so readily available? Winning this set would be a wonderful opportunity to experiment with a new medium, which is always the most exciting and adventurous part of stitching. I’m already thinking about a design – just in case!
I love the beautiful, subtle colors in silk thread. I especially love the colors in the first selection because they match perfectly the colors prevalent in my home, so they are naturally my favorites. But all are beautiful!
The silk is beautiful! and a booklet to give tips on how to use it is another attraction. I’d love to win one of them.
Definitely the sheen does it for me, and surely the challenge of working with silk is more than worth the end result!
Thanks for another great giveaway 🙂
Mary
I think it is always fun to try something new. Especially if it doesn’t cost you anything to try it. The silk is so beauitful I would love to see it worked up. Thanks for your giveaways and all the info you give on your site.
Carrie
Silk is such an incredibly lustrous and beautiful fiber. It is my favorite! The colors on these threads are amazing in their depth. My mind is already imagining a beautiful creation! Thanks for the opportunity to receive the silk and instructions.
Jenny P. in Kansas City
Hi, the colours and their sheen invites me to work with them. till date i havent got any nor have tried silk threads,if i get them along with the pamphlet, that day will be my day to begin silk embroidery. thank you
ansu chennai.
Oh what a beautiful prize, such lovely colours all. What I would say that attracts me to silk thread would have to be both the colour and sheen. What a wonder to work with, lovely.
The flat silk is gorgeous! I would love to learn how to use it with my first slate frame.
… smooth, shiny, sensational ,serene, scrumptious, shiny, shimmer, shady, simple, spectacular – serendipitous, soft, sleek , slippery.. satiny, and… so much more than meets the eye of the needle.. I would love to own a few spools to add to my projects.. and a booklet on how to use it – very sweet!
joan in bryn mawr
Hi Mary,
I would love to win the silk because of it’s sheen, beauty and range of colors. I love my silk fabric for the same reasons. I have never used flat silk but I would love to learn how to stitch with it.
Silk? Did you say silk?!! Oh the sheen, the challenge, the colors. The challenge of learning to use such beautiful thread is a dream come true!!
Thank you Mary.
Jean B. in Greensboro NC
Mary, I’ve been wanting to work with silk of any kind since viewing your work here on Needl’n Thread. It looks like it would be beautiful to work with. I have some plain silk scarves that I would love to try these on.
Gorgeous you said ? The 12 spool collection would be great. You suggest Japanese embroidery, I suppose it would be perfect for thread painting with the Trish Burr technique. I am presently working with her DVD and the silk would come in handy. Have a nice day !
I would love to win one of these beautiful bundles. Silk is just so beautiful, sheen, color, texture and all. Never worked with flat silk, would love to give this a try!
i haven’t worked with silk yet, but i’m certainly looking forward to it…..the colors
are absolutely gorgeous and they just shine and
shimmer….how could one not want to learn to
work with them….excited to get started.
thanks, mary
Wow, those silk threads look gorgeous. I think my attraction to working with silk is the sheen and beauty of it. G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! And just the fact that it is silk….so elegant!
Wow those silks are just to die for. I would love to try a new kind of embroidery every month for 2012 so these would make a great start on my new years resolution.
Hoping all who read have had a wonderful christmas and hope you all have a wonderful 2012.
Love the color range you can achieve in silk and have never worked with flat silk – challenge!!
My lifelong dream has always been to go to Japan
and see the beauty there. If I had these silks to work with, even though I haven’t made it to Japan,
I could create the wonder of Japan right now and
for now I’d dream as I’m creating with the silks.
Thank you.
The sheen, the glow, the stunning colours, I can just picture the beauty of the stitching Oh, and definitely the challenge. My goal is to try as many different techniques as possible and I have yet to work with flat silk. I have been following your silk projects with intense interest. Your attention to detail is so inspiring.
What a beautiful array of color! There’s just something so rich and deep about the silk thread. I want a new challenge and silk is the next step for me.
Thanks!
I have never tried flat silk threads before. It would be a nice challenge for me to try something different this year. I’m attracted to the sheen and pretty colors.
I think silk embroidery looks so beautiful and delicate. To be honest I am a bit intimidated by the thought of using it and if I have the ability to do it justice.
If I got this silk, I would very carefully read the pamphlet, while I sat and just looked at the beautiful colors. Then I would try some monograms. I love your website and appreciate your generosity in keeping us up to date, and also these bountiful giveaways.
I am attracted to using flat silk because of the beauty of the thread. I also like the way it feels in my hand.
Actually, I am not attracted to working with flat silk–but I have a dear friend who is; she is working on her Level 10 in Japanese embroidery and the silk would go to good use. I would pack it up and send it to her immediately, if I were to win.
HI Mary!
I am amazed at your generosity! Thank you!!!
I love silk. The luscious sheen of the flat silk on your last project made me quickly add it to my “gotta try” list. I know it will be tricky, but what a gorgeous result. Maybe combine them with the gold threads, too!
The New Year is looking better by the moment.
Thanks again.
It would be wonderful to try using the flat silk.The colors are beautiful. I have used silk thread for applique, silk floss, and of course silk ribbon, but never flat silk. We don’t have shops around here that carry such wonderful items.
Louise
Wow! what a generous giveaway. The silks are so beautiful. I have never worked with silk like this before so it would be so great to give this a try. Thanks to Michael and Julie.
I am fascinated with the sheen of silk. I took one class in Japanese embroidery and have the piece languishing in a closet. These silks are an inspiration to get back at it.
The idea of working with something brand new is extremely appealing. The plus factor is that silk holds color and sheen beautifully. The feel of it is so rich it just simply seems to bring out “life” to anything that it is in. Thanks for the many oportunities to learn new techniques and products. Happy New Year
Thank you Michael and Julie for this splendid Third day of Christmas give-away.
Well, Mary, I feel I hardly need answer today’s question because I am sure you know by now that I love stitching with flat silk; I love the lusterous sheen of flat silk; I love twisting flat silk into an infinite range of different twist and stitching with those. To me, flat silk is absolutely the best thread available and I can’t get enough of it.
I have not heard of Julie before, so thank you for introducing me to another silk supplier as well ast for today’s give-away.
What wonderful sites the links took us to. Michael’s Wormspit is full of different types of info. Chickens to making a loom from copper pipes! Julie’s needlepoint canvases are beautiful. I love the section on her braclets. They would be so pretty stitched with this silk flat thread with beads added in. Is the silk thread fragile? Maybe it would not be suited for something like a bracelet that gets lots of wear. I think the fact that it is silk and has a sheen like no other thread would make it interesting to work with. Thank you for another day of giving.
Deb
What beautiful thread! It’s definitely the sheen of the silk that attracts me to flat silk, regardless of the finickiness of working with it. Thank you again for these marvelous giveaways.
Two years ago I visited Japan and was fortunate enough to visit an embroidery class. Subsequently I was invited to the home of the embroidery master and his family. The work is breathtaking and I would love to try it. I think the sheen and depth of the silk would be an incredible addition to the stumpwork I do. However, I’m not sure how to get started. This package would give me the information I need.
I love using silk, but have never gotten to try flat silk. Being in a medieval reenactment group, I try to use period materials in my pieces. I would love to try slap silk, and thank you for the opportunity to win a set!
What a range of colors. I have never used flat silk. They are lovely. What a generous thing for Michael to share from his stash for one of us to try them.
Wow! I just ordered my Japanese Bunka Fashion Design books and am taking a japanese draping class. I would love the threads! The colors are beautiful. Thx!
I like both the sheen and the way of working. Its perfect for satin stitch.
“All of the above” attracts me to the idea of working with flat silk. I want to touch it and know how it feels!
The silk is beautiful!! Years ago I watched a Japanese woman embroidering with it and I was mezmerised. I would love to try my hand at it.
I think my favorite thing about the silk is the vibrance of the colors and the texture of it. It is so delicate that it just calls for you to look closely at the finished piece of work.
Wellll….would want to try them all!!! the challenge, the beauty and the end results!! Yes!!!
It is a very generous giveaway!
Avis in VA
Oh, the sheen! The beauty! And in my favorite range of colors, blues and purples! What fun it would be to work with these luscious silks. And with the booklet to show one how, it would be even better. I’ve been intrigued since you wrote about using flat silk, so this would be a good time and way to learn more. Thank you for the opportunity to try for a collection.
Oh my goodness…what beautiful threads. I’ve always loved silk thread for applique. It’s so nice..I can’t imagine how nice it would be to do embroidery with!! I would LOVE to get one of these collections. My hands are itching to get at them! Thanks for such a nice collection and a chance to win them.
Like Pamela, I’ve dreamed for many years about going to Japan. I was going to go with my daughter’s Japanese class but she backed out of the class 🙁
Working with silk is a challenge, and I’m always up for a challenge, usually picking projects that are a stretch for my limited abilities.
The threads are beautiful, and I would love to learn to work with them. I’ve used other silks, but not Japanese.
I would love to try working with flat silk–the sheen is so beautiful, and the tactile experience is luscious. Japanese embroidery techniques in particular are meaningful to me, as I am part Japanese and it feels like part of my heritage and lineage. And the colors!!!
Ive been doing quite a bit of silk shading recently, but have never worked with silk – I imagine it makes such a difference! I don’t know if it’s the season, but the first batch of colours seem really festive – they could be worked into a really pretty heirloom piece for Christmas 2012! 🙂
Sumptuous! The purples in their gradations and the sheen would make such a great choice for an iris in full bloom. The technique would be a challenge to learn and help stop brain drain as I age.
The threads shown are absolutely beautiful, and while I have never used Japanese flat silk, I’m itching to try! Thanks for the opportunity. I love your blog!
Mary I think my attraction is to the lustre of silk. There is no comparison IMHO. I love to add the silk embroidery designs to my crazy quilt blocks and it is always a stunner in the silk.
Thanks to Michael and Mary for making this opportunity available to your followers.
Susie Jarosz in Omaha
The beautiful colours & sheen of silk threads attracts me. The challenge of working with silk threads scares the heck out of me. However, it’s time for me to put my fears aside, bite the bullet and give these lucious threads a try.
Incredible give-a-way, Mary.
Cheers,
Linda A
Ontario, Canada
Mary, I’m interested in trying to work with flat silk for the first time. It appeals to me as a touch of luster that my applique peacocks lack. I am at the embellishing stage on “My Tweets” (Erin Russik). I’ve used beautiful fabrics in blues greens and purples (with other colors as a little “pop”). The peacocks still lack the luster that nature gives them, despite those beautiful fabrics. Embroidery could fix that, especially with the right silks! I’d like to be included in Your drawing for some of those silks. Thank You.
What attracts me to the idea of working with silk is the sheen, the beauty and the colours of the silk, as well as the challenge of working with it.
Catalina
Silk has been my preferred choice for most projects for many years now. I normally use twisted silk because it is so much easier to stitch with, but I love to use flat silks when I REALLY want the impact and shine and rich colors of glorious silk. These colors definitely meet that description! Janet.
My mouth is watering at the wonderful rainbow shining in your pictures. I wasn’t going to enter this one because I’ve never stitched with flat silk and figured it was above my skill level. But then I thought, “If you don’t try and don’t stretch yourself some time, you will never grow.”
And the colors, Mary, the colors….
And above all, silk is my very favorite fiber to stitch with.
And the colors, did I mention the colors?
These Colors are like jewels. I love them. I have never used silk before, but this would be a wonderful opportunity to try something new to ski off winter blahs.
What attracts me is the different techniques that might be required to use flat silk. I’ve never tried it before and am curious as to how different stitches show off its luster.
I am always looking to incorporate new fibers (those I have not had opportunity to try) in to my knowledge base. 🙂
I give-up!!! On 3rd day you knock me out!! Japanese flat silk is everything that I what to have, know all about and use … A LOT!!! They are a chalenge on the begining … when we decide buy (many colors!!)… til start use!!(many ways!!) …. I want this too!! and the day 3 and 1 of your 12 days of Christmas … think I´ll need one of each of the 12 days!! What do you think about this my indecent proposal?!? 🙂
Walfrida
Oh my goodness, how beautiful is this silk. I have a few colors of silk and it is so smooth and the colors are wonderful. I have seen first hand in China how the silk thread is made by the silk cocoons, even went through the silk embrodiery school. I pruchased a piece of double silk work and still can’t believe it’s true beauty. Haveing this threat would allow me the oppurtunity to try this craft on my own. Thank you for providing this fantastic give away. Theresa N
Hi Mary – These threads are just gorgeous. I’m attracted to the beauty of silk thread – nice sheen, texture. They look stunning. I would love to win these.
Thanks.
Judy
I have worked with silk long time ago. yes , it is challenging. so, I work with cotton. But yes to bring back those memories I wold love to have them.
I looooove flat silk! It’s shiny, it’s soft, it’s silk- what’s not to love! I do medieval and renaissance style embroidery; I’ve been working with flat silk in opus anglicanum and or hue; next up is a piece using Italian stitch with flat silk.
What attracts me to the idea of working with flat silk? All of the above. I’ve never tried working with anything but DMC and it would be wonderful to give silk a try. There isn’t anywhere in my area to purchase such beautiful threads.
OMG! Those are beautiful! I have some embroidery projects that I would love to use silk on. I have seen embroidered works that they used silk, cotton, wool, etc all in the same picture and it was almost like 3D! The silk really popped it out! I am hungry to learn new things and I have never used silk. I think I felt I wasn’t worthy as an embroiderer to use it. But I would sure give it a try!
The challenge of working with a different (sort of ) medium has pushed me to try harder when it comes to embroidery and I love Japanese embroidery.
Shelly R. UT
I love working with silk, it just gives such elegance to hand work. I’ve never used flat silk but would love to learn how to do it, as any day you learn a new technique is a good day.. The colours are glorious and life like
I have always been attracted to Japanese style embroidery, which uses this type of silk floss, due to the interplay of light on the embroidered piece.
Thank you!
I have had just enough experience with flat silk to want to do more. . . Right now, I’m especially interested in trying to use it instead of traditional plied silk for some double running bands. . . I figure if those little girls could do it, I should be able to as well. . .??
Truthfully, I think what attracts me to it most is that it’s the primary fiber for Japanese embroidery, something that’s always fascinated me. I would love to be able to work with this fiber in the traditional manner.
It’s beautiful and I have never worked with it before. I would like the challenge of seeing what I could do with such beautiful threads.
I absolutely adore silk. If I could afford it, it would be the only thing I use. I like the sheen, the colors, the way it feels in my hand, and most importantly, the way it looks in the finished design.
I came across Michael of Wormspit some time ago. I haven’t tried his silk yet, but love the name Wormspit.
The idea of working with silk has always been daunting but seeing the richness of the colours it is now something I would like to do. With the patchwork group I belong to, we are all in the process of creating a piece of Crazy Patchwork with fabric donated by one of our members who used to live in Japan. It seems rather appropriate to embelish with these type of threads.
It just everything about silk that attracts me, the colours, the shine and the fineness of the thread. I have been wanting to do something with flat silk but I don’t have any in my stash so this would be an ideal way to get started. You are really offering some treats, thanks.
Oh, this would be a fabulous prize to win! I’ve dabbled a bit with flat silk and I don’t think you can beat it for sheen. I’d love to try it a bit more.
Right now I’d say it’s the beautiful sheen that attracts me. Since I haven’t worked with flat silk I don’t know how I’d react to the “challenge” of working with it but I’d love to find out!
Marilyn P. in Las Cruces, New Mexico
I would love to try working with flat silk. The appearance, of course, but the challenge of getting it to lay as it should would make for an interesting experience.
Thank you, Mary, Michael and Julie,
The sheen of silk, I would love to use it for silk shading.
Maria VF
I’ve never worked with flat silk, just regular silk and LOVE it. This would be beautiful to embroider with and to learn with.
Yum! I’ve never worked with silk of any kind but would certainly love to learn. Japanese embroidery is especially enticing and I look forward to making use of creating something beautiful.
Good Morning Mary,
First comment I have never heard of Japanese Flat Silks before and I love to try something new…that’s how you learn. Secondly after looking at them I must agree with you that the blue ranges are awesome and appeal more than the purple group…….but I can visualize using either of them. So yes I would love to win the giveaway, especially the booklet. You always continue to inspire, thank you.
Thank you.
Dottie
Hi Mary! I’ve never worked with silk, but I fell in love with it after seeing pictures of japanese embroidery. I think that what atracts me the most is the sheen and the beauty of the thread… I really hope to win, mostly because in my country nobody knows this kind of thread and it’s imposible to find!
Merry Christmas!!
Libertad from Argentina
The pure joy of stitching with something as elegant as the flat silk qouls seem just like a dream.I have recently become fascinated by some of the quilting and stitching works of several different oriental quilting artists, and I am being drawn to their products. Winning this would be a awesome way to start out the New Year.
Mary, I have followed you for years and I have you to thank for a great portion of the knowledge I have gained regarding stitching. Your blog is always informational and your random subjects very interesting and educational. Please keep up the great work!
I love silk, I love this wonderful feeling. For me it is the most precious thread on earth; the colours are vibrant ,just a treat to see them.I have used other silk threads , but not Japanese.
I have a lady in Kimona to be done and these silks would be wonderful. I too, like the blue combos. I’ve been embroidering 71 years and I’ve learned sooooo much from your site that I’m amazed.
Mary, Day 3 is a fantastic giveaway! Thanks to your suppliers for giving these to you for your 12 Days. I have never used any silk before & I think the sheen is what attracts me…also the challenge of working with something new!
Sheila K in CA
I use flat silks a lot in my work, mostly pipers silks though. When I did my embroidery teacher certification, my teacher was Shirley Mae Collis, who was one of the Japanese Embroidery teachers at the Japanese School of Embroidery. She does exceptionally beautiful work and these silks are wonderful to work with. Would love to add them to my collection of colours to stitch with.
I might be the reader who started this – I asked about storing Japanese silks in their plastic sleeves. We decided that we’ve not seen harm done by doing this, and that professionals remove the sleeves due to the wasted time it takes to take them off and put them back on. Being professionals who are trying to make a living, time is money. And, it takes SO much time to create their works. OK, now on to the contest. I hope I win! I will share with my classmates.
What attracts me to working with flat silk is its beauty and versatility. It shines and changes color with the light like no other fiber I know. The flat silk, with its many filaments, can be manipulated in to many different kinds of twists, some including metals. With flat silk I can make all the threads I need for an entire Japanese Embroidery piece. It starts from the simple flat silk and you end up with real beauty. These pieces are more than a sum of their parts.
Christine in Northern Virginia, USA
Wow! Another GREAT opportunity! After seeing your Medallion project coming together and reading your work up, trials and tribulations I am totally enamoured of flat silk! Not to mention the BEAUTIFUL results! Your right Mary, the sheen and opulent look of flat silk is like no other. I would LOVE to try working with it! I would choose a design with shading and a delicate appearance the match the delicate appearance of the silk. Plus the colours are all gorgeous!
Vibrant, beautiful colors, natural fiber and the added bonus of sheen. Imagine the design possibilities. I love to do nature designs in my needlework and these threads would be a pure delight.
I have never worked with silk thread the thought of doing so is thrilling. I think it is the color and sheen that makes you want to reach in and touch those colors it is like they are alive.
Count me in on this one!
What attracts me to working with flat silk?
Hmmm…I love the colors and the sheen, and the fact that you can both stitch it flat and twist it to create perle silk. I love that it is suited to working on a wide range of ground fabrics. It feels yummy in the hands…LOTS of things!
I have long loved the beauty of Japanese embroidery, and would like to try it myself, but I fear that I would rebel against the severe structure of the technique. Having some instruction, silk and patterns that I could try on my own might be a good option. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for this one!
Thanks to you, Mary, and to Michael and Julie as well, for making such a great giveaway possible.
Carol S.
WOW–Mary you have outdone yourself! Flat silk is the aurora borealis of the thread world. Back in the day, Shay Pendray’s shop in MI had drawer upon drawer packed to the gills. It was love at first sight & I bought several spools with–you guessed it–a side order of metal threads! What attracts me to using flat silk? The knowledge that I can “make” any thread I want–thin, thick, light twist, firm twist etc. The thread companies are trying hard to provide us with a huge variety of silk threads in color families but they simply cannot compete with this Japanese technique where any flat silk can be perle, floss, flecked with metal etc. Not every embroiderer wants to “roll her own” so to speak, but it’s one more way to get results. The winner(s) should invest in a good quality tekobari, an awl & a handmade Japanese needle to complement the flat silk. A beginner class at JEC or EGA would help as well.
What wonderful colours! I have never worked with silk, and would like to do a birth sampler for my grand-daughter, I have an idea…. if it comes to pass it will be a miracle :), but this is the season!
Why would I like to work with Japanese flat silk? I have been creating biscornu, needle and scissor cases for the past several months. I use the silk from Kreinik in Parkersburg, West Virginia. I would like to compare the colors from this company with the ones from Japan. After having spent a lifetime making gigantic pieces for my home, I am now making smaller ones for gifts for my friends, my daughter and my grandchildren. I want them to remember me…..
I love needle painting! The flat silk you are giving would be a new thread for me and I will/would definitely love to use it.
Elaine in New Mexico
I love working with silk threads – the way it slips smoothly through the fabric, the feel in my hands, the colours. There is nothing quite like it. I have never used flat silk thread but I would love to try it.
Winnifred, Braeside, Ontario
I would love to try needlepainting with silk threads. What a luxury that would be. The colors and sheen are just gorgeous.
This silk is so beautiful all on its own, the marvelous richness and depth in the colors. It seems that no other fiber can quite compare! I’m a sucker for anything colorful, and these spools are filling my head with all sorts of fancy project ideas!
Meagan
I guess all three, but the look of it is really what I love.
Good Morning Mary,
I think that working with any kind of silk is very special and valuable not because of the price but because it is a gift from God. Having the ability to be able to work with different kinds of silk would give myself the opportunity to gain a new technique, new way to manipulate the Natural Material, or finding a new way of working with an unfamiliar Natural Material other than the typical cotton threads. Thank you once again for the Opportunity to enter in this give-away.
PBWY,
Jennifer G.
I love working with silks – the sheen is beautiful. Most of my projects are now stitched in silk instead of cotton. Does that make me a silk snob? I hope not, because I do rely on cotton for some of my work. Thanks for the chance to win these beautiful silks.
I’m so, so glad that there aren’t any calories involved – there would be some sort of new obesity epidemic! I have been following your progress with the eccleastical (sp?) project you are doing and would love to learn how to work with these threads – and the color collections you have are both my very favorites!
This is an incredible gift.
beautiful! the colours are fantastic! have never worked with flat silk thread, would love to learn how – after years of plain cross stitching, it’s time to learn new techniques, and this would give me a start.
Elizabeth L Mac
I’m attracted to the beautiful, rich color and the sheen of it. I’ve only had a tiny amount to work with and would love to have a collection to indulge in.
Pam in IL
I can’t begin to say how gorgeous these look!!! My needles are already drooling over who gets to be threaded first.
Ooooooooooo silk. Is there anything that beats silk to work with? My hat is off to all of the worms that gave their little wormy lives to spin this glory for us. I have an old Betty Chen-Louis project that would look fabulous done in this silk.
I have done a little flat silk work and it comes out beautiful. I would like to try couching over flat silk like your most recent project.
What beautiful silk!I would love the challenge of learning to stitch with these vibrant, jewel-like threads. Glorious!
I’ve never worked with Japanese silk thread. I would love to try.
All of the above, please!! I just love to fondle silks! I have never tried the Japanese silks and would love to try! They look like so much fun to work with! Thanks so much for the chance to win such a lusious prize pack!
oh wow I got so excited when I saw this silk giveaway-I just love silk-what inspires me is the look and the feel of it, and all the colors too It is just so elegant and lovely.
I love using silk for applique, will need to learn about flat silk if I should win this. this would be just so awesome to win. thanks for the chance.
Lieve Mary,
Heel graag zou ik in aanmerking komen van This beautifool silk threads.It is my dream of working thad. I hoop so for prjs.
Hartelijke groeten van mij.. Riet.
In the world of threads I don’t believe it gets any better than these Japanese silk threads. Absolutely beautiful!
If I were to win either one of these sets I think I would have to set them on one of the shelves in my sewing room and simply admire them. I love the colors and would love to work them into a “special” project. And the pamphlet would certainly get me started!
What attracts me to flat silk? The beautiful colors and sheen and the fact that I’ve never used flat silk (or silk for that matter) but have always admired not only those who work with silk but the projects that look extraordinary.
What do I love about the flat silk thread? Everything!!! The luster and the range of colors are beautiful. If I win this I will definitly share it with my daughter who is a textile design major with an interst in anything Japanese. Mary, thank you for these give-aways.
I love silk. The color, the feel, the sheen. I’ve never worked with flat silk before, but I would love to. It gives such a depth of color and such a lovely sheen to the work.
Andi Scott
I like the idea of working with silk but especially a flat one. I have never worked with a flat thread and would like the challange
I recently fell in love with needlework. Having only ever worked with embroidery floss, perle cotton and crewel wool, I’m keep to expand my repertoire and silk is so gorgeous I’d love to have a go and make some really special items.
All of the above for me…but it’s also classed as ‘scary’! In a house of rough hands and cats…
But oh, the potential results…! I can think of some designs right off the top of my head that would be so splendiferous in flat silk…I think…!
These silks are so gorgeous!!!! Just the word make me droll!!!! I’ve been an admire of Japanese embroidery for many years, but I’ve never dared try it by myself. That could be a splendid occasion!
I have never seen flat silk close up. I’ve seen it used in museum pieces of course, but then, they are smart enough to put the pieces behind glass where I can’t get to them. I’d love to play with this…without the interference of a glass wall! Lau
I really love flat silk. I have a few colors I’ve worked with that I bought from a Japanese Embroidery website. It’s lovely, and fairly thick so it covers well, but needs to be laid. I also have some colors that I ordered from England, from Piper’s Silk. This is easier to work with, but it’s narrow, so it takes a very long time to fill a space. My daughter is getting married soon, and I’d like to make some sort of commemorative embroidery for them out of flat silks that will shine the way only flat silk does. Those colors really make my hands itch to work with them!
The colours of the silks look so vibrant and luminous. I embroidered a dragon in ecru cotton on turquoise satin for a kimono, I’d love to try a peacock in silk.
Lisa in Stirling, Ontario
I have been doing embroidery and cross stitch for over 40 years and it is fun to try something new and the thread is so beautiful, I have been thinking of doing a picture of a painted bunting, and those blues and greens would really make it pop. So you could say all of the above.
I’m curious about what the difference is with “flat” silk. Guess I need to do some studying. I’ve loved working with other silk in the past. There’s nothing like it. The colors in these collections are beautiful.
Nancy in Newport
Mary, your 12 Days of Christmas is providing so many areas for me to explore beyond cross stitch! What draws me to Japanese flat embroidery is that I love doing cross stitch with silks and also learning new techniques. I’ll certainly be looking at the sponsor’s sites and others to learn more about this! Theresa/OctoberLace
Merry Christmas Mary,
I love the color ranges in the second set; like you, I’m attracted to those beautiful tropical ocean colors. For me, the lure of the flat silk is a combination of the challenge of trying for the first time as well as that incredible sheen and simply luscious colors; amazingly beautiful!
Thanks again for your generosity,
Cathy in PA
I have used flat silk on only a few projects. It is me goal to master stitching with it. Surface work is my favorite technique and Japanese flat silk is the epitome of surface embroidery. I want to learn to stitch with them so that the threads glisten!
Oh, Mary, these threads are absolutely gorgeous! All of the “reasons” listed would entice me to try Japanese silk threads. What a wonderful opportunity to try to win these special threads.
It’s just so beautiful–my hands itch to get hold of some and create something! The challenge is definitely a draw too; I’m always looking for something more to learn. The colors are lovely, thanks for hosting this giveaway!
Wow! The sheen on this thread is awesome. I guess it will be a breeze to stitch with it. I will also use it like a filament thread and wind it together with a 100% cotton thread for some body to tat with it. It will make gorgeous snowflakes and angels for 2012 Christmas.
I have used silk threads in appliques but I have never done flat stitching, the threads are absolutely gorgeous and I would love a new
I love working in silk! There is nothing like the quality and beauty of the natural fiber. The depth of color is amazing! I have only ever used spun silk, never the flat. If I won one of these I know exactly what I would use it for. I love historical embroideries and I have been reading about Gu embroidery from late Ming Dynasty China.
ACK!! you’re makin this sooo hard…I thought the metal threads would be so fine and then you bring out this silk! I have been working with cotton combined with some small amount of metal threads because I can’t really afford to invest in both types of thread as well as the frames and necessary tools all at once! The silk is so beautiful – it just makes you drool! I would love to create something with it!
The silk threads are just beautiful! The rich colors, the silky sheen and the fact it will go with the projects I am working on right now, attracts me big time! Wow, what a wonderful giveaway!
I love the colors and sheen of this silk. I have never seen flat thread and think it would be a lovely experience to try.
I really love the subtle sheen of the silk. But I’ve never seen flat silk.
Well, you seems to be so enthusiastic with it, that I am sure it is worth stitching it !!! You know that I trust every word you say 😉
Have a nice evening
I’ve only recently worked with silk on 2 projects, but I loved the finished pieces very much. It was a little tricky at first, but worth the effort. I have at least one pending project that cries out for silk and I would love to use these beautiful colors.
I have a dream of raising silk worms to make my own thread. I love the shine of flat silk. It is gorgeous and gives lovely details. Thank you for this giveaway Mary.
Flat silk interests me because it is silk
Flat silk scares me!
Maybe that’s a good reason to try them.
Oh my word! I’m salivating just looking at that gorgeous thread. Nothing compares to silk – the gleam, the color. Aside from enjoying it in embroidery, it also works up beautifully in bobbin lace. I could certainly make good use of that lovely, lovely thread.
The thread is wonderful. I used to embroider alot with silk, but since going on disability, I am unable to afford such a luxery. I would love to be able to use it in my work.
I have never used silk of any kind so this would be a wonderful learning experience. I just found your blog and have spent the last two days reading throught you past post and tutorials. What a wonderful site, I have bookmarked you and love it!!! Thanks so much for the education and I look forward to learning much more. Lala
I love silk shading,The beauty of all of the different threads just jump out at you. And yes, some times it is a challenge working with it. But if it is too easy there would be no pride in your work.
Thank you!
Camille VF
These silks are simply beautiful. Just looking at them makes me happy. They would work in magic ways with the gold fibers from yesterday.
Dear Mary,
Thank you very much, those threads are “magnifique”. I like working with those flat silk. I take some japanese embroidery classes. I still working on a project. I am sure that I could use those thread on some project.
A big thanks you and thank to donators,
Nicole G from Quebec
What a wonderful gift!
I have never worked with flat silk before (only with silk floss), but I would love to try. Silk is so smooth and shiny, and Japanese embroideries are so beautiful!
Wow, what awesome silk threads. The subtle differences in hues are amazing. I’m drawn to the possibility to think outside the box…. or think outside the hoop…. of cotton thread and try something as lovely as Japanese embroidery silk.
I have used silk and really enjoy the feel of it as I work. I have not, however, used flat silk. I would love to try it. Especially on some crazy quilting. I have a crazy quilt I picked up in an antique shop in Burlington VT, hand pieced, but not a stitch of embroidery on it. I plan to do all the embroidery to finish the quilt. I also won some kimono and obi sash silk fabrics from Hannah at http://enbrouderie.wordpress.com and planned to do some small crazy quilting with them. This thread stash would go very well with the silk fabric!
Your silk colors are divine. I have only worked with silk in some trapunto work in pillows I have made. You shimmery threads could only enhance embroidery work I have planned. I have been collecting butterflies for an embroidery quilt block project for the new year. I can visualize this tread shimmering to make iridescent wings on my butterflies.
Hi Mary,
All of above, I would love to work with them, as I have never. The colors are just beautiful, what a News Year gift. what a challenge.
Thanks
Cheryl H
How pretty! I have a book on Traditional Japanese Goldwork that talks about using flat silk as well as gold. It sounds like something that would be fun to try to work with.
The silk is beautiful and would inspire me to learn to work with it. I’ve used flat silk once or twice as small parts of a class but never used it for an entire project.
The colour! The colour! The Colour. The shine. The lustre. The texture. The colours are like being inside a rainbow. I’ve just dabbled in silk. I’d like to learn how to use it easily. I’d like to know how to work with everything so I’d know what to use to do what I want to do.
The colors and sheen do entice me to try this silk thread. I am a crazy quilter and would love to incorporate this into my embellishments. Thank you so much for the chance to win.
SusieW
OMG I am drolling on the keyboard as I type. what is not to love. My answer is “all of the above”. To me silk’s beauty is epic, long as your hands are smooth and you use a laying tool it is wonderfull. if I win I would use it to create my first needle painting. If I don’t faint first. Thanks Mary
Audrey
Northern CALIF
Oh yes!! It’s the sheen, the challenge of working with flattened silk threads. I’m starting the TAST 2012. These threads would look fabulous in it!!
Gail
It’s so beautiful!!! I stitch documented designs on almost all of my garb (medieval clothing) for SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and I use pearlized cotton, cotton, or leftover wool. I’ve bought some silk, which is nice to use, but expensive. Not only would the opportunity to work with this silk be a treat for me, but my friends who recreate documented designs and sometimes post on Historical Hand Embroidery on fb would love for me to share, which, of course, I would. I’d love to see what some master stitchers could do with this stuff in period recreations and adaptations.
It’s silk, that’s enough! Just look at that glow.
When I started embroidering motifs for Crazy Quilting I admired and studied everyones work, searching for what made them stand out to me and what I could learn from them. One day I had a floral motif that just stunned me. It was radiant and I just knew there was something different about the threads. I had to ask, and found out that she had used silk. I fell in love with the radiance of it and the way the fibers seemed to meld into one another.
I love the way the colors look, especially in sunlight.
Silk in any form attracts me, its sheen, feel and beauty. I have never done anything with flat silk but would love to try. When the materials are so alluring, even the simplest project is enhanced. Mary, you have introduced so many stitchers to so many new materials and techniques. Thank you.
Oh my goodness…. SILK! Anything silk has to be good. 2012 is going to be the year of threads for me; there are so many I need to learn about, try out, expand my narrow (mostly pearle cotton) horizons…it’s all good. I did not do well with silk ribbon, so maybe silk thread is the answer! Thanks for doing this – and thanks to Michael Cook, too!
Joan from Gloucester
I think the sheen of the silk thread and then the way that the colors can be worked to blend and shade are what attracts me. I’ve used silk threads on quilt appliques and in sewing with other silks but not for embroidery and would like the challenge. Thank you for the chance to win all those beautiful colors.
Flat silk is beautiful in so many ways – and so challenging with which to work! I’ve only used it once before years ago, but am intrigued by the challenge of learning how to master it now. I believe the rich color of the silk is what most attracts me to it.
I have worked with all kinds of silk threads but not the flat silk would love the challenge of learning to work with this beautiful silk…The colours are to die for.I have the book Beginners Guide to Traditional Japanese Embroidery by Julia D Gray and its very interesting but as yet I have not tempted it…But I believe that the flat silks can be put in a lot of designs and would be very interesting to use and learn how to use the flat silk the colours are so brilliant and gorgeous..Thanks for the opportunity to win this beautiful threads.
Lovely, but hard to work with which makes it all the more fun! Anything challenging has greater results.
I always think of silk as being rather luxurious. I would love to win one of these sets.
I have never used flat silks. ll of the above reasons plus, I am making a Pansy for Remembrance Crazy Quilt in honor of my Mother-in-law who is nearly 95 and has Alzheimer’s. The colors in your exquisite giveaway would be perfect for it! Thanks for the opportunity to win, and for all you share daily. Happy New Year and Good Luck to all!
How wonderful that you have these gorgeous threads to share with your readers, Mary! I love the sheen and gorgeous array of colors and after reading articles on your site and others, I am intrigued with flat silk. I would be thrilled to give it a try and add to my embroidery skills. Fingers crossed!
I love the idea of using silk threads. I love all things silk. I sew with silk fabric anytime I get the chance so embroidering with this has to be a dream. Silk showcases color so well until it is eye candy just to look at the beautiful colors. It is just one of those things that just begs to be touched.
Hi Mary!
Thanks for another great opportunity. I would love to work with flat silk because of the sheen and rich colors of the threads. I also love the process of using a laying tool to get the most sheen from them.
Jan B. from Florida
I like the rich sheen of the silk best. I work on reproduction samplers and like to use as close an approximation as they used in the 17th C. And most of them used silk so I try to as well.
The sheen of filament silk adds so much brilliance to a piece.
Alice in Las Cruces
Ohhh … how I love to create with silk – silk fabric, silk yarn, silk thread all mediums of silk.
Silk is an amazing fiber – the color saturation is beyond compare and the hand is like no other.
~zoie in topeka
Hi Mary,
I hope I win these beautiful threads because I would love to feel the threads under my fingertips….the silk, hmmmm. I love the sheen and the colors, just beautiful.
I once bought my husband a silk robe for Christmas. Months later I took it out of the closet while looking for something in the back of the closet. Imagine my surprise when a thick worm fell to the floor from a cocoon that was entwined in the fabric of the robe. Was it a silkworm? I have no idea! I can’t imagine how it would have survived the manufacturing process, but there it was – I’ve never seen anything like it before (or since).
Jane
The sheen of the thread just glistens and it has been a long time since I have worked with silk. Looking at these threads reminds me of the beauty they provide to any project.
Mary Bowers in Southaven, MS
This kind of silk is not only beautiful, but has a sumptuous feel to it that makes anything it is used for, all the better.
I have always dreamed of being able to have something this spectacular to use with my personal projects but have not done so as of yet. I would love the chance to do justice with this thread and would post everything I make with it to you so you could see how wonderfully this prize was used.
Merry Christmas and keep up the great job on your site!
Wow, what an awesome giveaway! I am inspired by the beauty and the glamour of silk. I would love to have the opportunity of learning to stitch with it. I love the glorious colors you have shown.
Sharon K.
The sheen of the thread is just gorgeous! I’m a little nervous about working with it though, because I’ll need to keep the skin on my hands in better shape to keep it from snagging!
Having recently done some thread painting with flat silks, what I love most about them is their ability to reflect light because of their sheen thereby creating different shades of color with the one thread. They are a challenge to use, which is certainly an attraction, but the effect created by them is amazing and it that which attracts me most to using them.
Gorgeous doesn`t begin to decribe the sheer beauty , sheen , of silk and the colors,love all these colors, and yes I`d like the challenge of working with silk thread. Thank you
I think what attracts me the most to using these beautiful threads would at first be the challenge of learning something new and then to create something that would reflect the beauty of them.
Since I first discovered silk I haven’t used any other thread for embroidery, both spun and flat silk. There really isn’t anything at all that shines and glows like flat silk, though. Since I really like putting a lot of work into my embroidery, I think that work deserves the best materials, too, and that means silk. Silk doesn’t knot itself up like cotton, which is a big plus. The challenge of using flat silk is very definitely a demand to do everything carefully and correctly. You have to set up the embroidery tightly, you have to put it on a stand, you have to use two hands, the laying tool is absolutely essential. But then, I should be doing all those things anyway. Silk insists that I do that, slow down, and pay close attention to every stitch. The “challenge” is what forces me to enjoy it that much more.
I’ve been wanting to try silk for awhile now, but haven’t yet. I do primarily cross-stitch and always thought the sheen of the silk would be a wonderful effect if I was stitching something like water or stars to highlight the piece I’m doing. I would love to win these spools! (I love the look of the purples!) Thank you for the chance to win.
Hi Mary, The beauty and sheen of silk is what first draws me to work with it. I have sewn garments from silk, made a fantastic cloth doll from silk and stitched with silk, but never flat silk. These colors are lovely, especially the purples. This would be the time for me to learn about using flat silk. Thanks!
I love the way silk looks on my projects; it’s so smooth. I also love the feel of it. I’m beginning to use silk more and more.
i would love to embroider with silk although i have not had the pleasure of trying it yet. I do handspin silk and enjoy knitting with it. This would be sooo much fun!!
I love both the sheen and the beauty of silk – it is just gorgeous to work with.
Mary,
I have worked with silk, a beautiful Birthday gift from a friend. It makes the most beautiful embroidery that I have enjoyed working with. I now have RA but I haven’t let it stop me from my love of the needle. I just can’t seem to put it down. The challenge is well worth it.
A member of my quilting group used. them to embroider veins on appliqué leaves. They were so luxurious looking and caught the light so well I’ve been wanting to try them ever since. Thanks for the opportunity!
I have studied traditional Japanese embroidery since 1992. The silk itself is what originally attracted me to the embroidery. You’ve seen it so you know how beautiful it is. No photograph can do it justice. An array of it spread out on a table is like liquid color! Almost indescribable. It really isn’t difficult to work with once you learn how and its beauty makes it oh-so-worth it! I’d love to have one of the collections since I will be starting a new piece soon.
For me, it is both the sheen and beauty of silk threads that I love. I have not done Japanese embroidery, however, I am the type of person who enjoys learning new techniques, and this would give me a great start!
Hello Mary, thanks for the generous 12 Days sharing project. Those spools of thread are so beautiful and the colors are so spring-like! I would love to work with silk again, and I’ve never used flat silk so that would be an adventure. For some reason I don’t remember silk being difficult to work with although I’ve heard from so many that it snags.
Thanks again! Stevie D in Colorado
I love using silk to do appliqué and embroidery. Have never used flat silk. The colors are wonderful and the texture and sheen add to any piece. Thank you for the chance to win.
Hi, While I would love to see and try to work with this I am just beginning and probably wouldn’t do it justice, but the colors are beautiful. I think the women who is making the quilt for her mom should win!
What attracts you to the idea of working with flat silk? The Elizabethan-era embroidered items I have seen in museums were done in flat silk. I am trying to reproduce the look and style of those embroidered items, and so have been stitching with flat silk of late. It is a beautiful thread, and makes the pieces shine with the reflected light. Yes, it is a challenge to work with, but worth it.
I love how shiny those colors are! Also, I love traditional Japanese designs, so it would be fun to try Japanese embroidery.
It’s the sheen and the way it emphasizes the color. It has a richness to it that is special. Definitely for a keepsake project.
Oh my, Japanese flat silks! Another thread I haven’t had the chance to work with and which I would love to use. I love the richness and sheen that flat silks give to an embroidered work. I would definitely love learning to work with them.
What absolutely beautiful colors! I can just imagine a butterfly,a Japanese fan or a peacock embroidered in these colors. Thanks for the opportunity.
The color, the sheen, the texture all really get my attention! I love oriental embroidery styles and this is something I have yet to try. Ideas are already popping!
~Valerie Kalyani, in CA
What’s not to like about flat silk? Of course the sheen and colors are beautiful. I’ve long admired the result of when these threads are used in Japanese embroidery. But what makes this gift even more generous is the set of instructions that come with it. I’ve never used flat silk, and this would allow me to do so the right way from the beginning. I am at the point in my life where my stitching time is limited by a too busy schedule, so I want to make what stitching I do get to count — focusing on gifts that could be passed down in the family. As in cooking, quality materials bring the best result. I love fllowers — orchids to be precise — and can envision these threads neing used to create a glorious perpetual garden!
I always admired the Chinese silk embroideries, and would love to try them.
Ooh, the fineness of color and smoothness of texture just emanates from the picture through my computer screen. Those silky spools are just asking to be adored. Never having worked with flat silk, I’d be thrilled to give it a go!
What a wonderful Third Day of Christmas. Each day is more special than the one before!
Silk – there is nothing like it to work with. For years, I custom made Bridal gowns. While each one was lovely, the gowns of silk stood out above the rest. There is a sheen and beauty that only comes from working with silk. It hangs differently, it photographs differently. It has an elegance which nothing else can touch. I fell in love with the fiber while making wedding gowns.
I would love the chance to use silk thread in hand embroidery, especially for ecclesiastical embroidery. Watching and absorbing every piece stitched by you, Mary, done in silk, provides the encouragement that the challenges of working with the special fiber can be learned and mastered with time and practice. The goal is the beauty of the finished piece; seeing how the sheen, glimmer, and beauty of the fiber reflects the light.
Learning how to work with flat silk will be a challenge, but I’d love to start!
Thanks again for the great give-a-ways!
These are gorgeous! I love working with flat silk and have done a couple of pieces that I took classes for….these colors are luscious and I would love to add them to my small collection….I see pansies!
What’s not to love about silk in any form? However, I especially love the flat silk because all the attention is given to the glorious color and isn’t split between color and texture. And my favorite thing about silk is just that – the richness of color. The saturation of color lifts any work into a magical realm!
Oh Mary!
I only have one word, and that is Silk!
I love silk and I love to stitch with silk and the colors of thes are fantastic!!!
Thank you for this opportunity, Mary. I love learning new things and I love shiny things so this would satisfy both pleasures. The colors are amazing as is the sheen but the booklet of instruction is also incredibly valuable.
The flat silk I’ve used can up a project’s glam factor tenfold. By no means have I used it alot, but I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of getting it to lay correctly. It would be so much fun to try using shading for a project. Both collections inspire finding a project that would be heavily shaded–perhaps a floral? Even using them in a simple line-drawn design, the depth of the silk color would create a richness that enhances the work. Flat silk really makes a satin stitch become a true satin stitch…who doesn’t appreciate that?
The idea of stitching with Flat Silk seems so *exotic* to me! The shine and smoothness are so beautiful. It would be so luxurious!
I have never used flat silk, but there are some looks that only be achieved with it. I love the wide flat straight stitches that cab be used to create the look of pine needles, or spikey edged leaves. Thanks for all these giveaways!! Sandi now in Oregon
Flat silk is one of those “worth the trouble” kind of fibers. Twisted filament is easier to work with, but it just doesn’t have the luscious quality that flat silk has. These bone drying winters of Nevada make it hard for me to work with the flat silks because of my hands being so chapped, but in the spring and the fall, I am right there with several sugar scrubs and much moisturizing, achieving miracle effects with the shadows, contrasts and sheen that flat silk gives to simple stitches. It really is the “Ooooooooo” factor that make flat silk so appealing.
I recently learnt how to use flat silk and am still trying to overcome the challenge of working with it, but I absolutely love it. The sheen of the laid silk is amazing and what is great that one can pare down each strand and make it as fine as one would like and still be able to work with it. Just wish it was not so expensive and hard to come by.
I would love to try the flat silk. I have just started doing crazy quilting and would like to incorporate the silk into the seam treatments. Thanks for all the work you do with your daily posts. I don’t know how you do all that you do. Beverly
I love the sheen of silk threads. I’ve used other silks in hand embroidery, but have never used flat silk.
Carole Krause
Wow! Those are beautiful threads! I would love to learn how to use them. Thanks for the chance to win!
Happy new year~
Diana in Sioux Falls
Good Morning Mary,
Flat Silk Thread – sounds so much fun and the colors are so soft and simply beautiful. I know silk fabric but to use silk thread to create, or enhance a design is intrigering for sure.
The beauty of the pieces of Japanese embroidery which I have seen mostly on-line but a few in person makes me wish I could learn how to do this. I am amazed at the techniques that are used, it’s not like most embroidery that we do.
I have been following Jane Smith’s blog “Nejiribana-sprialling flower design” for some time and have gained even more appreciation for the work that goes into each piece.
To be able to have a chance to work with flat silk and learn how to properly use it would be one of the best birthday presents I could think of. I wish there were more places that taught this amazing embroidery. But this would be definitely worth receiving, to get a chance to do this!
The sheen and the beauty, and it’s SILK! How beautiful!! Thank you for the generous gift of exciting fibers. Really hoping I’m chosen for one of these sets.
I do Brazilian Embroidery (BE) and love it because of the sheen and brightness of the threads. The Japanese flat silk threads are very similar in this manor. I have been branching out from BE and trying other forms of needlework. This thread intrigues me as another type of embroidery I would like to try.
I have taken a beginning Japanese embroidery class. My teacher passed away recently so I really would like to attend the Japanese classes in Atlanta, GA
OOOOh Mary! They look so gorgeous – I love threads, yarns, embellishments – I never had any silk because of the price – I would use it for small items on my clothing or handbags probably. I own a Japanese one-point stitch
embroidery book – There are many beautiful motifs I could use. I love the sheen – and the unexpected hues the silk would pick up from the light. The challenge – well – that doesn’t excite me – but I’ll take it. Thank you, blessings – Jane
I love to work with silk threads. It is sheen of the thread and beauty of the embroidery when done with silk threads which attracts me more..
I have never worked with flat silk, have no idea what it is. But I love other silk threads, the softness and sheen.
Bye, Winnie
What fun! I’ve never even seen or used flat silk, but as a confirmed thread-o-holic, I sure would like the opportunity for a first! Thanks… Ellen
Hi Mary
I have never worked with this beautiful silk, but if I won it I would take it to our thread painting group and share it (there are 5 of us) so we could learn to thread paint with silk. How exciting.
You are so sweet to share everything. Oh to be so prolific as you are. Amazing
Flat silk! I have a friend who does gorgeous work with this fiber. I have always been to intimidated to even try. But with this great giveaway, I would be willing to try. The wonderful play of light on the silk and the different effects that are seen from several angles are what I find fascinating about the flat silk. Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi Mary. Thanks for the chance to win these gifts. I have worked with many times with silk threads. Never the flat silks. Would love to try. Always a new challenge is what I look for. Thank you
Judy , Caledonia
I normally work with Pearsalls Silks that are a twisted 6 ply skein. A lovely thread to work with on a normal day to day – BUT Japanese flat silks are completely different. Their sheen is unbelievable, but difficult to work with. I have the chance to work with a Japanese lady (Matsushima Midori) over here (UK)and with her help would hope to produce a true needle painting.
I love silks, but have never had the chance to work with flat silks. It would be fun to be able to try some out and the collections are so beautiful!
I have never worked with flat silk–and very little with stranded..so I feel like a real beginner! So the challenge of working with silk attracts me (as well as the fact that it IS real silk–I usually play with cotton floss) I have been reading every entry of your blog since I found it 2 years ago–the information is helpful and inspiring! Thank you for all you do!
Working with flat silk is different than than stitching with any other thread I’ve ever used. I especially love the reflective qualities the threads have when light hits them. What a luxury to have them to stitch with. The colors are breathtaking! What a beautiful ‘sunset’ they would paint!
I am going to look into this for my store. Great promo.
I love almost everything silk ,except my dry hands, when i’m around it.
The sheen on these spools is alluring. I have wanted to do this small of embroidery since seeing a quilt 10 years by a group of Japanese women. Beautiful appliqued floral designs with tiny dragonflies and other garden bugs embroidered on the flowers. It was delicate and realistic. Just beautiful.
Would like to try this new product.
Flat silk is soooo wonderful. One must have patience and a little practice doesn’t hurt either. Both of these sets are lovely and each of the gifters are very generous
Lynn H Texas
I found myself salivating a bit as I gazed upon these silks. My start exfoliating my hands NOW!
I found myself salivating a bit as I gazed upon these silks. My start exfoliating my hands NOW!
My biggest attraction to these silks is their other-worldy sheen. The depth of colour and texture cannot be beat & I would love to make use of in some historically inspired embroidery.
Oh! Mary. I thought yesterday’s giveaway was fab.but today’s is even more fab.
For me it’s just the challenge of using such a fine thread. It’s easy to snag on frame or hands but the end result is worth all the hassle.
Pam in Hampshire UK
What’s not to like about flat silk? It comes in wonderful colors, has unparalleled shine, and provides a challenge. (Not to mention that it finds every single rough spot on your hands. 🙂 )
I love the way silk looks. It beckons me to step in closer. To reach out my hand. To inquire.
Shelley W.
It is a great pleasure to work with natural fibers such as silk, wool or cotton. And when you combine that with embroidering a beautiful design using lovely colors, what could be more delightful!
Anytime I have added silk in various forms to a project, it adds a special effect not attainable with other fibers. I’d love to see what could be done with these beautiful spools of silk.
Both sets have gorgeous colours. I’ve never worked with flat silks, but I’d really like to find out what the finished embroidery is like to the touch. I love the feel of different fibers, different techniques – this silk looks as if it would be hard to leave alone!
Flat silk? What’s not to love?! It makes such a gorgeous end result. I fell in love with the look from a stitching show on PBS probably 12 years ago and haven’t taken the plunge to try it for myself yet! (I know that’s horriblel!) I’m so impressed with Michael aka Wormspit. I’ve had a conversation with him on Ravelry about other creatures that make silk besides silk worms. He’s such a nice guy! Thanks for this great offer!
I am always awed by how luminescent flat silk is. I haven’t had the opportunity to work with it yet, but I work mainly in satin stitch and can’t help but think it would add something very special to my finished pieces.
OOOOOOH! So smoooooth and shiny! I love silk!
I’ve never stitched with silk before, but the finished product makes me eager to try!
I love the silk, the sheen, the brilliant colours, and the feeling when you touch it. I’m hopefully going to learn the basics in Japanese embroidery in spring, and I can’t wait for the course to begin. I will have to take great care of my hands, and stop gardening without gloves!
The sheen of the silk is probably my biggest draw, other than the fact that silk is just wonderful.
Merry Third Day of Christmas! What a wonderful giveaway. Thank you! What attracts me is indeed the beauty of the thread, the way it shines. I absolutely love the look and feel of silk. I’ve never embroidered with it, and the challenge would be so exciting.
silk is amazing no matter what form it is in! so my answer would be all of the above! i would love a chance to try out these amazing looking threads! thanks for these giveaways!
What attracts me to the idea of working with flat silk is the beauty of the threads and their intense but also delicate colors. To me their sheen is like the difference between the patinas of gold and brass — there’s an inner glow that comes out. I also like the idea of working with a natural fiber that has staying power.
Thank you again for coming up with such a wonderful series of contests! They are really inspirational.
The colors and shine of the silk are what primarily attracts me. I’ve used weaving silk in
embroidery and I’ve liked the effects. I hope I win the silk.
Yum. Silk. Just because it is so beautiful.
Flat silk has to be the most intimidating thread there is! But because of the sheen and the gorgeous colors, it is probably one of the most beautiful as well. Perhaps they would spur one to keep the hands well treated so that they don’t catch every wisp while working with the silk. The how-to is a great accompaniment.
I have never tried flat silk. I am very curious to learn more and see what challenges it provides. I love the look of this and am very curious as to what you can create with these.
It’s absolutely the shine and the smoothness that attracts me the most. I have worked with Soie d’Alger before and I liked it a lot. I know it’s not a flat silk, but it is silk and when I look at the above pictures it is even more shinier!
Good Evening Mary
These are beautiful and the sheen is georgous.
I have never used these threads before, or even seen them for that matter. I think last months Inspirations magazine cover of the butterfly would look lovely done in these threads.
So much to try.
Thank you
Karen Lowrie, Kettering, UK
I have only worked with flat silk once, a deep royal blue color for an EGA GCC goldwork and silk piece. It is finicky but the sheen is beautiful. I love all threads in silk – hard to find one I haven’t liked yet. I first learned to use a laying tool while working with the flat silk (am still a beginner). Now I use my laying tools more often. So I’m grateful to flat silk for helping me learn something new. Yet, I still need to learn to work with flat silk in a better manner.
I just live the sheen and over all beauty. I haven’t tried working with yet, but would love too.
Mary in Oregon
Love the colors and want to try something new I couldn’t otherwise do
The sheen of these threads makes an embroidery sing! Having seen a piece worked with such threads (in person), I decided to take a Japanese Embroidery class next year. Aside from working in Japanese Embroidery with the wonderful silks, I would also like to experiment with the flat silks for a more modern take on embroidery.
Cathie B
You and your suppliers are always so generous. Thanks! I have lots of cotton and wool threads in my collection but only a small amount of silk. I love the sheen and since I do a lot of stitching on felt, the silk thread would contrast beautifully with the wool. I am close to drooling here…
Silk in any form is wonderful. I love using silk threadd when I do hand applique. Becasue of the sheen and color selection I would love using flat silk when I do hand embroidery projects.
I am very intimidated with the silk; however, I love working with silk fabrics when sewing unique evening purses and gloves; I would love to try stitching handwork stitches with the threads with its beautiful reflection of light and its smooth texture.
It all ways feel like Christmas when opening your mails! Thanks for that.
I would like to work with the flat silk for the challenge of working with it?
Pretty! I haven’t worked with Japanese silk before so I’m excited at the idea of trying something new. And I love the colors – of both sets. Can’t decide which I like more. 🙂
I’ve never used flat silk and boy do I want to now… such sheen and shine… that’s what draws me in.
Hi Mary,
What a stunning giveaway! Both sets of silk are utterly delightful. It is the high sheen which I love on this silk, but it is the challenge of using it well that attracts me. This would be a gorgeous win.
Victoria.
When I was visiting Japan 2 years ago I visited a silk factory that produced silk thread and fabrics. It was mesmerizing to watch and I became very enamored with the beautiful products. Since January 1st is my birthday—age 65—it would be a very appreciated gift. I would attempt my first item of Japanese embroidery with the threads and would love every stitch of it. Thank you for your generosity.
I am intrigued, as i have never knowingly worked with flat silk (maybe I have used round silk?)…and these colors are amazingly rich.
Clearly the instruction booklet would be put to good use, too!
What a great give-away. I find out about the coolest stuff on your site!
Oh Mary you are like having Santa come along for the daytwelce days after Christmas! those colours just make my mouth water . . .
Nana Pam
I haven’t used any sort of silk threads yet, but do love a challenge and they look so beautiful in these photos.
What beautiful colors,sheen,thread.I would Love to work with this thread.WOW!
In answer to your questions yes, yes, yes and yes. I am intrigued because it is beautiful, luxurious, and also a bit intimidating. Truthfully, I would just enjoy looking at it in my thread box knowing it was mine to use whenever I want, and it may take me a long time to decide how to use it. Debbie Thompson, O’Fallon, IL
I’ve never worked with this variety of silk and think the challenge would be fun, but I have to admit that the biggest draw is the company’s name! Gotta love their sense of humor.
Oh these are beautiful colors. I love the variety of them all. I also like how the colors shine. Kind of like looking at a beautiful rainbow in the sky.
I’ve never worked with flat silk before, and I’d love to experiment with it! The colors are absolutely beautiful.
I love the look of flat silk and have wanted some for a long time. I have been looking at “Threads across the net” and I am just gobsmacked.
I also have a couple of books on oriental embroidery and would love to start using them.
Tania
Mary, those colors look delicious! I have never done any embroidery with Japanese flat silk but I would love to try it. This would be a good way to try something new!
Cathy S of MI
I would love to try flat silk! I’m always up for a challenge, and I just happen to have a Japanese Embroidery book that I received for Christmas.
As I am wiping the drool off my face, oh my goodness, what beautiful colors! I wonder how well that would work with crazy quilting?
Heide / Escondido CA
What lovely colours! I would love to use these silks to explore their use in rozashi, a technique I just started doing this year. They would look lovely in a piece with blocks of varying depths of colour, I think. I would love to give it a try!
Dear Marymentor:
In answer to No. 2 of your instructions, I truly have to say “All of the Above” 🙂 I feel I’ve reached the level where I can start to work with the really “elegant” threads and so very much want to learn how to turn out those gorgeous pieces that are actually worth framing or becoming heirlooms, (eventually ? )….I’m also excited that a “How To” book will accompany this of your Twelve Days of Christmas….Thank you so much for doing this giveaway. It really motivates me, and others I’m sure, to dive in and try new mediums and elements… Thanks again…Judy in Pittsburgh
Hi Mary, Flat silk is attractive to me because of the sheen. I use stranded silk all of the time but have been afraid to use the flat silk. I have made it my goal this year to get my hands in shape so I can use the flat silk. First step STOP CHEWING MY NAILS.
OMG, would I love to have the Japanese Silk threads!
I am attracted to the beautiful sheen of flat silk when laid properly. So the sheen gets me first but then the beauty it gives to a piece of needlework is also important. I have used flat silk in embroidery before but I recall my very first time working with it. I had rough hands from working in the yard, dishes, housecleaning, etc. Well you guessed it. Before I could even lay the thread on the embroidery, I had a blossoming wad of thread that just could not be tamed!! Kinda like a blooming onion look. Soooo, I used an emery board on my fingertips (Probably not a good idea if you need to be finger printed) But since I haven’t committed any crime, and the needlpoint police were not after me, I figured it was my fingers and they WERE going to be SMOOTH!! Then I slept with my hands slathered in Bag Balm cream and gloves for a few days and tried stitching again. It was much better. Since then I take better care of my hands, especially if working with flat silk. I have to plan for it in advance so I can condition my hands.
So there you have it.
Vicki
Hi Mary,
Would like so much to work with silk and the colors are so beautiful.
I’m dreaming of flowers ….Will see
Thank you for all those give-away,
Ginette of Mexico
OOH, I like flat silk even if it doesn’t like me as well. I have taken a couple beginning classes in Japanese embroidery and am impressed with the beauty of the threads and the finished (or in my case, in process) product. Flat silk is a little tricky for me but I like all silks.
Wow! I have taken classes from Sue Spargo to create wool applique that is heavily embellished with embroidery stitches. She uses an Italian silk thread that is round and makes wonderful bullion knots. It would be so much fun to try the “flat” silk thread. I’m signed up for Sue’s 2012 block of the month and there are wonderful ocean blues and aquas in the kit. Yummy stuff.
Ooh, exciting! I have never worked with silk, but it looks like it would be a wonderful adventure. Thank you for the opportunity to win such a wonderful gift!
I have often thought of trying flat silk because I love the way it reflects the light based on the angle. It also look hard to use and I’m always up for a new challenge. I’ve looked many times at the Japanese embroidery classes, but they center is across the country. Having these silks and instructions at my home would allow me to try this fiber, without the cross country commitment.
I have never had the opportunity to work with flat silks. The colors and sheen are stunning.
It would be an adventure to try and create an embroidery with these threads.
I would like to try silk, because I haven’t worked with a fine material like this. It’s beautiful and it’s a new challenge for me.
Have a nice day all
Wassernixe alias Tünde
Silk is the most beautiful media to work with it shines with a ‘life’ of it’s own and the colours it comes in are amazing. I have many different types of silk (including reclaimed sari silk) and it all adds life to any needlework project. I even own a handmade silk hammock which is so comfy to sleep in
I’ve not heard of Japanese flat silk! I would surely love the opportunity to design specifically for something so lovely. I am afraid I am still drooling over the photos on your site. 🙂 Thank you, Mary, for introducing all of us to this product!
Deb in Idaho
after seeing so much beautiful Japanese embroidery on blogs– particularly threadsaccrosstheweb.blogspot.com, I am dying to give some of those incredible techniques a shot. I heart fuzzy effect! I’m really interested in making my own threads of different weights and mixtures with the flat silk.
I am your basic magpie, I am drawn to the sheen, but I also love the feel of the silk. I am disabled now with time to take on new challenges and would love the chance to try. How wonderful of you and your suppliers to do this give-away.
I have been viewing Japanese flat silk online its so beautiful would love to win some , the colours of the silk sets are just so lovely. One daysdreams of beautiful embroideries with silks.
I love flat silk. I’ve never worked with it but the projects I’ve seen look so shiny and luxurious. Also, it’s more authentic to medieval embroidery 🙂
Gorgeous! I like all of the above as ar as the silk goes. I have many other types of threads and fibers for crazy quilting and this would indeed be dazzling on my quilt. The pamphlet would come in handy too as I am not that familiar with the thread. I would love to embroider with this, and the colors are stunning.
Hi Mary,
My Mother-in-law has a large framed “painting” of swans on a lake that has been done in Japan with Japanese flat silk; everytime I see that picture it reminds me that I really want to try something like it.
As an amateur painter, the idea of painting with silk is both challenging and appealing. It would be wonderful to use your give-away to make my first foray into using flat silks properly.
Thank you, Greta 596, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Silk, nothing better then working with silk, what more can you say then WOW!
Hi Mary,
I´m so happy that I found you in the web. As someone has already said in the comments: It feels like Christmas every day,I love to receive your e-mails and I love to be able to visit the site every time I want. Thanks for your wonderful work. These spools of silk look like little jewels to me. I´d love to try to work with them. I have never worked with silk thread before. Can people abroad participate in the give aways (I’m from Brazil) ? Thank You for everything and Happy New Year.
I love the idea of silk! It seems to shiny and professional looking. Both of these sets are gorgeous! 🙂
Hi Mary,
I’ve never worked with flat silk and I have been wanting to for a long time. All the colors are beautiful and the sheen just adds to it.Thank you.
I love the colors, the sheen, the beauty of the finished product! You have said we must be careful when working with it; I am intrigued!and already making plans for a project…
Hello. What beautiful collections of colors! I have used silk thread in hand applique, but have never used flat silk for embriodery, so I would love the opportunity. Thanks to Mary for the 12 Days and to all the sponsers.
OMG! Who wouldn’t want to work with “Plummy” silk. The connotation of just thinking about that color thought pulls me into the wonderful wealthly world of Persia, Asia and beyond. I would use it in my “Crazy Quilting”. Haven’t been about to afford too much silk for that use. Thanks Krind
Working with flat silk would be uncharted territory for me – and I always love taking on something new!
Since memoirs of a Geisha was published, I have had a bit of an obsession with all thigs ‘Japan’ These silks are stunning, but I have a feeling my hands are just too rough to do them justice.
A close friend is a master Japanese silk embroiderer. Her work is glorious and she continually urges me to try stitching with silk. What a wonderful gift Mary. Happy New Year!
yummy, yummy, yummy. What a treat it would be to work with those threads! No matter the project, it would be so beautiful
The sheen on the silk is glorious, and I would really like to use it, to see how it will work in a larger design.
For me silks are harder to use. But the result in appearance is worth it. I did three small pieces last year using silks and now I am hooked.
Hi Mary
I would love to use these beautiful silks to embroider the Obi for my Kimono.
Thanks for doing this.
Merry 3rd Day of Christmas Mary.
The attraction to using the silk is that… that is what “the professionals” like yourself, uses. There is a certain intrique with its long history in the needle arts, with royalty and wealth…. I’ve not heard of flat silk until your website came into my life!! I have some silks that i have used for needlepoint, but not flat.
Yes, it would amp up the dignity of the stitchery!!!
Chris
Great giveaway! I love doing Japanese embroidery work and find that nothing reflects the “feel” of that style of work more than silk threads and, especially, Japanese flat silk thread. I would love to have a large supply and be able to explore this type of embroidery work more.
Mary,thank you so much for the 12 days of Christmas. I love the blue range of colors.i’ve never used flat silk before but would like to give it a try.
Nancy Green ,Allen,Md.
Beautiful, elegant colors…I’ve only done minimal work with silk before so it would be fantastic to try using all those colors that remind me of a splash of a garden bouquet….
thanks for all the info. you provide and the 12 days of Christams gifts…what better way to get people motivated to try new things…Grace from Minnesota
Hi Mary, I have never worked with flat silk but recently saw a Kookaburra embroidered in Japanese silks by Margaret Lee here in Australia and Wow is all I can say, it was beautiful, and so life like. Thankyou Mary and sponsers 🙂
Aloha Mary,
Like a moth drawn to the light,I am drawn to these colors as they are my favorites. The beauty of flat silk is that it can be divided or twisted to achieve different effects from the same bit of thread. The care needed in using it shows in the finished work. Beautiful!
Jacquelin Ihsan
Wow! What attracts me to working with silks? Novelty, as I’ve never done it before, the sheen and feeling of it, the luxury (which I couldn’t really afford, so a giveaway is great!), and the fact that it’s a naturally made substance. Thanks for hosting!
I just started working with flat silk. What attracts me the most is the shine of it when the light reflects on it at different angles. It is very different from twisted silk I had used before. I also love that it is silk, just because silk is so beautiful no matter how you embroider with it.
And thanks again for your giveaway.
I love the sheen of the silk, which makes shading so much more delicate. I went to a Japanese embroidery exhibition in Adelaide, South Australia, a few months ago and left with determination to learn from one of the tutors. This silk would really help!
When I think of flat silk, I think of the incredible Chinese silk embroidery I’ve seen. Those old pieces inspire me to try to make something extraodinary and WOW in my remaining time alive, and not just fill the days with mediocre.
I’m interested in the silk thread because of its sheen and beauty of the thread.
Thank you Mary, Michael & Julie for this wonderful giveaway
I love the beautiful sheen of silk and the wonderful depth of colour. I would love either of these collections.
Another fabulous giveaway.The generosity of your goodies suppliers is amazing 🙂
I love all types of thread and silk would be another to add to my stash for my crazy quilting.
Regards
Phillipa in NZ
Just Beautiful!!! The flat silk collections are so great they really cause the visual images to use them flash in the minds eye with so many combinations it’s hard to visualize all the beautiful color combinations you could design!
I never have embroidered with silk, and I do dream to do that test. Those colections are greatest. And Im looking for Japanese embroideries since I was less than 10 years old (now am I 57…)It would be wonderfull for me, like each your give-away.
Thank you Mary!
I love embroidering with silk thread, but seldom get to because it is so expensive. I’d love to use these threads…
I learned to tat from my maternal grandmother and appreciate handwork from both my grandmother and my mom. These silk threads are beautiful. I have never worked with silk and I would love to have the opportunity to work with these wonderful threads, and think my mom and grandmother!
Wow those are beautiful! I have never worked with silk, but have always wanted to. I think the sheen is just beautiful and the colors are amazing! I find it a bit intimidating to think about using them but I think it would be an adventure!
-Heather in Chicago
Hi Mary,
Silk just seems like the ultimate luxury thread – so beautiful – both the colors and the sheen. I’ve been wanting to try the flat silk since I saw you use it in the background of your Agnus Dei piece. And I love the look of the flat silk with the vermicelli couching. How wonderful it would be to have a range of colors to work (play) with! Thanks slways for your wonderful site and your inspiration!
Janice U.
Wow! These silks are the creme de la creme of embroidery threads. When I look at the colours I instantly feel that they should be used on an embroidery of a saint or in particular, with the blues, of Our Lady – because they are so special, they should be used on something very special. I love them! Thank you for showing them to us.
Oh My Goodness! What beautiful silk. You are very lucky to have individuals and companies who respect what you do and provide such lovely materials for you to share with your readers. The colors are so wonderful to look at, imagine what they could add to any embroidery project. I believe that I would begin using it in one of my crazy quilt projects and when I felt more confident would try something entirely stitched in silk – perhaps a christening ensemble or a floral piece, depending on the colors.
I’d love to use the silk thread to make jewelry, showing hanging clusters between beads. I’d also share this trove with a friend who incorporates multiple strands of threads into her artwork.
Lynne in Baltimore
OMG – These silks are truly lucious. If I won I would feel it was my destiny to attend the Japanese Embroidery Center in Atlanta – something I have wanted to do for several years now. It is one of my life’s dreams to learn Japanaese embroidery.
Hi Mary,
These colours and this silk are absolutely gorgous. I would use them and the pamplet to try Japanese Embroidery which I have never attempted. I would also like to be able to share the treads with others who would like to try this very disciplined form of embroidery.
What attracts me to the idea of working with flat silk? For me Mary it would have to be the sheen and beauty of the thread. The purples and blues colors would look wonderful in my bedroom. The wheels are turning in my head already.
Thanks Mary
According to Melinda Sherbring, she can’t find any documentation, but she has seen extant examples that use it in 16thC work. It’s advantage is that it doesn’t ‘spread’ over time like a twisted silk can. Satin stitch, split stitch and the earlier Or Nue.
I’m interested because you wrote an article mentioning only 2 sources of flat silk.
I have only worked with silk once before and that was using Pearsalls silk, not a flat silk. However, I was impressed by its lustre and loved the richness of the stitching produced.
I’d love to try the flat silk to see if I can learn to use it. It’s so expensive that I’m a bit afraid to do so in case I waste it so winning some might mean I’d be more willing to try!
Oh, I think it’s the way the texture affects the colors – any color looks richer in silk. I’m keeping your pics just to enjoy the colors. Also, I ‘play’ with a medieval-recreation group; I would love to put historically accurate real-silk embroidery on my linen shirts. (I haven’t done a lot of embroidery on linen, BTW, but I heartily recommend it as a fabric to wear.)
Hi Mary,
I have never worked with Japanese silk and would love to try it. I think that the sheen and beauty of the thread is what I like the best. Thanks for a lovely give away.
Joan Turrell from Canada
Oh my – these flat silks look amazing – I am drawn to the beautiful colours – anything worked in silk always looks a million dollars – the sheen is usually to die for. Thanks for the opportunity to win one of these packs.
It’s definitely the sheen and beauty that attracts me. Watching the work you have done with it makes me really want to try it. I must confess, the challenge part is a little intimidating.
I have been stitching for a very long time, and I love stitching with regular silk thead. Actually, when I do my hand smocking, I use silk thread almost exclusively, because it’s much easier to work with and the end result is just beautiful. I’ve never heard of flat silk, but I am interested in giving it a try. I also love satin stitching, and I think this would be beautiful.
Silk has held me inthralled since discovering the ‘special drawer’ that held my mother’s delicate lingerie. How she taught me the correct care and washing of she beautiful treasures’. Using silk thread has become my favorite embroidered imbellishment technique. The way light plays with the fibers, changing tone with sunlight to office light. I’ve never had the opportunity to try the flat silk threads, and am looking forward to learning this new technique for the new year. Thank you for your generous give-a-ways, and sharing all your valuable skills with your faithful blog followers’.
Hmm, come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever worked with silk. Cotton, wool, synthetics, yes, but never silk. And since I’m somebody who has to try everything at least once, I’d love to have some to experiment with. Doesn’t hurt that I absolutely admire Japanese embroidery.
Ooooooh! They’re absolutely gorgeous! I love the sheen and the colors! I can just imagine what they must be like when the light plays on them. I’ve never worked with flat silk. I’m currently working with a twisted silk for the first time and was disappointed to see how little shine it has. Like many, what keeps me from trying flat silks is the price. I would use it for an ecclesiastical project.
I have never seen flat silk thread but I love regular silk threads so I know I would love this too. I love to learn new things.
Carolw, Windsor CA
It’s the beautiful color and sheen of the silk that I find so attractive. I love silk in my embroidery but have never used flat silk. What a wonderful opportunity for someone.
Thank You,
Claudia
The beauty of silk, the sheen and the rich colors are what attract me to this lovely thread.
Oh my, these are so pretty. I’ve never worked with flat silk before. Would love to try it.
I love the colors of the thread, they are like oil paints waiting to be used on a blank canvass.I have never used silk thread before and a technique I would like to try.
These silk threads look so beautiful I just hunger for them. Such beautiful things are only available via online stores for me. I cam almost feel the design taking shape. Flowers, flowers, and butterflies. The gleam of the silk, the softness under my hands, the patience, the time and progress. What a wonderful prize.
Hi Mary
How exquisite! The colours look amazing and I love the beauty of silk. I like embroidering with silk, particularly bullion stitch.
I was lucky enough to do a class with Susan o’Connor using french silk and fell in love with its sheen and quality. I would love to try some pieces with flat silk, and these colours would make a beautiful picture, a shell perhaps? or maybe some flowers?
What beautiful colors. I have worked with flat silk before and nothing can give you the look that it can. You need a gentle hand and smooth skin to work with it. I have projects now waiting for flat silk and would put this to good use.
What beautiful fibers! I have only used silk when smocking silk fabrics. It’s funny that I started out loving embroidery and it led me to learning about smocking and now I’m back to wanting to learn more about embroidery! I do love the sheen of the fibers but I also love the soft feel it has when coming through the fabric.
Thoses threads are just gorgeous…For all the reasons you said I would like to learn how to do japanese embroidery.
Hello Mary. Wonderful flat silk. I like making japanese embroidery, I like flat silk because We can twist it, use it with one, two, tree or four bread and so on. it shine and we can often see two colours in one.
No more that it’s christmas and this is the first collection I prefer, but where can I buy every colours ?
Thanks for every thing you do.
Happy new year for you and your family in 2012.
Isn’t the world a funny place?
I’m attracted to the colour and the sheen. It just looks so yummy!
How beautiful! It’s the colour and lustre of silk that I love best, nothing else is quite the same. I would love to try flat silk and design some special embroidery pieces with it.
What attracts me to the idea of working with flat silk is definitely the beauty of the thread.
It’s all about the look and feel. 🙂
I love the feel and look of silk. The colors change as you stitch it in different directions. I do Traditional Japanese Silk Embroidery and love the flat and twisted looks of the silk. I have been stitching with Japanese silk for 8 years and never cease to be in awe of the sheer beauty of the silk when watching a flower “bloom” as you stitch! I graduated from the Japanese Embroidery Center and have executed all 46 techniques of embroidery. The colors are exquisite.
Only day three and I am having so much fun with the twelve days of Christmas!! I have never worked with this type of material before, but it just looks beautiful. You can tell without even touching it that it will be magical to touch and work with. I love the excited feeling I get just by looking at it!
I think what attracts me is the color and the excitement of trying new things. Since I have recently become addicted to crazy quilting I can only imagine how perfect these would be as part of a very Victorian style block.
Robin Smith
Hello Mary,
What attracts me to the flat silk is its sheen, richness and colors of the thread. It is such a very nice way to add interest and dimension to a flower for example by just stitching each petal slightly in a different direction. Please be kind enough to enter my name in the drawing.
Thank you very much for offering these threads to us.
Have a wonderful New Year.
WOW! Have always wanted to try silk embroidery, now you are giving us a chance. The colors are gorgeous, thanks for offering these giveaways.
Ooooohhhh, Mary!
We all know Japanese silk is the creme de la creme of embroidery fibers and that mastering it proves two things:
1) You’ve conquered the tekobari; and
2) You’ve got perfectly smooth cuticles!
Since the latter is a bit of an issue for me, I’d sure like to win some of that silk so that the next time it goes “pfft” I won’t be peeved by both the tangle and the cost!
I love silk and have tried twisted buttonhole before and love the feel of it I also like the flat silk embroidery and that may be fun to try.
Melisa B in Saskatchewan
Wow! How could you not love these colors? They are so cool and the sheen is wonderful. I really would love to try working with flat silk on a special project yet to be determined. Hope I am one of the lucky winners here.
Mary Ann H.
Hi Mary,
I love the amazing colors and the possiblities for use for Needlepainting or even some Monogramming. The inclusion of the instruction book is great too, so the winners won’t have to look up the technique for proper use if they don’t know them already. That would be me!
Susie H
I only worked a little bit with silk thread. Its beauty and sheen attract me. If I get one of these flat silk collections, I will definitely use it for my Victorian crazy quilt project.
Thank you, Mary.
It is so delicate and shiny with satin stitches. I love combining flosses, stranded cotton, metallics, silks, blending filaments, perhaps beads too. (I mostly do cross stitch.)
I absolutely love them.
There is nothing better than working with SILK threads to create an heirloom for the future.
Thanks so much for the great opportunity.
I love that the colors with silk are so clear and rich and the texture is so smooth. I’m intrigued with “flat” silk.
Such gorgeous colours. I have worked with cotton and wool but never silk. Would love to have a chance to try it though. Thanks for the generosity from you and your suppliers. So very nice. Take Care
Patricia
I love the idea of working with silk and learning to work with flat silk. Love those lustrous colors.
Wow, that amazing give-away!!!! Beautiful colors!
I would like to try this kind of silk someday, needle painting beautiful butterflies Thank you for the chance to participate in this give away!
I would love to win one of the silk packages. I love working with silk thread, but have never worked with flat silk. It would be fun to learn how to work with it while enjoying the sheen of silk and the gorgeous colors. I love the tropical sea colors! Thanks, Kendra H.
I am just drawn to the beauty of silk. I want to learn to use it in small projects. I have a couple of small kits, but they are sooooo expensive. I’ve just learned to do Brazilian embroidery, and I think some of their patterns would work with other floss/yarns/threads including silk.
On a recent visit to Japan I had the incredible experience of touring the embroidery studio of one of the National Treasures of Japan. The amazing work he, his sister and the apprentice were working on was of a quality and beauty rarely seen. I felt privileged to see it. They let me buy the first Japanese silk I had ever had and gave me a special needle to get me started properly. I just love everything about it-the richness of the colors, the sheen and the memories which come whenever I work with silk.
I love the richness of the colors and the luxurious texture of the silk itself. I pleasure to see and touch! Thanks for the chance to win!
Flat Silk, colour, texture, sheen. A real challenge. And POTENTIAL!!!
Without doubt, it is the fabulous sheen of flat silk that attracts one. I have a set of antique fansticks that I would love to use for mounting a Japanese design in silk thread. Peonies, perhaps?
I’d love to try working with the flat silks; partly because of the extra effects I could try out, and partly because I prefer sewing and embroidering in natural fabrics where I can, so I’d love a new option to add to my choices!
When you want shine, flat silk is about the only thread to use on fine embroidery. I’d like to get better with the laying tool.
The Japanese silk is appealing because it is So Beautiful and because I have never used it before. I love trying new threads and techniques!
Flat silk intrigues me and I am planning to go to South Australia for the Japanese Embroidery classes and how awesome it would be for a beginner to have such an awesome collection of flat silk.
I love the look of it all I love the feel of flat silk and the colours are fantastic.
Have not heard of “flat” silk, but love the colors and would love to try it.
Love your website.
The sheen and feel of it attract me to silk. It makes me feel luxurious using it.
ooooohhhh, have never had the opportunity to use silk. would love to win some and try it. thankyou so much.
Firstly, thank you to Micheal Cook of Wormspit and Julie Mar for their generous contribution.
I have loved silk from a very young girl as I used to keep silk worms and sell the skeins to the nuns for pocket money. They dyed and wove it and made vestments or something.
I love silk’s feel,the depths of the colours.
I have always thought silk is a tender fibre but strong willed. Works if treated correctly but can play up if not. In the end it will give a bright smile to the simplest of work.
Seeing your work on the Marian project, Mary gave me an idea for where I could use it. I think though I may have to do a few test runs. Could be a challenge, but one has to at least give it a try.
If I were lucky enough to win a set I would like the first as it has the greens and my favourite colour is green, but either would be wonderful.
Happy days to all.
I could not believe what I was reading. Japanese silks!!! Wow!!! I do Japanese embroidery and treasure these silks. All I can say is let it be me. I love the blues and plum colours however I would be eternally grateful for any at all. What a wonderful connection that you made. I cannot believe anyone would part with them!
Oooh all that shimmer and sheen and shine. It’s just so beautiful!!! I love the first set best of all with all the plums and pinks and greens. It’s like a treeful of damsons or a basketfull of blackberries. I have never stitched with pure silk before and I would love the chance to try. I have a friend getting married later in the year and it would be wonderful to be able to make something special for her and her fiance that has an interesting “story” attached to it and this silk would be ideal for that.
What colours, gorgeous to look at. Would definitely like to feel them slipping through my fingers. Thanks to Michael and Julie for their generosity.
I was floored when I saw the beautiful flat silk. What a collection of serious colors. I don’t know that much about flat silk yet but will invite myself to learn quickly about it. I know quite a bit about color and these colors are spectacular. Thank you for all you do.
I have never tried flat silk. It looks so nice and I would like to have a possibility to try it.
Agne (Lithuania)
I like the sheen of flat silk. It adds such richness to a piece of embroidery.
Thanks, Mary, Michael and Julie!
Sometime back I THINK I saw a needle which was designed to not twist the thread – it opened my mind to the idea of flattened thread. Then your wonderful review of painting embroidery …. And now Flat silk. I think I can combine all these concepts with beautiful – flat silk incorporating it’s sheen and colors.
lorraine
mabbettLorraine at yahoo dot com
Well all of the above AND the fact that Purple is included! We are a big fans of K-State–hubby and two sons grads and third son attended.
Would love to get my hands on the purple!
Oh my goodness! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I win this one!
Well, I’ve never tried flat silk before; so, I think that it would be wonderful to try something new (and challenging).
I think the draw of silk embroidery is the lure of the beautiful sheen and the subtlety of the color shading possible. I would love to win one of these wonderful collections and try my hand at flat silk embroidery.
Hello there, thank you for the opportunity of entering your giveaway. For me it would be the challenge of using the flat-silk, I like to challenge myself to make the best of everything. Thank you. Regards Mandy (mandycurrie@googlemail.com)
Mary,
All silk thread is beautiful, these collections just happen to be more beautiful than most. The sheen and the colors and the fact that it is Silk all appeal to me.
Fran Johnson
Red Oak, TX
They are so beautiful! It would be hard to choose between the colors if I had to.
I am brand new to embroidery (thanks to your site) but I love silk because of it’s beauty and richness so I’ll go with that. As to the challenge of it, I’m sure it might take me a while to get there 🙂
OMG!!! What a generous giveaway! Thank you to Michael and Julie. To me silk means elegant, beautiful and classy. Just the idea of silk exudes such elegance that who wouldn’t want to work with it!
I have never worked with silk thread before on my crazy quilt projects. When I saw the pictures of the thread give aways I was enchanted with the beauty of the thread compared to what I’ve used. I would love to try the silk thread out and use it in my more special projects.
The beautiful rich colors and the sheen would be the first reason I’d love to work with this silk, and the fact that it’s challenging would come in second. If done well, the results are amazing!
Working in flat silk calls me because the colours look so so shiny. For examples, the blues in the last photo above look lust like wet water in a tropical locale – imagine this with fish and coral!! Could I make it look wet and alive? Maybe …
Those are fabulous silks, and would shade so beautifully. All three is my response to the question – I adore silk!!!
Exquisite! That’s the first word that comes to mind. I lived in Hawaii for over thirty years, and loved seeing silk-embroidered things, but. couldn’t afford either the items or the supplies. The sheen is to die for, and in a finished product looks even more amazing. I would love to try my hand at it.
I’ve love to win the silk and play with the techniques. It’s beautiful.
I would love to try working with Japanese flat silk, I am keen to experiment with any embroidery medium or technique. I love the colours and the sheen of the silks they are so sumptuous and beautiful 🙂
Sue, New Zealand
It is the deliciousness of the flat silk that peaks my interest. The colors are so vibrant, I can already feel the silk in my hand………lovely!
WOW-e-e-e-e-e!!! Thank you Mary, Michael, and Julie for this opportunity with Japanese Silk. Just looking at the pictures makes me drool and start looking for a project to use them on. Those blue-greens (Teal) and purples together are my favorite colors. Yes, it would be a challenge, however, IT’S SILK and so warm and lovely! Wish me luck!!!
Missy
I have been wanting to learn to use silk thread but I have been to afraid to try. I been practicing with cotton thread to develope my skills. The color you are offering in the give away are just beautiful plus the addition of instructions is a great bonus.
Thank you,
Cyndi
I have never used Japanese flat silk and would love to try especially with such wonderfully yummy colours. The instruction booklet would come in extremely useful when working with it.
Silk threads are so beautiful! I’ve never used flat silk so I’d really like to try it.
Silk takes color like no other fiber. The vibrancy of color is so amazing! To work in silk thread is such a delight with the touch as well as for the eyes.
Merry third Day of Christmas!
I love the sheen of flat silk that just can’t be achieved with anything else. I finished my first Japanese embroidery piece about ten days ago and enjoyed the challenge very much. My only regret is that I didn’t have more shades of silk to work with. Tina from Melbourne
wow!! How are you coming up with these great give a ways? This is another fabulous package. I have never worked with this….I can only imagine. Pick me, pick me!!
Debi in MS
I would like to get one of these sets, because I’ve never worked with silk thread at all, much less flat silk, and I’d really love to learn. I’m a big fan of all things shiny, but silk just hasn’t been in the budget.
I have never worked with flat silk but would love to. The colours are so sumptuous and the lustre so gorgeous. I would really like to make something very special with these silks.
I took a workshop stitching with silk. The teacher said that silk really reflects the light well and even using just one colour, depending on the way the light shines on the stitches, it can look like you shaded it. I didn’t believe her. When I got back to my room, I stitched a petal in pink and then moved it back and forth to see what effect I’d get. Imagine my surprise when that petal looked like I’d shaded it. It made a believer out of me and since then, I’ve loved stitching with silk simply because of the way it reflects the light.
Stunning! There’s nothing like the colors you find silk!
BEAUTIFUL ! What else can you say
These call for a very special project, thank you for this great opportunity
Bernadette Garcia Albuquerque New Mexico
Would love to have either colorways of these beautiful silks. I have used them in the past, and although they require special handling, they give a sheen to the embroidery that can not be replicated in any other way. Thanks, Mary, for putting them in your 12 Days of Christmas Give Away.
Because I am primarily a seamstress, anything with the hand of silk is luxurious to me. Years ago I started to do my Hardangar, Needlepoint and Cross Stitch with silk fibers and although the silk was hard on my hands, nothing could have been finer nor more beautiful.
I’d love to win the flat silk because it’s so shiny and gorgeous, and I’d love the challenge of learning how to work with it properly.
Hi Mary,The colors of silk are so vibrant and rich looking and I’d like to try my hand using silk………… I must say that your site is the best I’ve come across, I’m new to embroidery and I’m finding everything I need to know in one place, keep up the fantastic work
Carolh
Mary
I’ve used silk on a goodly number of pieces….love the effect. But, have never used flat silk. I think the sheen of it would greatly enhance a lot of needlework patterns that I plan to work.
Jean Beck
OHHHHHH Mary, I would use the silk with my japanese embroidery book. I have used silk floss in my crazy quilting and in my silkribbon work, but not the flat silk and I am truly drawn to the artwork of silk
I am attracted to working with flat silk because the depth of the color and texture in a piece of embroidery would be noticed when the finished piece is displayed. To me, the effort put into learning a new craft method is part of what keeps crafting interesting over time.
These threads look so wonderful they would be fit to be The Twelve Days Christmas Gift. They have a Royal look about them. I have always loved the look and feel of silk. It feels good to your hands, your skin. There again, the Royal look of silk.
It’s the luscious gleam and variety of effects that result from how it’s used that attract me. And the colors. If I win one of these, it will definitely be time to re-visit your entries on winter hands and stitching with silk!
These threads look so rich and wonderful they would be fit to make the Twelve Days of Christmas. They have a look of royalty about them that even the Queen would love. I have always loved the look and feel of silk. It feels good to your hands, your skin. There again, the Royal look of silk.
The beauty, the romance and the history of silk threads! How much these little spools would be treasured by needleworkers hundreds of years ago.
I would love to slip back in my imagination and spend some time with them while trying my hand with this beautiful gift.
Doreen B.
Silk is SILK! The lustre, the color, the shine, the “precision” — there is just NOTHING else like it!! That color range just screams “hydrangeas” to me — in some Arts & Crafts format…. How generous of all these designers/artists/editors/etc. to share stuff with us needlework junkies! Here’s hoping I get to do my hydrangeas!……..
Wow! What a wonderful collection. I work primarily with silk and love the feel, the way it slips through the fabric. I’ve used Midori flat silk for a few of my pieces and can recommend the vibrancy of the colors. Hope to be lucky enough to be selected for this flat silk pack
Ooooooooooooooooooo……………………..
What attracts me is all the above and the fact that I’ve never really used silk thread of any kind before. It’s always nice to learn something new. I’ve always wanted to do a silk needle painting.
All of the above is my answer! I’ve been working with all kinds of silk threads lately and this would be perfect for my stash!
I love working with silk and would love to experiment with flat silk. The variations in sheen would be amazing to see. So thoughtful of you to think of including an instruction pamphlet as well!
I didn’t know what flat silk was until I came here today. I would love a chance to win. I have been working a silk velvet wrap as a personal challenge to blog everyday during the month of December. I have begun an infatuation with blowsy roses and would love to use flat silk for its sheen.
Thank you for opportunity to win this array of beautiful silk thread. I love the way the satin stitch just shines with the silk thread. I do allot of embroidery and crazy quilting!! The colors are beautiful!!
Any embroidered article of flat silk embroidery invokes royalty. Flat silk is rich and elegant. I would deeply enjoy the challenge of embroidering with flat silk and keep the piece as an heirloom.
I have been closely following your Medallion Project and absolutely loved when you put the “creme” flat silk on the background. Wow, then you added the gold vermicelli. I like to do couching. I think the flat silk would be a challenge to do as well as you, but I love a challenge. My main interest is ecclesiastical embroidery.
Many years ago, I learned basic embroidery skills from my grandmother. Children and other life stressors put that hobby on the back burner.
Now, with the children grown, I have had time to be involved in the wonderful hobby of medieval and Renaissance recreation and have been working to improve those old embroidery skills. I have been working with cotton floss, but am ready now to work with more period patterns and materials.
I haven’t taken the step up to silk yet, but this would be a perfect opportunity to do so!
Oh Mary!
What a treat. For me, it’s the sheen and beauty of the thread. The challenge of working with it is a little scary! And after all – it’s silk!
Katherine
Beautiful! I’ve never had a chance to work with these threads but I have admired the fine work done by the Asian artisans with silk for many years.
Luxurious silk and brilliant colors. Would love to win these threads as I’ve never worked with silk threads before.
I love the shiny colors of the silk. The threads look so beautiful together.
I would love to try working with flat silk. Because the silk is flat, I imagine that the sheen on the wider surface would be very reflective.
I would love to win the silk! I am very attracted to the sheen, but alos-I have never heard of flat silk, but worked with other silk threads and loved it. I will keep my fingers crossed
I have never worked with flat silk thread, but I have used silk thread. I love the sheen and the way that it appears to glow when light hits it in just the right direction. The blue-green threads are definitely my favorite.
The colors are so soft looking and the sheen is awesome! Would love to try these beautiful threads on a project. Theresa L.
I love the purple Japanese Silk. Would love to learn to work with Japanese silk.
LeAnn Smith
The Japanese silks are so beautiful that it makes even poor stitching look good and helps me aspire to do better.
I have been wanting to try silk embroidery and think this would be a good jumpstarter. Diane
Oh – already it’s the unbelievable intense and beautiful colors that can be made with silk. The spools are so pretty – thank you both!
Flat Silk what a wonderful thread. It can give trouble when hands have burrs but that is easy to solve. The thread loves to be stroked into position and what lovely results. My dream is to do more in Japanese Embroidery. The ultimate is to be able to attend another class with the experts.
Wonderful article on these two kinds of silk. Have worked with silk but not these. Would love to use them on pieces I’m working on.
OMGolly!! How beautiful the colors!! I think as an embroiderer, we are always looking for new and exciting threads to work with. I have no clue what “japanese flat silk thread” is but would love to find out! I can just imagine how it must feel as it looks so luxurious.
I look forward to reading more about this thread. Everyone is sure enjoying the fun of 12 days of Christmas…
I love the sheen of flat silk and the challenge of working with it. To my mind it is the ultimate in embroidery threads and I adore how it looks when stitched up. I would love a few spools to play with!
I love your site, and that is a great giveaway. The silk is just so elegant, the colors so brilliant.
Thanks for sharing.
I love the color and the shine of the silk. I would also love to learn to work with something new to me!
I have never worked with silk. I have seen a couple of items made with it. If I win, it will be the sheer ultimate experience of working with such luxurant and fine fabric. My mind is racing with some fabulous ideas that I have gleaned from sites on the internet. I love the royal look of such delicate fabric.
Ohhhh, more lovelies! The colors are gorgeous. I’ve never worked with any kind of silk floss or thread, so if I win either of the giveaways I’ll keep some of the threads and share the rest with my local EGA members :-).
Can you imagine a thread so beautiful and fine that is spun by a tiny silk worm? The girls in my quilting group love to applique with silk thread for its durability and strength. I would love to use this thread in a Victorian piece of embroidery reminiscent of that time period.
Suzanne from The Woodlands
I would love to try working in any kind of silk because I think it’s so feminine and delicate. I also think it’s a way to go to the next level in our chosen art, as a student.
I have never worked with silk. The word “silk” has such lovely connotations: lustrous, soft but strong, elegant, and gorgeous colors — all these make the idea of working with silk appealing. I especially loved the blues/turquoises of the second set of silks.
These silk threads just look so luxurious and beautiful; I’ve never worked with flat silk threads but would love the opportunity because the colors are just so vivid, rich, and stunning. I would enjoy the challenge of working with some of these threads. To paraphrase my husband when I bring home new fabric or thread – “You saw something shiny, didn’t you?” Yep…I saw something shiny. Thanks for this chance Mary!
sheen/color/beauty. Pick me, pick me, pick me!
WOW what an amazing offer…. I am attracted to the sheen, the beauty and the exquisite colors. I love embroidery designs and have a few very old patterns I think would look lovely in silk. Thanks for the chance
I haven’t had the opportunity to use silks yet except for a small sampling and I love the beautiful colors and silky texture!
Thanks 🙂
The shine, beauty ,texture and the challenge of using flat silk in needle painting adds to the excitement of working on a project.
I have never worked with Japanese flat silk threads before but I would love the challenge of working with these threads and adding another dimension to my embroidery skills. I love Japanese silk embroidery. The colors, shine and beauty of these threads are magnificient. Once again thank you Mary for your generosity.
I have worked with silk fibres in the past and they are beautiful. Hard to go back to DMC after using silk. I would love to try these ones and already have a few project ideas should I be lucky enough to win.
I have stitched with silk floss, but never the flat silk. The color and sheen are amazing. oh to do a piece of work that beautiful……
Oh How Beautiful!!!! I love them all!!!
Please enter me in the drawing.
The colours of the silk thread all look lovely and I can see (in my mind’s eye) a beautiful painting that can be created! The sheen and beauty of the threads is breathtaking and the article on ‘Suzhou Embroidery’ (though its Chinese) that you had posted comes to mind. I remember going to the site on Suzhou Embroidery and just gazing at the amazing pictures created and wishing I was a wizard at embroidery!
Rose Mary from San Diego CA.
I love your website. The emails are very inspiring. Keep up the great work…….
You asked to tell you what attracts me to the idea of working with flat silk. Mine is mainly selfish because I love learning how to do new things in the area of embroidery and Opus Angelicanum. I have been studying the venue and just love seeing the shimmer and colors. Yeah, it’s really the colors… I just love the rainbow of happiness it gives me. So, like I said, mainly selfish.
Ren
I’ve never worked with flat silk, but I LOVE the way silk thread handles, so I’d say I want/need to win because of the sheer joy of using silk. And who couldn’t love threads that come from something called “Wormspit”!!??
These colors are very exciting and it would be an honor to have such a prize. The colors are so very precious, and the booklet would add so much richness to my needlework knowledge.
These are wonderful colors…..I see pansies in those tubes!
Pat in Michigan
Lucious!!!! Just exquisite thread – the sheen, the colors, and elegance of silk are like sirens of temptation! vbg
Again, this is a fantastic giveaway, but being such a newbie I wouldn’t be ready to use such lovelies.
I just wanted to pop in and say…WOW! They are fantastic!
Good luck to all of you talented stitching women!!!
Several years ago I completed a group needlework project using multiple kinds of silk and metal threads. I loved working with the Japanese silk because of its sheen and the beautiful ways it lays in the work. I have several geometric designs I want to work on and the Japanese silk would be perfect.
Thank you so much for your newsletter. I have ordered several books (which I read cover to cover again and again) based on your recommendations and I love the tips and instructions. Thank you so much for all you share.
I have never worked with silk thread. But I would like to.
OMG OMG – I ****WANT***** this one more than any of them! I’ve worked a bit with silk and I am in lust – but largely it’s too expensive for my DMC budget – I have the perfect project in mind – a stained glass interpretation….. the sheen, the softness – where can I start? Thanks Michael!!!!
I used silk thread for the first time this year to hand sew buttonholes on a tailored jacket I made. I would love to try these in embroidery. It’s really lovely to use!
What beautiful colors in the Japanese Silks.
It would be a first for me to use such thread.
Thank you for the opportunity to enter the contest. Best regards,
I love the feel of silk, and the very luciousness of it! Thank you for having thing
Give away contest, ver generous?
I have never worked with silk. I love the colors. What a great giveaway! Thanks for
the opportunity to win!
These threads would allow me to really learn the art of silk embroidery. To be really good you must practice practice practice. These would make it easier to really learn with the art. I’ll keep my fingers crossedl
Oooh, flat silk! There are some very traditional temari made with flat silk… wouldn’t that be gorgeous?
Jane
The sheen and color! They remind me of the “silk” embroidery by my Mom and Grandmother!
Just beeeeutiful! Thanks for the chance.
Toni P. in Lakeview OR
I love silk thread and have used it in Stumpwork. I have the opportunity in 2012 to learn Japanese embroidery, so to have these threads would be a wonderful start for this new venture.
It’s just so shimmery and lovely and when done right, is a flat expands of silk that boggles.
(posting from Disneyland) 🙂
I looooove silk, all silk, and even if I don’t actually use it the fact of owning it is enough. Some time ago I bought a spool of ‘new’ silk thread without realising that it is actually flat silk, and I don’t really know how to handle it. Winning this would be doubly wonderful because I would also have the instructions for using this gorgeous stuff.
Wonderful colour range
Ah, silk! The truth is I love everything about silk, but what I love most of all is the natural processes that set the very creation of it in motion. No one can read the history of silk and not be beholden to the humble silk worm, who labors and sacrifices so that silk (in all its forms) is created. Learning how to embroider with flat silk would be an amazing new venture for 2012. While I’ve embroidered on silk fabric, I’ve never experienced using flat silk threads. Intriguing! Thank you for introducing some of us to yet another wonderful technique in our beloved world of embroidery.
Mary, these are such lovely threads. The beautiful colors and sheen attract me greatly, but the difficulties scare me off. I have never worked with flat silks (nor spun silks for that matter), but I would LOVE to win these threads and take the plunge.
I haven’t met a silk I didn’t like
sooo I can only imagine what fun it would be
to learn how to use a flat silk. Happy third day of Christmas maureen in tx
These silk threads are absolutely luscious! I would work on a thread painting design of several different flowers. They would work up beautifully!
Silk is my favorite fibre, period. Hard to believe something so strong, luxurious and beautiful can come from worm’s spit, eh? 😉
I have never worked with flat silk and would love to try this new experience. The silks themselves shimmer with life and light so think they would make any project beautiful.
The beauty & sheen of silk make any kind a joy to work with. But the challenge of working with a new (to me) type of silk just adds to the fun.
All of the above, just the feel and shine of the silk, don’t use it often enough.
Thanks for sharing
Arlene
http://arlenes-crafts.blogspot.com/
Just beautiful! Never worked with silk before, so would love to. Something extra special planned for this. Happy New Year!
Pam in Alabama
Wow, I love anything to do with silk. I would love the challenge of learning to embroider with the flat silk. Thank you for providing the opportunity to win this wonderful product.
What a beautiful collection of threads. I fell in love with silk five yrs ago when I went to China and saw such beautiful art done with silk threads. I love it all. . Candy
Thank you for introducing me to the websites of Michael Cook and Julie Mar. The beauty of the flat silk is made all the more intriguing by the fascinating information about the silk worms and by the lovely designs using these fibers.
Wow! This is soooo beautiful. I would not mind the collection of mostly blues (the 12 spools).
Thank you for having this giveaway.
Hi,
Iam a beginner in to this beautiful world of embroidery. i love to try all sorts, and the beauty of silk thread attracted me most…
rajis from threadwithme
I love the colors and the shine. I have never used flat silk a try, but would love to.
It’s nice that the pamplet on How to Use Flat Silk will be included with the thread giveaway. I’m thinking maybe a tropical type embroidery project would show the real beauty of this silk thread. I have never worked with flat silk but I hope to someday soon 🙂
Thanks Mary for this opportunity of this awesome giveaway.
Teres USA
You have inspired me . I have been crazy quilting with silk!
I would love to win the silk as I have never done any needle work with it before. I am always apreciative of the beauty of silk anything. Nothing man made can ever compare to silk.
Robin Marks
I would love to have the flat silk for thread painting floral motifs. This kind of silk is possibly the most beautiful of all the embroidery threads available, albeit a bit tricky to work with. Silk has the most unique affinity for color…and then there is the lovely sheen. Happy New Year to all!!
You know, Mary, I’ve been curiously checking NnT emails these days for the novelty of your giveaways. Flat silk! You certainly have some aces up your Christmas sleeve.
Flat silk conjures images of delicate cherry blossoms, spiny legged cranes, snow capped mountains and geishas reposing in a Japanese landscape. The uniqueness of this embroidery technique, the sheen and beauty of this rare thread and admittedly, the fact that I ‘won’ this exquisite gift attracts me to the idea of working with this silk. I’ve just added to my many other mental images, a flat silk embroidered ‘sensu’ (Japanese fan) or ‘sakura’ (ornamental cherry blossom branch) framed on my living room wall. Nothing wrong with ‘what-ifs’ if they brighten your mood, right?
I would love to win these threads what attracks me to them is all of the above sheen beauy etc. I am trying right now to get my grandaughter intrested in embroidery and maybe seeing something done with these beautiful threads will entice her.
I’m not familiar with using flat silk in Japanese embroidery but those threads must make pieces vibrant and bold.
Love the beauty and richness of silk. Makes everything so much more luxurious
Colors are so vibrant!
Claudia La Grange IL
These threads look beautiful. I have stitched with silk but never this
Japanese flat silk, and it would be fun to try. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
The thought of silk, first says smooth and luster. With it being flat would enhance the shine of placeing it just right. Would love to experience it in my embroidery. What wonderful colors oh those lavenders are scrumptious. Thanks for all that you do. Love it
I have worked with many types of silk threads but never with flat silks. The beauty of working with silk is why I love it so much but the challenge of working with flat silk intriques me and would be a fun challenge!
I have never worked with flat silk but I love working with other types of silk thread. Silk is so beautiful–I just love to look at it as well.
Thanks for another opportunity to win something great.
Wow, Mary you really know how to give gorgeous gifts. A really close stitching friend of mine and I are going to Adelaide ( from Perth a 3 hour flight)in February to start our adventure with Japanese embroidery with Margaret Lee. I love working in silk, purples and aquas are quite my most favourite colours so getting one of these packs would be the icing on the cake-which i would of course share with my stitching friends.
Hello Mary,
I’ve only seen a few pieces using flat silk and was completely overjoyed! The brilliance and scintillation of the silk made the hand work much more lifelike and desirable. With that said above all that has been offered in the contest the flat silk would by far be my choice! I would love to try my hand at using the flat silk. I have admired the use of flat silk in thread painting and would consider it a great blessing! Blessings to you too Mary!
I have a list of why flat silk attracts me but I will just say that Helen Stevens uses it,my sister raves about it, it is so beautiful and so on. Anyway, thanks for having a give away. Lisa from Plano
Hi Mary ! I don’t normally enter your contests but I am obsessed with flat silks even though I’ve never gotten to use them. I love the look and sheen of them. I am desperate to get into Japanese embroidery for the challenge of it.
My two dearest friends are getting to go to the Eastern States and take a class but due to being laid low with a bad back I can not go. I’m very excited for them and am so glad they include me in their preparations for attending the class.
You’re very kind to do these give-a-ways and I am sure whoever receives the silks will treasure them.
~Chrissy H
The colors and sheen are amazing! I’d love to try these!
Hi Mary,
The sheen and luster that the flat silk brings to a piece is enough to get excited about. I have only worked with silk once before and the thing I remember the most was the cost of the thread. These sets would be a substantial investment. The pallets on these groups are also beautiful shades.
Thanx and Merry Christmas,
JJ
Silk, silk, silk I just love it, but have never worked with flat silk. I would love to try
Heather
Hi Mary,
I have never worked with flat silk threads.I would love to try my hands on these lovely threads.
Regards,
-Viji.
I think its the lusciousness of the colours the shine makes the colours seem deeper, almost decadent. Also the fact that its a natural fibre, and comes from such an unusual source – the person who first thought of unravelling tiny silk-worm cocoons must have been thought quirky, if not downright mad, by their contemporaries – but look what a fabulous outcome they achieved.
I think, for me, the colors and the sheer fact it is silk. I don’t believe I’ve ever used flat silk, but I have other types and I love the softness and sheen that it has.
I have several cross stitch patterns that I think substituting silk threads would give them an extra special finish-such as in some of Teresa Wentzler’s pieces.
Thank you for this opportunity and I hope you’re having a wonderful day!
oooooh…. those colors are yummy. i can just feel those silks running thru my fingers right now. I just like the idea that they are silk!
donna altieri
Oh Wow. I feal like a kid. It is like walking down the big streets downtown and looking at all the fantastic toys in the window. Even if you never ever got one the dream is yours while it lasts. I have not felt like this in a long time. I am so glad you did this. I think this is the best part of my Christmas. THANK YOU. I hope you pic me for this. I want to Take the class and to do an inital in silk. My sister would just die next year when she opens it.
I was referred to your site for information on making altar cloths. The silk would be wonderful especially for the communion set I’m working on. I don’t know a lot about working with silk other than to be very careful but I am more than willing to learn.
What attracts me to using flat silk?
It is something I have never done before but have read a lot about. I think the finished overall effect with that beautiful smooth and shiny touch is what really fascinates me.
Gillian.
All the colors are so beautiful, but the first collection will fit in here beautifully. Of course I would manage to fit in the second collection beautifully as well. I have only used flat silk once at a Seminar class. Came out just fine with a lot of one to one help. The pamphlet would be a BIG plus, in lieu of the talented teachers at Seminar, which, unfortunately, are not at my disposal.
The silk is beautiful to look at and I can imagine what it would look like in a design. Would love to lear to work with it.
Never worked with silk threads like this before and can imagine the mauves making some very beautiful thread painted flowers perhaps.
The beauty of the colors is what attracts me the most to silk. I have tried flat silk but would like to become more proficient in using it.
Mary, what a special treat!
I would love to work with it.
It’s a pleasure to read at the blog of Michel Cook too..so 2 times thanks.
Love from the Netherlands
yvette
The reason we stitch is to create something of beauty for someone to treasure and what could possibly be more beautiful than a piece done in any kind of silk? Not just a treasure for today, it would also become an heirloom especially in the hands of a dedicated stitcher!
I would love the flat silk as it is beautiful and I have never worked with it before in embroidery. I have spun silk and it was quite challenging.
I have never heard of Japanese flat silk! The colours are gorgeous! I am always looking for new and challenging embroidery to learn.
Mary , Have used silk thread in a few pieces I have done but the georgous colours & sheen of the flat silk is wonderful . I went to an exhibition of Japanese Embroidery & was blown away by it’s beauty.Doreen M . Australia
Hi Mary, Luscious silk threads, how wonderful. I have one of ‘Helen Stevens’ silk painting patterns in mind if I win. I have several of her books as well.
Doto of Wanneroo Western Australia
it is the challenge of working with silk and the possibility of the beauty of the finished design
I love silk and the sheen of silk, it never disappears no matter how old the embroidery is. Although I embroider using silk, I have never used Japanese silk and I would love to.
How generous! How exciting! Silk is sooo fabulous. I love the way flat silk catches the light along its length and the fact that it spreads to fill any gaps! I share with my students so it will be a great opportunity to take sharing to the next level. Thank you.
What a great collection of threads! Of course I want to play for them :o)
Bonjour,
Je n’ai jamais travaillé avec ce genre de fil mais je crois que ce serait l’occasion de commencer. Les couleurs sont tellement belle. Merci pour cette offre exceptionnelle et bonne année.
Huguette
Chère Mary,
vraiment c’esr de plus en plus beau ce que tu nous donne, ces fils qu’elle beautée je pense que je broderait certainement un de tes projet que j’aime beaucoup la leçon de point empiétant que je trouve très joli en sempler!Merci encore!!!
The richness of the yarn & the vibrant colours are what attract me. These threads would make a beautiful embroidery.
Wow Mary,
you should have seen the glimmer in my eyes when I read the article.
I love silk. It is beautiful and I simply love to touch it. I have not found flat silk so far here in my area around Hamburg, Germany. I would be out of my mind, if I would win this prize.
Cheers,
Martina
Son muy hermosos! su brillo y colores atraen soñando con hermosos proyectos. Sería un reto poder trabajar con ellos. El panfleto que explica como usarlos luce atrayente y muy interesante. Me haría feliz ganarme algún giveaway! He aprendido mucho tratando de leer el contenido de las 2 direcciones que nos has dejado, mil gracias.
its the sheen and beauty of the thread that attracts me to it…..nice give away.
Th colours are absolutely beautiful…that’s why I like working with silk thread. The sheen and beautiful colours.
The colors, definitely.
Definitely the sheen!
The silk is so beautiful!!! I would love to try out flat silk because I never worked with it before – would be a very nice challenge 🙂
I would love to add this to a knit project, with beads…ooohh….even if I don’t win, you gave me a great idea, and I will look on ebay for some Japanese Flat Silk!
It’s the silk mystique for me. Silk just makes anything seem just a little exotic.
Wow, what a wonderful chance to receive this lovely silk thread, I can already see the beauty and sheen of some lovely long and short stitching.
I have not worked with silk but I love the look of it – the shine! thanks!
The colours are gorgeous and having never worked with flat silk would love to try a new challenge.
Wow, I’ve never heard of the stuff before but it’s sooo beautiful. I think it appeals to me from the start for the “shinyness” I think it would look gorgeous on a quilt.
What attracts you to the idea of working with flat silk? Is it the sheen and beauty of the thread? The challenge of working with it? The mere fact that it’s silk? Any of the above, all of the above, or other?
I love the beauty of the silk, however I have never had the opportunity to work with this. Now that I’ve found your blog, I’d love to give it a try. I live in SW Ontario, and suppliers are limited. (yes, I’d help with shipping costs if I’m chosen). I started embroidery in grade 2 or 3 being taught by my mother.
I love the sheen of silk and the vibrant way it takes up the colours.
I have never worked with Japanese flat silk thread before. I love embroidering and wish there were enough hours in the day to keep sewing!
thank you for the opportunity to win such amazing thread.
Just looking at the spools of flat silk is so calming. I have used many silk threads but never tried this. would love to try.
Hugs
fredaB
I love Natural materials of course also silk. So far, i have never been with such silk embroidered in. But i would like to try it out. And I love the splendour of the silk and colors.
Color, color, color! What attracts me to silk is the color! Of course other threads and fabrics have color too, but somehow it is more intense, more vibrant and m