by Sandra | April 22nd, 2009
I recently received a question asking me,
“what type of hand embroidery thread do you use?”
I use silk, cotton, metallic, poly, rayon in all weights and sizes. I am very careful about testing most of it for color fastness before I use it. I will cut a couple of strands and put them into a clear, or white, cup containing water and let it sit for awhile to see if any color leeches out. I don’t need to see colored halos around my applique after all of that time and work later! It gives me shivers to think about it.
If I can see any color loss, then I decide between trying to set the color or just eliminating that particular thread as a choice. The determining factor is usually how badly I want to use it. It is all very scientific.
I can try and set the color with either vinegar or Retayne. Sometimes neither one of those has any effect on keeping the color in place and making it behave properly. It is always experimental to see what will work and what is relegated to other projects that I don’t intend to ever get wet.
My main go-to thread is the DMC cotton because it always behaves itself and it is relatively worry free for using on a quilt that will get wet (blocking) and get washed. Yes, my quilts have to be washable. Who knows what relative down the line will abuse one out of ignorance. <sigh>
My second question is what hoop Do You Use?
There too I have a leader and preference, although there is a close second. I would be lost without my Morgan no-slip 5″ hoop.
My hands are small, so the 5″ hoop fits my hand as I work, plus gives me a good area to work on at a time without re-hooping constantly. Especially when I am doing stems and tendrils. Any larger, and I can’t stitch that well even though I am able to contain a larger working area.
The Morgan hoop gives me slightly better tension than Clover’s new 4 1/2″ hoop, but the Clover works pretty good too.
I think to some extent that hoops can be just as personal as needles etc. It depends on the size of your hands and how you prefer your tension. These two choices work for my hands, tension and without putting undue stress on my applique.
Threads are another item that is completely a personal choice too and hey, I say collect them all– I do!
©2009 Sandra Leichner
Interesting ! I never thought to try them in water that way or using Retayne . I had heard of vinegar .
I haven’t found any good reason to use a hoop , can you tell me why you do ?
Which brand of thread so you use for Applique ?
I like Mettler 60wt .
Look at those gorgeous colors in that first photo! It makes me want to sit down and do hand work! This blog is fun and inspiring. Can’t wait for your book.
which thread did you use on that piece ?
Is that one of your samples for class or are you making something ? I love the dots and the dot flowers !!!!
On the piece below (pink) I used plain old DMC cotton and sewing weight thread. I won’t take any chances on a white background.
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Ah……that is a sneak peek of a piece from the book. Wait until you see the full quilt.
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Thanks Frances,
I think you are really going to like the book. Of course I probably am giving them enough for three books! I wonder how they will ever edit it down. LOL
I use Mettler 60wt, DMC sewing (50 wt 2 ply), and my new favorite, the Aurifil 50 wt. I love the Aurifil because I have a new method I developed for invisible flat inward points and the Aurifil can take a tug without breaking. Nice.
All hand stitching (and machine but it is automatic) relies on tension. I use a hoop becuase it keeps my fabric taut and my tension balanced. I want everything to lie nice and flat when I all finished with the embroidery and on a single layer or two of lightweight cotton, the fabric would “seize” if I did not use a hoop and my area would be distorted and hard to square up later.
Also with the whipped stem stitch, it is essential to have a taut tension and you just can’t do this well without a hoop to keep the tension balanced for whipping.
when you use a hoop is the fabric taught ? I know in hand quilting it isn’t . I have used hoops before , but I never knew if what I was doing was correct .
I like DMC 50wt. too they have a nice choice of colors .
Is your new method going to be in your book ? I can’t wait to get my hands on your book !!
The sneak preview (getting more and more excited ) looks very cool !
Could you please recommend where the five inch Morgan hoop can be purchased ? On the internet I can only find the 7 inch size or larger. Thank you
On the internet, go to this link and scroll down to the bottom portion of the page and you can purchase directly from the company: http://www.nosliphoops.com/no-slip-hoops.html
The only place I have been able to purchase these in person (so far) is at the major quilt shows where Morgan Hoops is a vendor. Paducah is usually where I pick up spares.
I hope this helps! They are really nice hoops to work with.
With embroidery, the fabric needs to be taut, but NOT distorted. If you are hand quilting, it is different. You want a little bit of slack in your hoop tension.
If I can draw out an illustration for the inward points, I will include it. Unfortunately I have only been able to demonstrate it “hands on” so far. It isn’t that difficult to understand, but it really needs physical demonstration. I am looking at one of those new HD Flip video cameras to try and video some of my techniques and embed them here. Oh and yes they will be free, you won’t have to pay for them. It is on my to-do list so have patience with me.
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I am starting to see daylight at the end of the tunnel on the book quilt and I am really happy with it. I think you will like it too.
Sandra, your last comment gave me an idea: Will you produce a Sandra Leichner Applique and Embroidery DVD????? I would purchase it in a nanosecond! Or make it two DVDs… or a series …
This could be your next non-quilting project when the book is finsished
The next best thing to actually taking a workshop with you.
I would like to second Grances B.’s suggestion. I am already planning to purchase your book,sight unseen, even if I never adopt your methods. Why not put out a DVD also ?
Sandra, I agree with frances b. and would absolutely love to buy a series of Sandra Leichner Applique & Embroidery DVDs. Thank you for sharing so much and I can hardly wait for your book to be published.
Ok, ok ok, I cry uncle, I will mention a DVD to the powers that be. LOL
Don’t you guys know how much I hate cameras of any kind and avoid them at any cost???
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just show your hands LOL ! I vote DVD !!!!
Dearest Boop, have you ever seen a hardened hand appliquer’s hands? They aren’t pretty. LOL
yes I have I look at them daily LOL ! but I would rather look at yours than mine !!
Too funny.