Embroidered | Just Dream Mandala 1.3
Thu, January 14, 2010 at 04:00AM "That which is striking and beautiful is not always good,
but that which is good is always beautiful."
- Ninon de L'Enclos
If you are just joining us, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the Just Dream mandala. You can see my first project at Threaded Doodles. So I promised to spill a super surprising thing I learned, mid-way into my second embroidery project. This knowledge was gained AFTER stopping in and talking with some quilting folks at a local shop (admittedly not embroidery experts) and skimming two books about stitches. I stumbled upon it at the link below. You have to SEPARATE the freaking multi-threaded embroidery floss then choose how many threads to use for your stitch.
Guessing 92% of you knew that, but I just cracked up when I read it. Now my difficulty in threading a needle and the floss knotting up made perfect sense. I cannot understand the lack of documentation on the DMC embroidery floss. They might want to consider those new to the art when designing their "packaging" which obviously has limited space.
I continued without separating the floss, as I kind of like the look. But now I have a new thing to try, using a few threads and making tiny lines and details.
Click to see the next phase of this mandala!
More embroidery love...
- Embroidery Floss Basics from Needlework Tips & Techniques
- Fabulous collection of Day of the Dead art at Mother Henna
- Tempting Shisha Mirror Embroidery tutorial from Joyful Abode
- Kutchwork tutorial from Bhavani Harikrishnan
Reader Comments (3)
Ohhhh, Tammy! You're too funny!!! I don't mean t laugh, but my Grandmother taught me how to embroider when I was nine. Holy Cow! I STILL have trouble with the thread --- separating it, threading it, etc. And forget about knots!!! Here I am, a grown woman, and I STILL feel like I'm nine whenever I pick up an embroidery needle and thread. It's just NOT my medium!!! Hugs, Terri xoxo
This turned out so well! Yeah, what is it about the silly little secrets that no one bothers to mention? I used to cross stitch ALOT and after some time I found out about this too. But these days, I really prefer to use 2 threads, which I just take out one thread, then i fold it in half and i thread both ends thru the eye of the needle. I catch the loop on the underside and VOILA, i have my knot (so to speak). You are inspiring me to do some free-embroidery, you are, you are!!
*Terri, I'm glad that it's not just me. I think I'm just not coordinated!
*Eden, I like your idea for starting the thread and will give it a shot.
~ Tammy