A helpful hint for feathering floss.

Oct.8, That was a very good hint . I'll try . Thank you. Cigale

Maybe I'm missing something here. I find the easiest, fastest way to separate the 6 strands of floss is to:

1. Cut the length you want to use --- all 6 strands at once.
2. Hold one end up and grab it between thumb and middle or index finger, no more than 1/2 inch down from the top. All strands.
3. With the other hand, grab just ONE strand at a time, at the top, and pull it up and out while still holding onto the other strands.
4. Repeat for each strand you want to immediately use.

They all come out nice and neat. No tangles. Lay them side by side and then put them together, as many strands as you need. Put the rest away for the next time you need them. I just wind them around those little cardboard spool thingys that I store all my floss on.

KT. in MI

I can agree with you to an extent but a lot of people have a hard time selecting that single thread to pull. Passing each end of the six strands on the Velco combs/fluffs them out making it easier to just select one strand at a time. In addition depending on whether the six strands are wound clockwise or counter clockwise and/or which end of the six strands is at the top, tangles occur in many cases. Floss is wound two strands to a set and three sets to the whole cut piece in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. If you take a 36" length, fold it in half and cut it in the center, lay them on a table, one length will be clockwise and the other length will be counter clockwise. The only way to keep them all in the same direction is to measure and cut each 18" length in sequence starting at the beginning of the skien.

Fred

This is the method I use....very simple and fast!

just me, Cathy from KY in CA

Same here. Lucille

Fred had mentioned that some people have a problem grabbing the one strand of floss when trying to separate them. When I am holding the 6-strands about 1/2 inch from the top with one hand, with a finger on the other hand I tap on the top of the strands. This separates them nicely so that I can very easily grab the one strand to pull from the pack.

KT. in MI

Not when you got stubby fat (well a bit anyway) fingers and short finger nails like me. LOL I need at least 1" to 1-1/2" fluffed out ends.

Fred

"Fred" wrote in message news:i8pgh4$hl2$ snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org...

Ok I got question. I can see laying out the separated strands side by side. For me they still have a tendency to flop around and tangle a bit as they continue to unravel but no big deal. However I'm usually working three colors at the same time so that means having eighteen strands to deal with. I've tried making a thin cardboard holder about 18"high x 12"wide. I cut eighteen slits (with a razor blade) about 1/2" long at the top 1/2" apart, and did the same at the bottom of the cardboard holder. As I separated each strand I would slide on end into a slit at the top, gently pull down on the strand and slide the other end into the slit at the bottom. Like stringing a harp. This goes pretty quick, about 1-1/2 minutes for each eighteen inch of six strand. This gives me three cards of nicely sorted strands however it doesn't take too long before the slits in the cardboard start to wear and they won't grip the strands. I've tried thin plastic sheets with little or no improvement. I've tried cementing small child hair barrettes at the top and bottom to grip the strands but they take up too much space and the springs in them are generally too weak. Eventual storage of floss has been worked out by many and that is not my concern right here. I need something while I'm stitching. The reason for securing at the top and bottom is that if the strands are just gripped at the top and left to dangle/hang they still have a tendency to unravel a bit and consequently tangle a bit. I don't need the hassle.LOL

Anybody got a wild idea that might work better than cardboards??? Icing on the cake would be something that looks nice when finished and in use while stitching.

Fred

To each his/her own. Sounds like a lot of work but if it keeps you sane, then it is sure the right way for you! I am currently at the end of a 2 year project, Van Gogh's "Starry Night" as presented by the Scarlet Quince folks. 83 blended colors on 18 mesh cloth. In order to keep the colors and strands in order, I use 2 of those long thread sorters where one sticks a threaded needle into a small spongy square with the stitch symbol above the square. The 2 of them holds all 83 colors, all threaded in 83 needles. Kind of like pulling crayons from the box to color. Works for me even if the threads kind of clump together. After 2 years I can say I've never had a tangle that prevented me from gently pulling the threaded needle out of the sponge and using it. Not what I'd call "looking nice", but it gets the job done for me. (Luckily, I do not have a cat who would make very short order of this setup!) If and when (probably "when") I do another huge project (probably "American Gothic") I will definitely use this threaded needle storage system. I keep the unblended floss in a case, on the plastic bobbins until I need to replenish a needle.

KT. in MI

The first thing that comes to my mind is the possibility of using some fabric cover with some 'nap' over the cardboard that would hopefully hold it better... Something like a velvet or microfibre or ??

back to lurking, vcard

Ok I got question. I can see laying out the separated strands side by side. For me they still have a tendency to flop around and tangle a bit as they continue to unravel but no big deal.

Anybody got a wild idea that might work better than cardboards???

I have to confess to a completely utilitarian approach.......when I am using thread which comes on the natty little cardboard tags, I cut the thread into whatever lengths suits (usually about 20") and then thread the bundle back through the natty tag with a larks head knot, then when I want strands I use the needle I'm working with to lift up a thread and draw it from the bundle. If I need multiple threads, simply repeat the process. If thread doesn't come with its natty cardboard tag I simply make one up from whatever card is to hand, though I confess that my preferred card is from cosmetic boxes, there is something rather indulgent about tagging your thread with the elegance of a Chanel box, and it makes the thrill of pretty boxes last a bit longer.

I know others work with multiple needles already threaded, but that is an effort I can't be bothered with, and have never really understood the reasons why it is done.

Joanne in Western Australia

I dont know if this is any help, and I dont use this technique myself. But someone might find it useful. I came across a lady who did the following. She wound the skein onto a bobbin. When she wanted floss, she unwound the thread for the length she required, selected one strand, and pulled as much as she required. Then she cut this off, put the rest of the floss back staright, and rewound it on the bobbin. If you dont use the same length of thread every time, eventually the end of the thread has only one end sticking out. So it makes it easy to see which one to use, and grab it easily. Just a suggestion. Jim.

I use the needle holder you are referring to. Before I quit stitching for the day, I thread five (or more) needles for each color, stick them in the proper slots, and zip it shut. I am ready to go, next time I stitch!

Saves time for me as I don't spend all that time locating a color, separating, threading, etc.....I just stitch.

just me, Cathy from KY in CA

I use the needle holder you are referring to. Before I quit stitching for the day, I thread five (or more) needles for each color, stick them in the proper slots, and zip it shut. I am ready to go, next time I stitch!

Saves time for me as I don't spend all that time locating a color, separating, threading, etc.....I just stitch.

just me, Cathy from KY in CA

Your idea is great if you are working on a smaller project or traveling. I don't have - or need - the zippered case. Because I am constantly changing colors -- often after just one or two stitches -- being able to store the threaded needle into this spongy sorter makes it so much faster to switch threads without constant threading of needles. I don't like carrying thread on the back of the fabric for more than an inch or so, even if I can inter-weave it.

Gosh, between my newest hobby of quilting, and my old one of cross-stitch, I am sure not bored these days!!! KT. in MI

The size of the project and traveling have nothing to do with it. This is just my method. Even when working on a project with 80 or more colors, I usually don't use all 80 colors in one stitching session, so it is not as much threading at one time as one would think. I like the pouch for storage.

just me, Cathy from KY in CA