Kreinik Metallics

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy the blending filament in the right color?

Lucille

Sharon, normally when you stitch with a Kreinik Metallic Thread Very Fine #4 Braid you use it as it comes off the spool and don't try to separate the strands....that is unless there are some special instructions to do so on this pattern. In that case I guess you would just have to hold your breath and do it very, very carefully!

Mavia

Are you SURE you are supposed to separate them?

Cheryl

No I'm not sure I'm supposed to separate the strands - maybe I'm not - but it looks a bit bulky using it as it just comes off the spool. The pattern however does say one strand, so that was why I was trying to separate it. I did a bit of a section using one strand I managed to get off the spool and it doesn't give much coverage, so maybe I AM supposed to use the whole thing coming off the spool. I hate that stuff. Oh woe is me. there is a lot of this stuff on this pattern. I wish they'd give you alternatives to using braid and metallics - they really are a PITA to work with.

Thanks for the help - all you girls. I'll figure something out.

Sharon (N.B.)

Well it's just as much a pain to work with - I just thought maybe, hopefully, there was a secret to dealing with this braid stuff. I guess perservere is the solution. :-(

Sharon (N.B.) ................................................................................................

That's what the patterns says - 'one strand' so I figured it had to be separated - maybe not. Thanks for the help tho'.

Sharon (N.B.)

One strand of braid is as it comes off the spool. (it's braided so that it *doesn't* separate while being stitched.) It should mellow out as it's stitched, and not look quite so bulky. What size fabric are you using? You may need to go down a braid size if you're stitching on higher count fabric. Use a larger needle for braid than you did while stitching with floss.

Have you looked at the Rainbow Gallery metallic braids? They're softer than the Kreinik braids, and might be easier to work with.

And the reason you don't usually get alternatives for stitching with metallics is because the shimmer is an integral part of the end result. If you don't want to use the metallics, substitute in floss of the appropriate colors. You will lose the metallic effect, and if you're using a multicolored braid, you may need to use more than one color of floss in the needle.

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net WIP: Oriental Butterfly, Insect Sampler, Rose Trio, Carousel (TW) Most recently Finished: TicTacToe Sampler, Snow, Morning Glory Stitching log:

Sharon, I just finished a project that used a lot of #4 braid. I ran it through Thread Heaven and it made it much easier to work. I prefer using Rainbow Gallery's Petite Treasure Braid when you can get the right color. Good luck.

Mavia

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Do Tell--My first stab at blackwork turned out to be a nightmare of half silk, which was kind of nice to do and half a single strand of Kreinik Blending Filament, which was a bitch. I finally finished that part of it and I'm now on the couching.

I never thought I would think couching was fun, but I do now. It's coming out very nice, but I can say without a blink, never again !!

Lucille

Hi Sharon,

I think it's "one strand" as it comes off the spool. Keep your lengths really short. I attached the strand to the needle with an uneven lark's head knot and that helped the insanity.

Elizabeth

Lucille said

Purists are gonna quake but I've been using Gutterman metallic sewing thread by itself and as a blending filament. The ends don't unravel or break like the Kreinik threads have a tendency to do.

What a great idea. Where were you when I started the blackwork project? I did find out one important thing with this. I will never use 1 strand of blending filament alone unless nothing, and I really mean nothing, can be substituted. People who are serious about having neat backs would have a conniption fit at the look of this one.

Lucille

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

People who are going to have conniptions about the back of their work (if it is going to be framed) are waaaaayyyy tooooo anal !

Thanks Jen - and all you other helpers. Well at least I know now that I'm not supposed to separate it. But I don't like the look - too bulky for my taste - so maybe I'll do a combination of floss and one strand of blending filament. I tested this way this morning and it gives me more of the effect I like. I love this group - you learn something new every day. :-))

Sharon (N.B.) (who doesn't worry about her backs by the way)

Giggle!

Cheryl

Sharon,

Before you have cut the length you need, pull gently but firmly on the strand, one hand on the end, the other on the spool. Most of the kinks will straighten out and it will be much easier to work with.

Katherine in Omaha

Thanks Katherine - MY soloution is this: Put the braid away in a box for tying up tomato plants this summer. :-)) Then match up some floss with blending filament and use that. I did a good block of it last night like this .... / one strand of floss, \\ two strands of floss, / one strand of blending filament. It gives me the look I really like - not too glitzy but still a sparkle. I do cross-stitch for the fun of it .. and braid was not making me smile. :-) Thanks for the tip.

Sharon (N.B.)

Once it`s framed, who`s going to see it? LOL!

Pat P