Over the last few months I have looked through the floss displays at the craft and hobby shops I’ve visited locally. DMC cotton 6-strand floss can be found just about everywhere, including WalMart. Some of the specialty DMC flosses, and Kreinik fibers (blending filament, #4 braid) can be found in limited variety. One store may have a handful of one, while a different store will have a couple of another.

Yesterday while I was out & about (it was voting day, I try always to go vote unless there is some reason I can’t) I decided it was …read more

Well, maybe not the end of the world. Last evening in a break from needlework, but still feeling crafty and creative, I wheedled an armful of assorted old computer bits from HB. I wanted to make a mobile/windchimes thing-a-ma-bob, and only use stuff I already had. I think I achieved a post-apocalyptic feel, but maybe not. What I did discover that is actually relevent to stitching, is that the cord attached to computer mice not only has pretty wires inside, but the IBM mouse I took apart had two strands of thread. It is two-ply …read more

I’ve stitched various projects in the past using single floss colors in the needle, and I have to say now that I’ve been working on Egyptian Sampler that I love the result you get using blended floss. It gives the work some depth and dimension, instead of being somewhat flat in feeling. As time-consuming as it is to prepare the floss, it is entirely worth it.

On this progress pic, I’ve done the back-stitching on the left portion of the border. On the right corner I’ve back-stitched just the flower motif. Back-stitching makes all the difference in …read more

For several years now I have used cardboard or plastic bobbins, and plastic bobbin boxes, to store my DMC flosses. I have the worst luck trying to just pull floss from the skein without it knotting, and when I started using the bobbins/boxes I didn’t even know there might be other storage systems available. This is ok, because I like my bobbins. So far I haven’t had any major issues with kinks in the threads when I stitch, the boxes keep all the bobbins organized and clean, and it’s a pretty cheap way to organize.

Using the silk …read more

This question is one that comes up on many discussion boards, mailing lists, and anywhere stitchers gather to discuss their art. It is my opinion that there is no right answer. I am not fond of spending the time to knot my threads, but if the piece I am stitching will be handled a lot or washed more than once, then I knot my thread. It would make me sick if my hard work and time were unravelled through the process of laundering.

For pieces that will be framed or backed, I am comfortable with not knotting. …read more