I hate metallic thread

I'm with you on this one. I love the look and hate the doing.

On the chance that I'll be flogged with a skein of DMC I'll admit that I've been known to pick up the needle while it's still attached to the fabric and lick the floss it to straighten it out enough to do a few more stitches.

Lucille

And I hate housework. Let's trade -- I'll do your metallic thread, you clean my kitchen. :(

Let the Floss Licking Wars begin!

Don't look at me. I don't lick my floss. I have an assistant who does it for me. And some day, some DNA expert will conclude that all this lovely stitching was done by a striped cat.

What he won't learn is how many times she was yelled at "Mommy does not NEED help!"

I'm afraid you've got the wrong person for anything that has to do with housework. I keep the kitchen clean by doing as I go along, and I'm reasonably neat so it generally looks okay, at least on top, but I despise anything that looks like, acts like or smells like cleaning.

L>

Bertha ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

Lol, love that 'spousal unit' lol

Ditto. It only gets done when I can't stand to look at it anymore.

Well, that's the problem. Working on the death penalty trial for months, the housework was getting a lick and a promise, and now it's time to pay the piper. Groceries were just brought in and dumped to save time, so now I have a few zillion bags each with one box or one can left in it that need to be sorted out and put away.

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:17:14 -0700, Karen C - California defied the laws of time and space to say:

Why do you think I'm over there doing the stitching? Gets me out of housework. :P

"Can't wash the dishes now... working on my stitching..."

-Bertha

LOL - you're too venerable to flog.....

Sometimes I keep a damp sponge (small bit of sponge) around for those metallic or rayon misadventures. And I've definitely been using Thread Heaven to help with the agonies. I think it's about accepting using shorter lengths, and just cutting off those ends that fall apart.

ellice

I'll only say this once - short lengths. I found about 12 inches to the max.

C

I hate when that happens. I've found that making a loop knot (or whatever it's called) with the tail prevents this.

Venerable ?????

Whenever I'm with it enough to remember to put a dish with water and a sponge close by. Then I forget to refill it before I sit down and I'm too lazy to get up when I need it. I do have thread heaven and a bit of wax, but that means I have to reach over and get it.

>

Uh huh - I'm showing respect for my elders....as rare as that might be.

Totally understand. Of course I stitch in some contorted sort of cross legged in the corner of the sectional downstairs with my basket of stuff near by...It kind of works. And the thread heaven little box fits in the depression of my baby z lap stand - so it's close.

Ellice

So now you're calling me old ?? LOL>

I too sit curled up in the corner of my love seat recliner with a tray of stuff on the table next to me, but that still means I have to move Puff and uncurl myself to reach over. lol

I've been debating about buying a lap stand, but I'm not sure that it would be okay to use on the recliner. I would have to be sitting directly on the woodand I wonder if it would make dents in my legs.

>

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:30:23 -0400, Cheryl Isaak defied the laws of time and space to say:

I've been going with about 8 inches. Usually I only use five or six inches before it frays and snarls.

At five or six inches a day, I figure I'll finish this some in late 2008.

-Bertha

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:31:48 -0400, anne defied the laws of time and space to say:

Interesting. Don't know how it would help, but it sure can't hurt. I'll try that tomorrow.

-Bertha

*snip*

Nah. Just a day or two older than me.

I actually do use my stand on my lap. What keeps it working is having a counter weight on the base, like a frame weight. I don't sit on mine - I had one of those way long ago - didn't like it at all. I have a table/lap stand that you can use either sitting on a table in front of you, or just put into your lap - even sitting on a chair. No visible dents - unless it's been there for hours without moving.

I have a K's baby Z frame - it has a good bit of adjustment, and works for me. I think that traditionally a lot of people use their lap stand model that is expandable in width (side-to-side).

disclaimer - don't work for them, no kickbacks, etc. Ellice

You could try dabbing the ends with some clear nail polish, or some fray check. Just cut that part off from what is couched at the beginning and end.

Ellice

I got to go with DH to Lizard Land last week so I took along the King Tut mask I am doing in metallics. The WHOLE thing is done in metallics so I am getting enough practice to last me several lifetimes!! I have tried using Thread Heaven, a damp sponge and just plain spit and I'm with Lucille -- spit works best -- LOL! Now, here's the odd part. This piece is part of a Janlynn kit called Egyptian Pair. It is two companion designs and I did the Queen Nefertiti for DD 10 years ago. Anyway, I am using the fabric and floss provided and it seems pretty nice. BUT -- the floss is cut in 36" lengths and that's the length I am using and no I am not doing a loop start. You'd think with 36" lengths of floss AND metallic (1 strand floss and 2 of metallic) I would end up with metallic rags by the time I got about half way through the length. Nope -- for some reason, that doesn't seem to happen. What I do is to cut my metallic threads about

3" longer than the cotton. The ends I bury are even which leaves that extra few inches of metallic fiber to be snipped off as they get a bit worn. Every now and again I will have a piece get yucky smack in the middle of the length and when that happens I just snip out the icky piece and add another. I do stitch a bit differently when working with metallics and that might be part of the reason I don't have as much difficulty. When at the top of the fabric, I will put my threaded needle down through the proper hole and then right back up through the next appropriate hole. This means I pull the thread through two holes in one movement. I also stitch two handed so I am pulling the needle with my left hand while running the thread through my right hand which is on the back of my work. I don't hold on tight to the thread, just keep it moving smoothly and not knotting. I think this is what keeps my metallic from getting all knotted and raggedy. I did manage to get a lot of the King Tut stitched. His whole face and about half of the lower portion is done. I'll have to post some photos one of these days. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

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