Time to gather up a purse project. I've pieces of linen fabric 28 &
32 count. I also have DMC's assortment of linen floss that I have fondled but not yet put into the eye of a needle.
The charts that came with the linen floss are not my style. Not into pillows or wall hangings that have a heart or a spray of flora on it. I'll probably give completed items away, but I want to work on designs that I like.
I've latched onto Janice Love's books of instruction and design. A couple of trial items turned out nicely with some leftover Christmas Red Needle Necessities #8 and plain white #12. Time to do more.
I have read that two strands of floss is an acceptable substitute for #12 thread. How many strands for #8: 3 - 4? The thought of making some bookmarks out of all linen intrigues me. One piece of linen is dark, possibly raw in color. A floss toss looks good.
Slings and arrows or any suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance Barbara T
WIP: US Army seal on antique white Belfast Finished Photos
These are really excellent books to use for learning Hardanger. Very clear instructions - we use them in the LNS when teaching hardanger (as in ask students to buy the basic book) - to go with our original instructions.
When you feel secure with the instructions - anything by Emie Bishop is wonderful for hardanger. But, the big warning - her instructions can be quite ciruitous. She did put out a stitch book that is fabulous - if you get hooked on cutwork - lots of filling stitches, and designs - that book has great diagrams and is a handy size to tote around. Home page here:
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is a link to the book, "A Collection of Beautiful Stitches" that is onthe caron web-site:
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Emie Bishop - I speak from experience - and I'm used to reading obtuse,convoluted things at work. I bought a booklet with a handful of designs todo when I'd been stitching a short time. Done a couple of XS, (my secondbeing an infamous pansies on 32 ct linen with lots of color changing). I'mbrave. Let's just say the language involved in my trying to figure out whatthe heck was going on (some diagrams were partial with another design) wasnot pretty. Some of her designs, more recently have better instructions.And the stitch book is truly a great thing - but only if you do, or intendto do a lot of various stitches (else it's a great splurge - I think it'sabout $38 (but I don't really remember - I got mine as soon as our shoporder came in a couple of years back).
If you're stitching on the 28 ct, then you could use 4 for the kloster blocks - they'll be very full. Or you can use 3 strands. I'd suggest you stitch a little scrap corner and see how you like the look. If you're on the 32 ct, I think that 3 strands should be fine - 4 will likely end up kind of distorting the fabric. Really, when doing the substitution and switching to linen (which I'm sure many of us do our hardanger on) my suggestion is always a little doodle cloth to see what lays well with your stitching. If the floss is overdyed it may be slightly plumpier (nice word, eh?), DMC vs Anchor, etc - so just give it a little try. No Hardanger police will come after you ;^) Unless of course you start using your extra pointy-sharp special cutwork scissors for cutting metallic thread or paper ;^)
Stumbling a bit here; Agent is no longer free, I downloaded and started using the latest version before I realized that. The trial period is now over and although I could go back to the previous version. I decided to try Thunderbird first. So this might not work exactly as I expect.
Anyway thanks for the information. But more than that-the enabling! The stitchbook is interesting and I have bookmarked both sites, and will keep it in mind as experience accumulates.
Didn't know charts such as "Tea Things" were around. A great combination of techniques. Sure reveals my ignorance I'm going to have to look around in the next LNS we come across.
Classic hardanger is great looking, color is a nice addition. Thanks for the input on number of strands so I can use my lovely linen floss.
For me it was just the opposite. I bought an Emie Bishop a LONG time ago (some time in the 90s, I think, one of her earliest--still use it, too), and I'd never done Hardanger. That pattern taught me how to do the various stitches, and since I succeeded, I can't fault the instructions (sometimes I have a hard time understanding instructions).
The instruction level may have varied from pattern to pattern.
Barb, the linen floss is indeed beautiful and subtle. I like it a lot. However, be careful with it. It tends to shred. Use short strands and a needle with a larger eye than you might be used to.
You'll love the results, it just takes a bit more care when handling. Dianne
Ah-ha! Thanks again, I've been gradually shortening my working lengths of cotton floss and just read the someplace about using only 12 inch lengths. I may not get quite that short, but shorter than the 4 times the length of the skein that I'm now using. A 12 inch length would give only about 8 inches of usable floss. I can thread a needle pretty quickly but securing the ends that often is not getting more stitches in. And that is the only way my project gets done.
Going to find my graph paper now and design a bookmark.... Barb T
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