Needlework tools - is there a difference

Hi, Joanne.

In needlework circles a stiletto is one of those bone or ivory objects used to pierce the fabric for eyelets. I have both a bone and ivory, the latter being quite fat and fancy, the bone thinner and plain.

A sewing awl is a tool with a wood or plastic handle with a metal protrusion. It has a lot of uses for sewing, and can also be used for piercing fabric for eyelets or doll joints (smile). They are rather plain, utilitarian objects and the metal round pointed portion is rather thin. It's extremely sharp, however. I'd want one around if there was an intruder. :~)

A laying tool is quite different and can be anything from a large tapestry needle to a fancy hand-carved piece. They are used to keep threads separated as you stitch (think satin stitch or cross stitch using two or more threads), great for ribbon embroidery, and also used in flat silk embroidery.

If you go here:

look for the July 2004 edition you will find an article that explains laying tools in detail.Dianne

The Lady Gardener wrote:

Really good explanation, Dianne. CA usually sells little bone tools which are replicas, or in the style of antique sewing tools. Generally, to put in the etuis or other little boxes. But, she, and some others of her peers that teach similar projects, ofter refer to a not to a slightly pointed, shortish, conical tool as an awl - even though it doesn't have a separate handle. It looks like a fat handled laying tool - not quite so pointy as a stiletto. I'm pretty sure I have one from a CA class years ago, and just recently in a class a different designer referred to a tool as an "awl" that wasn't a classic awl. Point it, hah, it still has a point that you could use to open an eyelet. Etc.

Aboslutely, and some of us have multiple laying tools - using one or another based on the feel, or how fine the tip is, or what's close at hand. You may also hear about "tekobari" - the Japanese tool for silk. They're longer than most laying tools, and used a particular way for winding and then laying silk in traditional Japanese embroidery.

ellice

These are made of stainless steel, aren't they? I've never seen them locally. Dora

They're very light weight - so I think it's an alloy - but who knows. The Best Laying Tool is a reasonable substitute for a tekobari - though shorter. My next wish list tool is a set of Koma (wooden spools) . I've been reading this Japanese Embroidery book, and have seen them used - keeps the silk or metal really smooth when you're using it. And, I've seen a class done using multiple koma to do really interesting braiding things.

Ellice

I found one one on Tasha Berlin's site (and a tekobari) - note to self, stay away from site, must not spend - she describes it as used for metal thread embroidery. I presume it has some advantage in helping tape-like threads lay flat? Does it have a little notch to hold the thread and keep it from unravelling? Dora

The tekobari? IIRC (the shop I used to work in, with framing, carried authentic ones) it had a rough kind of finish etched in some portion. And it's not round throughout. Don't believe there is a notch, and I could be totally out of my mind. But, I believe that the center section is thicker and angular with some texture effect, while the ends taper. IME, people doing serious Japanese embroidery classes use them, while the rest of us dilettantes (or better) more commonnly just use a good laying tool. Sometimes with metal work you could be winding the thread, like with Koma, to have it tensioned, applied smoothly. When I was taking a class with Shay Pendray, she requests that students bring a tekobari, or BLT instead - FWIW.

Re: Tanya Berlin - I love her things. Really. And her patterns are so beautifully done (I keep looking at the Spectral Butterfly in the shop but am resisting - OTOH - maybe Donna who's been on a blackwork binge might take it first).

Ellice

No no no I was asking if the koma had a notch. Sorry about that. Dora

Ah. The Koma I've seen didn't have a notch. They were shaped like little dumbbells. I've seen ones that were roun shapes, and another set that was round in the middle with the ends being squared. But, I didn't notice a notch - though, again, I'm no expert.

Ellice

Little dumbell is a good description. I was wondering how the thread was kept from unravelling from the koma when braiding. But then, on reflection, lace bobbins don't have anything to keep the thead still either - I suspect a knot is made to prevent chaos. Dora