Just a quick post before I head out the door for the day... The photos do not do the satin cord on the hummer justice as it is variegated peacock colors and yummy... I am using rayon machine embroidery thread for couching and it is the right color and right sheen to blend well.. But the &#$%## stuff is so slippery that the needle is continually unthreading... It takes me a bit to get in a rhythm with the couching to keep it even...
As I started going through the gold cording. The gold satin I had intended to use is a bit large but I have lots of it. The one the right size I have very little of... so as I start outlining the gold I may use several kinds and sizes of gold cording... The color is on so from now on it is gold, gold, gold and lots of it... I stayed up wayyyyyyyyy too late last night stitching away...
Hi Gerry, your block is coming along nicely! You may want to use a small quilting needle with the machine embroidery thread. I find that it comes out less than with a regular embroidery needle. Also I use a long tail to help it stay in the needle. I cannot wait to see this block come fully alive under your masterful hand.
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of hand stitching with rayon machine embroidery thread and the best thing I've figured is to knot the thread at the eye. Sometimes this is hard to get out when changing the thread, but that's an easier frustration for me that the thread always falling out of the needle. Also, occasionally the knot doesn't hold and I'm back to square one, but it usually holds.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see ow this turns out. It's going to beautiful!
Hi Gerry, I hope you are having as much fun working on the blocks as I am reading your posts about them. On second thought, you're probably having more fun. I was reading an article somewhere recently that suggested tying a knot just below the needle on some sort of thread that was slippery. Rayon machine thread is so fine that the knot should pull through with no trouble. I had just finished using some on a project when I found the article. I can't remember where I found it or which thread it was for but it may have been for a fine silk thread. I may try it though because I have to use some more of the rayon thread.
ReplyDeleteHi Gerry, another ways to keep fine slippery threads in the needle. Fold the thread back over the needle as you would to thread it. Thread the needle by putting the folded loop through the eye and pull through but only until the loop is a little longer than the needle - don't pull it all the way. Now pass the point of the needle through the looped end and right through. Tighten up the loop and the thread should be fastened through the eye. You will probably have to cut the thread off the needle at the end and you can't move the needle along the thread but it works well. Much easier to demonstrate than describe in writing.
ReplyDeleteJacqui (in Auckland, New Zealand)