Twisted Cord

That basically describes how I make it now. I was hoping someone had a magic method that doesn't cost a lot.

Lucille

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It might be just as easy and cost effective to buy premade cord, especially if you have a coupon. If your piece can use a holiday themed color scheme, the shelves of the craft stores here are clogged with Halloween stuff at ridiculously low prices or Christmas things.

I thought of that but it's part of the design and will be used for couching all over the place. It has to match the floss already used in the piece or it will look weird.

I thought about perle cotton but the colors I have in my stash are off and I'm not even sure the floss is DMC.

Oh Well! I guess it's twisting it by hand for me.

L

Actually, that was my suggestion. And don't forget to check the standard wrapping supplies for useful stuff.

I'd add check your local fabric store for more options.

Cheryl

Now I'm really curious - how about a link?

C

Here it is.

It's coming out nice, but for some reason or other I'm finding it a bore and can't wait to finish it even though there's a lot going on. There's a slew of half cross done with 1 strand in the shadow fans and 5 strands around the gray edge, back stitch with color and a single strand of flimsy gold that was enclosed with the kit and which I may change to something easier to work with, and the red lines all around the edges are couched. I've finished all the shadow fans and now just have to finish the bottom part of the gray edge and then I'll ltackle all the straight stitch leaves and the gold.

My friend better love it. lol

Lucille

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I'll say! With metallics, what comes with kits can really be terrible and I've just gotten use to changing it out....

Cheryl

> It's coming out nice, but for some reason or other I'm finding it a bore > and can't wait to finish it even though there's a lot going on. There's a > slew of half cross done with 1 strand in the shadow fans and 5 strands > around the gray edge, back stitch with color and a single strand of flimsy > gold that was enclosed with the kit and which I may change to something > easier to work with, and the red lines all around the edges are couched. > I've finished all the shadow fans and now just have to finish the bottom > part of the gray edge and then I'll ltackle all the straight stitch leaves > and the gold.

That's beautiful! I'm feeling anxious now about a Dimensions kit that I've promised to do for my BIL. It's 'The Mighty Samurai', and also features hand made cord. If you find an idiot proof way of doing it, I'll be grateful. I've also got the metallic thread... it *is* very flimsy :o(

>>> It's coming out nice, but for some reason or other I'm finding it a >> bore and can't wait to finish it even though there's a lot going on. >> There's a slew of half cross done with 1 strand in the shadow fans and 5 >> strands around the gray edge, back stitch with color and a single strand >> of flimsy gold that was enclosed with the kit and which I may change to >> something easier to work with, and the red lines all around the edges are >> couched. I've finished all the shadow fans and now just have to finish >> the bottom part of the gray edge and then I'll ltackle all the straight >> stitch leaves and the gold.>>

If I had thought about it before beginning I probably would have matched a similar color using DMC and purchased the necessary floss and perle cotton to match.

The metallic reminds me of cellophane except that cellophane is sturdier.

They do make some lovely designs but floss leaves something to be desired.

Lucille>

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I just got this note from Olwyn Mary. She's having a problem posting to the group and asked me to post it for her.

I thought it was a great idea and could save a lot of aching in the wrist.

----- Original Message ----- From: snipped-for-privacy@aol.com To: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 1:21 PM Subject: twisted cord

Hi Lucille. For some reason, teranews will not let me post this week. (sigh). However, you can make twisted cord with either an electric mixer (or drill) or a sewing machine. Here are the instructions using a mixer How to make Twisted Cord - cut three long lengths of yarn (you need long lengt

If you get this, would you mind posting it to the board for me, in case others are interested?

Olwyn mary.

Thanks again.

I have no clue why but the link didn't show up.

Here it is:

How to make Twisted Cord - cut three long lengths of yarn (you need long lengt

Last try-if it doesn't work this time I haven't a clue what to do.

I can see it now - Lucille and 20 yards of floss and her egg beater

Cheryl

If you want to make it fast, find something that goes round and round... the bobbin winder on a sewing machine, a fan blade (no grille around it -- ceiling fans work well), an electric screwdriver or drill, one of the old carpenter's hand drills, a mixer. Figure out how you're going to attach the cord to the thing that goes round and round -- putting a cup hook in the chuck of a screwdriver or drill, tieing the ends to a bobbin, tieing the ends to a blade of an electric mixer (just one beater in the mixer please). Affix the other end to something stationery -- I often shut the ends in a drawer or door. Start the mixer/drill/bobbin winder and run it at a slowish but steady speed until you can see the cord is ready to twist on itself. Walk to the middle of the cord you're twisting, and bend it, and let itstart twisting onto itself as you bring the two ends together. Done.

I use a hand drill with a cuphook in it and it works great! Much easier to control than the electric/cordless drill. It's nice putting those old carpenter tools to good use! :)

Mavia

I favour the use of an electric beater with only one of the beaters in, and DH holding the other end (for preference). Nice slow speed (think creaming butter and sugar) and you'll have lovely twisted cord in no time. The bringing together of the two 'ends' is vital in getting a really good cord - work it along inch at a time you can, twisting as you move along the length - this works a treat for a nice even smooth cord.

For my Elizabethan sweetbag we made cords in one, two and four colour ways, and they were quite stunning, and really great for tying the colours of a project together.

Cheers

Joanne

That's basically what the little cord makers are - a hand cranked mini-drill with a cup hock on the end. It comes with a little weight to place in the middle of the cord to help it twist on itself without kinking.

MargW