Monday, January 29, 2018

Too Small or Just Hard to Work?

    I tried it. I really wanted it to work, but I don't think so. Too bad. I have such nice colors, too. But it just isn't worth it. What am I talking about? I have about 60 or so spools of embroidery thread on a rack on a wall. I love the color selection and it does do nice embroidery. So I got the bright idea to see if I could do Jane Eborall's "Twirly Doily" with embroidery thread. Ha ha foolie.
    I wound the bobbins and started in. 4 times. This stuff is just plain hard to work. At least for me it is. It fought me constantly. I tatted over tails. I put the thread through the loop and it pulls itself back out. I make a ring and the picots are almost too small to connect to. You have to hold it tight to keep it from unravelling. I finally got what you see here done in about an hour. And 6 more rounds of fighting this? Nope. Ain't gonna happen. Now I know, though.

The hook end on the shuttle is 5/16" (8.2mm) this round in 20 would probably be 1 1/2" to 2". This stuff is tiny and hard to see. But it is not hard to undo if you make mistakes. It tries to come apart on it's own.

10 comments:

  1. Shiny stuff? Rayon, maybe? Works much better with 100 percent cotton - try King Tut or something similar. I think you'll like the results much better.
    StephanieW

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    1. It says 100% polyester. Size 40. I just know it is slick and hard to work. I may try again, since I have 63 spools of 1100 yards. The stuff works fine doing embroidery and it looks great. Its just hard to tat with. May find the Tut or something similar and try it.

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  2. Replies
    1. I ordered some 100 from Handy Hands. I will see how that goes. Should not be a problem since it is cotton thread. I was just trying out a synthetic to see if it would work. Maybe I can get used to the polyester and make another monster doily. It would be about 6 inches across. Hehe.

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  3. Replies
    1. I don't know if thread heaven works on polyester. I know it makes cotton slide easier, but that is not really the problem since the polyester likes to slide. The thread just does not like to stay put. I am stubborn enough to give it another go, but not today.

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  4. My guess is that is it not the sliding but keeping the stitch where you made it. Would some HWT hand wound thread work. You could make a 2 or 3 ply to see if it tats any better. I have used Sulky 12 and it does take some getting used to. I am using a King Tut now on Renulek Wiosna 2018, It won't be too big.

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    1. Part of it, too, is the handling. I tat over tails in a cumbersome manner that works for me. I make the half stitch, then take the tail and stick it thru the loop, following the core thread. Yes, there are probably better ways, it's just me. Anyway, I push the polyester thru and it pops back out. I have to shove about 3" into the loop to get it to stay. I can keep the stitches there, but it is cumbersome more than usual. Like I say, I am stubborn enough to force it to work. I just have to get "my mind right".

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  5. Ah, now I get it. I am persistent too.

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  6. You did a fabulous job on that part!! I hope you have more relaxed tatting with whatever you do next! ;)

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