Stitching on a 'Sandwich'

Only the obvious -- use a needle with a point.

Hi Anne,

I also use crewel & chenille needles to stitch my needlework "sandwiches" together.....I'll use whatever sharps, (needles with sharp points) required that I can quickly find at hand whenever I want to stitch! I use regular & magnetic "pin cushions" to keep the many brands & types of needles I use all the time so I don't accidentally stab myself searching for pins & needles! However, this may be more subjective than objective as there are always exceptions but I do buy name brand needles as I find the better quality needles to stitch smoother and generally last longer than "generic" needles.........from my stitching, the less expensive needles seem to break & bend more often.

A stitching suggestion.......put the needle into an "open" hole, intersection of the weave on the top fabric you're stitching into......this might help to lessen the thickness you're trying to pierce into. Sometimes I have to stitch this way to get the needle through all three layers as some fabrics seem to be a little more difficult to pierce for whatever reason.......a tight weave, maybe even fabric dyes?

The batting I've been using for my "sandwiches" is a 100% cotton batt by Warm & Natural as well as using 100% cotton quilting fabric. A side note......I'm the proud owner of a 100% silk batt that I'm planning to use for special projects but for now since I've not used it yet, have no idea if it'll be easier to stitch through silk batting or not considering silk flosses or threads are so smooth to stitch with.

You probably know this, but will mention this anyway........I also "polish" my needles that is, wipe my needles squeaky clean......a clean, dry needle slides in and out very smoothly.

Another point......pun intended........you mention having to sharpen your needles.........I've never done that but maybe you do need NEW needles for your project? After awhile, quite short times in fact depending on use and what materials the needles have been used for, even the most sharpened needles will become "dull" with microscopic bits worn out that no amount of sharpening will work anymore.

This last fact is probably why "name" brand needles may work better in the long run depending on how the needles are made and what materials or processes are used to coat or make them.........obviously, less expensive needles may be made with lesser quality materials and not finished as well and therefore dull that much sooner from use.

using Kreinik tapestry needles and use them exlusively for needlepoint as they stitch quickly going through the canvas and threads so much smoother.

HTH........

Anne,

Have you tried using quilting sharps?

Cheryl

The quilting group in my former hometown, cautioned me to be careful of my batting, some brands just don't accept needles, no matter how sharp. Nope don't remember what brands are best :^]

Barbara T

snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net said

Have you given up trying to figure out what size a needle is? Once I take one out the folder, unless I'm very very 'good', it goes on a cushion or piece of felt.

I should have mentioned that the ground fabric is a lightweight cotton and the batting is cheap stuff from Joanne's. One of these days, I'll remember 'you get what you pay for' and spring for quality

Actually, I didn't. Thanks. My pleas for my EGA group to have an embroidery 101 'class' in which the basics (starting and ending threads, removing folds from fabric, etc) are 'taught' have fallen on deaf ears. I'm finding that I need more than well diagramed instructions to get the hang of some techniques.

I thought sharpening the needles would overcome the problems I was experiencing. It turns out most of them were probably caused by trying to use 2 strands of crewel wool -- the sharper needles had eyes that weren't big enough to make 'holes' large enough to easily pull 4 strands of thread through; needles with larger eyes were too dull.

Unfortunately, the only local shop that carried more than xs/tapestry needles has closed ;-( For now, I'm stuck (pun intended) using what the craft and chain stores carry -- can't quite justify an online order for just needles.

as always, I enjoy typing at you.

Are your renovations done?

Barbara Thompson said

I think you've hit on a contributing factor -- I've got some good batting from local quilt store that I'll experiment with.

Thanks

IIRC, either Quilters Newsletter Mag or Threads did a two month series comparison on batting. There are some battings which are definitely not good for hand quilting, similar for machine quilting.

Generally they are labelled with some blurb about "needling" and loft, etc. You could look back at the websites for either of these and likely find a reference. I know I have the issues - just putting my hand on it is another story altogether.

For my quilting, I machine quilt, and tend to use natural fiber batting. But, in the LNS, when we were framing, padding, etc - we use the polyester batting, and can easily sew thru it with a quilting, chenille or sharp needle.

Those little strawberries that hang off the tomato pin cushions usually contain emery - and are good for polishing the needles. Even tapestry ones.

ellice

If your EGA chapter is like mine, they probably have an annual show of some sort to raise money. This would be a perfect opportunity for bare basic classes off in the corner - a one hour class maybe - done 3 times a day or something. Attendees could purchase a 'kit' with an aida swatch, a skein of floss, a mini hoop, a needle, and some simple pattern, a heart or something, for a couple of bucks - and see if they like stitching or not without spending a fortune. AND, you'll probably get a few new members out of the deal. You'll definitely get good publicity.

I have noticed when it comes to EGA Chapters, there are a lot of great ones but there are also a couple of ones so horrible, they should be out of business.

Without naming names, I have applied for a job that will take me out of state for several months and I thought I'd check into the local chapter of EGA as a way of making friends and learning new techniques my chapter may not do at all (completely different regions of the country with very different populations). So, I found the chapter that was closest to where I would be and emailed them with several questions about the chapter and it's programs. I figured I would get a message back that said essentially: "Thanks for the interest you have shown. These are the programs we have scheduled this year at the Unnamed Chapter of EGA....... We meet on these days and times and would love to see you there." Or some such thing - the same message I have sent out to inquiries at my chapter's website.

No response. And no undeliverable error message. I think, maybe they are on vacation or having computer troubles, so I try again. No response or error message.

Okay. Maybe something's going on that I don't understand, I figure, so I send a message to the regional membership person asking, "If I relocate to Unnamed City, which chapter(s) would be closest to me? Do you have contact information you could pass along?"

You guessed it. No response or error message of any kind. I waited two weeks again and resent the message. Again, no response or error message. What the heck? Do they not want new members?

So, though I felt kind of bad doing it, because I never should have had to, I emailed the Region President and explained the situation and asked for her assistance. You guessed it again. No response. No error messages.

Once again, I waited two weeks and resent the request to the Region President again, and this time included all my titles (as I am on the board of my local chapter, as well as maintain the website and do the newsletter). I have no idea if it will make a difference, but at least they will know I am a serious stitcher with a legitimate interest. Still no response whatsoever.

The only conclusions I can draw from all of this is that this region and it's chapters just don't want anyone to join them and/or have the worst customer service around. My chapter would never consider treating anyone like this. Even when people contact us with questions we can't answer, we give them the courtesy of a response thanking them for their interest and giving them some thoughts on where they might be able to find the information they seek, and an invite to the next meeting to see what we are all about (no charge).

So now I'm thinking, do take this up with National? Even if they can give me the information I seek, do I even want to be associated with these people at Unnamed Chapter and Unnamed Region? They obviously don't give a damn about me. Why should I give them my money if they can't treat me with common courtesy? On the other hand, it could have been a Keystone Kops series of snafus. And if that were the case, a sincere apology would make me reconsider.

I really am truly baffled how a chapter and a region can behave this way. Truly baffled.

This should be brought to Nationals attention. Dianne

explorer wrote: I have noticed when it comes to EGA Chapters, there are a lot of great ones

Wow. I'm with Dianne - you gotta say something to National. I know of many EGA people who would be horrified to hear this story. One word (even though you've been more than patient) North America in general has had some bizarre weather in the last two months so I don't know if that may have played a part - just a thought, I'm not trying to make excuses for anyone. I hope you resolve this issue - let us know how it goes. As you're on the board for your Chapter etc., you must know of their message board... what about posting your original questions there?

I think before you assume the worst, you need to remember the old maxim of never assuming malice when stupidity will suffice. It may be a group that just isn't very computer literate, and thus they may badly neglect their email communications. In some areas, email just hasn't caught on as much, especially among some groups of people. Have you tried connecting by phone or snail mail? Obviously, it's still terrible public relations. If you publish an email address, someone should be monitoring it and responding promptly. You can certainly assume that they're not on the ball with their email communications. It's just that you have no idea that an actual person has even *read* your emails, so you don't really know that anyone has made a decision to ignore you, personally.

Best wishes, Ericka

I could go along with that but it happened with the chapter and TWO regional officers. It's hard to believe they are all that bad.

But they're all related. It may be a characteristic of the region that they're just not very technology-friendly. I'm not advocating for that position--I'm just saying it's a possibility. I would try another means of communication-- preferably phone--before I would complain up the chain of command.

Best wishes, Ericka

explorer said

I hope by now your dilemna with non-responsive correspondents has resolved itself. It's possible that one or two of the people you were trying to contact may have had the never popular technical difficulties or personal problems but not all of them!!! If the people you were trying to contact are in my area of the world (TN), contact me off line.

ellice said

I thought they were just decorations!

FWIW, the embroidery has been completed. Instead of a wall hanging, it'll become a pillow. Wish me luck as I've never machine sewn a ruffle before.

LOL - though I had noticed they felt different than the tomato. Actually, in some class long ago, a famous needleworker teaching it pointed this out. So, sometimes I remember to stick some needles in the emery and clean them up.

It's easy. Do a couple of rows of long, basting stitch and then gather it in. Lots of instructions around the net, I'd guess. Or, if you have a good sewing place nearby, go in there and make them show you on a machine.

Ellice

Sadly - no.

Since I sent multiple emails with at least two weeks in between emails between each, I think I countered any of the normal, excusable issues some one might have for not answering promptly - vacations, computer troubles, busy life - and did it with multiple persons. So, like you, I can't possibly believe they ALL have vacations, computer trouble etc for that extended period.

At this point, I am so disgusted I may not even get together with them if I go out. I am still stunned that any chapter would think it was okay to treat a prospective member this way - and for the Region to also do so, is unthinkable.

I broke down and sent a message to National earlier tonight. I really didn't want to have to do that, but what choice did I have?

Thanks for the offer to help, but TN is not the region in question.

I am answering late, but,......I am not surprised.

DH and I moved from England to Canada, then to various parts of Ohio, then to Florida and finally here to the Big Easy. In each of those places I found organisations of which I had been a keen member in my previous residence. You would be surprised at how many of them simply did not want anyone new. Even some Scouting and Church groups. They had their own little clique, and unless you were personally introduced by another member, you got the "cold shoulder". I learned to just take things as they came, and figure that if these people were so snotty, then I didn't want to be with them.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you, it is so hurtful at first until you decide "their loss!".

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

I just discovered that my website is not forwarding e-mails to me. Tried sending something to myself via that route and it came back to me with something about "relay failed".

But not everyone tests their website the way I do, so they may not know that their relay doesn't work properly.