I was wondering if anyone has used embroidery thread to make a small tapestry? I'm pretty sure one could loop it enough to make it usable. This is just a thought I've had to make a few small projects for gifts. Also, what size warp twine would I need to use. Just with a little searching on the internet, I think it is 120/2 size. Thanks for any info or input on this. Richard

Comments

Fri, 12/20/2013 - 14:57

tommye scanlin

I've used embroidery floss for small tapestries.  My warp sett has been from 10 to 8 epi, depending on the warp I use.  Most of my warp for tapestry is cotton seine twine (gotten usually from Joanne Hall at Glimakra USA).  I often take a small loom with me when my husband & I travel, sett at 10 epi using 12/6 cotton seine twine.  I like that I can get it in colors and have about four colors I enjoy for tapestry... dark blue, dark green and dark red.  I also have a medium light gray.  I use the colors of seine twine when I know I'm going to be doing half-Damascus edge as finish and the warp will be showing a teeny bit at the edge.  White twine is a bit stark if I've begun the tapestry in dark or medium value colors.

With the floss, I can use a couple of strands together... or split and blend with the 5 strand floss.  It's easy to peel out one or more of the strands and include others to make color mixtures.

Another advantage of the embroidery floss is that there are lots and lots of colors easily available for a small investment.  I have mine in a couple of plastic shoebox bins and I can easily carry one or both when traveling.  Add that to the small frame loom, put a few bobbins and small scissors in a small zippered bag and instant portable studio!

On my Southern Highland Craft Guild member page, in the gallery section, there's one of my embroidery floss tapestries shows.  It's a waterlily.  The link to my SHCG page is on the left side at my blog: http://tapestry13.blogspot.com

Tommye

Fri, 12/20/2013 - 14:59

tommye scanlin

Kathe Todd-Hooker uses setts up to 30 epi; she uses dual-duty craft thread as warp, I believe.  She also uses sewing thread as weft, bundles it together.  Cathie can describe this better, right Cathie!?

Tommye

Fri, 12/20/2013 - 15:35

Artistry

Hi Richard and Tommye! Just came back from studying with Kathe last week. Richard her Tapestries are amazing her blog KatheTodd-Hooker blog, you can see some of her work. Yes she works mostly with sewing thread but will throw in embroidery floss. I think she works more 22 epi, but could be mistaken, with the dual Duty Craft thread for warp. She works in sewing thread so that she can get the kind of color blending and detail she wants to achieve. Richard, I really recommend her book Tapestry 101, it's excellent plus in the back is a very complete chart of setts and warp materials and weft materials. She has 5 for embroidery floss. To contact her ,Fine Fiber Press 541-917-3251 West Coast Time, she sells Cotton Seine twine among other things. Tommye, I found a couple of things to watch for when working with the floss, did you? Beat carefully, because it's easily snagged, it can be easily straightened out but does slow you down. Also because it doesn't stretch , I found I had to be extra diligent about draw in. But we know how I am about draw in :) All those colors and sheen, plus as Tommye says it's so portable! I have mine wound on those little embroidery cards in a embroidery case. I use it mostly for doing outlining certain shapes in my pieces. Or for weft bundling when I want a little extra sheen. I used it for all my flowers, if you want to go to my project page. Good luck Richard, sounds exciting, be sure to post! Cathie
Fri, 12/20/2013 - 17:22

Richard Haas

Thanks ladies for the tips. I was walking in the big box store and saw all these many colors. It got me to thinking, WHY NOT. I am so new to this that I have to ask questions. I did buy a book on tapestry but it was a little confusing on some of the weaves. All I need to know for now is basic weaves and knots and when to use them. I'll order the 101 book after Christmas. I did order some wool from Norsk Fjord and he told me he is selling out to a person in Fla. and this person will be the distributor for Vevgarn after Jan. 1st.  Thanks for the info.   Richard
Fri, 12/20/2013 - 17:40

tommye scanlin

Richard... just to set the record straight, Noel at Norsk Fjord Fiber is a woman! Noel, a dear friend of mine, opened NFF in the late 1980s and has been a staunch supporter of fiber people through her imports from Norway to the U.S. She is very involved in many causes, as is her husband. She's hoping that this is the best next step to continue to make the availabilibty of these wonderful Norwegian wools to U.S. weavers possible. The person who will be taking this business on, if all goes as both parties hope, is an exceptionally knowlegeable textile person and wonderful tapestry weaver. She will take the baton of NFF and run with it, I'm sure! I'm also sure an announcement of whatever is finalized will be done after the first of the year. I think you'll be quite happy with the Vevgarn. And... back to my subject line: yes, lots to learn with this simple weave of plain weave when used as tapestry! BUT, once you know a few basics... and I mean a very few... then the way you develop your abilities with the technique will be all in your hands, quite literally. I can't encourage enough the principle of Practice, Practice, Practice! Happy weaving to you, Tommye
Fri, 12/20/2013 - 18:59

Richard Haas

Sorry for my mistake on gender. I thought I was typing to a man. Funny how a name spelled can fool you. Anyway, looking forward to getting the Vevgarn and trying it out. I've been practicing some with some cotton yarn and am a little confused on what to do when I reach the end on each pass. Knot or wrap? The book I have doesn't address this very much.   Thanks for the gender update.LOL.     Richard
Fri, 12/20/2013 - 19:31

tommye scanlin

Richard, you say "... am a little confused on what to do when I reach the end on each pass. Knot or wrap?" I'm a bit confused about what you mean. A pass in tapestry means the two picks that will complete a plain weave cycle and cover each warp. Every alternate warp is left exposed as a weft pick travels one direction; on the trip back, that exposed warp will be covered, making a complete pass. Warp covered by weft over-under, followed by under-over on the next trip the weft makes. So, when you say "...the end of each pass"--that's where I'm confused. If you're weaving back and forth for some time before changing color, then nothing happens to end the weft. If you've come to the end of a shape or you run out of color within an area and want to continue on with the same color, then weft will stop and then start again. There are several ways that one stops/starts wefts. Some people overlap in the same shed by a small amount, pack it all down and move along. Others make a hitch (Kathe Todd-Hooker calls it a "pig-tail") and the short end of the tail goes either to the back of the weaving or to the front, depending on the way the weaver is orienting the weaving (one can weave from the back, all tails facing the weaver, or from the front, tails go to the reverse). I work from the front and hitch the tails so they go to the back. The hitch or pig-tail for the weft that's ending goes on, then the next hitch goes on the warp immediately beside that one... being sure that the weft keeps traveling in the direction it was going. Kathe Todd-Hooker has just addressed pig-tails in her latest blog post, by the way. You might want to take a look at her explanation. Here's the link to her blog and that particular post: http://www.kathetoddhooker.blogspot.com/2013/12/beginnings-and-ending-and-not-so-much.html About gender/name issue... not a big deal... after all, my name is Tommye! Noel & I have woman friends named Leslie and Pat, as well... we think it's sort of funny that all of us could be thought to have male names. Tommye
Fri, 12/20/2013 - 20:49

Richard Haas

I can't remember names anyway, so it isn't a big deal. It did make me think of the Johnny Cash song. My name is Sue. LOL.  Maybe I am over thinking this end thing. I know on the table loom, I just go around the last warp and back the other way. From practicing a little, some of my " pig-tails" are on the front and I was wondering what I was doing wrong. Should I work the warp spaces and make sure the wefts are all on the back side? Not sure how to ask since I don't know what to ask. I think I'll wait on the 101 book and keep searching on the internet. By the way, I do look at your blog everyday. Your project is coming along pretty good.  Thanks     Richard
Fri, 12/20/2013 - 20:51

Richard Haas

I just looked at the blog you referred me to and it made a lot more sense than the book I have.    Thanks
Fri, 12/20/2013 - 21:40

tommye scanlin

The Tapestry 101 book you mentioned is by Kathe Todd-Hooker, the blog post author! She's really good with technical things in tapestry.
Mon, 01/06/2014 - 18:11

Kathe Todd-Hooker (not verified)

Richard, Tommye, Cathie-I weave with sewing thread and embroidery floss. I weave at 20-22 epi. 30 epi I have done, but i can't find an advantage to working at that sett other then the need to use a magnifying class and a silk warp. Coptic tapestry was often woven at 60 epi.. I prefer working at that sett because it is exactly half of the 10 epi that my original Gobelin instructors taught me. It makes it easier for me to between large format and small format when I teach. I weave with 4-6 strands at a time to get the max out of my shading and bobbin blends. If you go back through my blogs you will find lot of tapestry technique described and discussed that i work with. Fine Fiber Press sales the smaller Norwegian alv yarns. The reason they are called pigtails-it's the English translation of a French word that goes back 2 or 300 years. evidently they reminded the weavers of curly pig tails. The tails are always on the back of the tapestry unless your weaving from the front. I originally was taught to weave from the back of a tapestry. So when I switched to weaving on the front I learned to reverse the pig tails.
Mon, 01/06/2014 - 18:15

Kathe Todd-Hooker (not verified)

I have now posted some of my newer tapestries in projects. I am really having fun with the truck and the graffiti. Hoping to finish it late next week. How's Georgia's chair? Loved having you here. CAn't wait to see you in Cincinnati. cheers, kathe
Mon, 01/06/2014 - 18:24

Artistry

Oh Kathe, it's looking more like a skull than a chair but somewhere I think Georgia would be proud! It's coming along slow but sure. It will be great having you here! Cathie
Mon, 01/06/2014 - 19:41

Kathe Todd-Hooker (not verified)

/Georgia's dead. If you like it that's all that counts
Mon, 01/06/2014 - 21:08

Richard Haas

I just ordered the tapestry 101 book. I'm sure its going to help and I need it.
Mon, 01/06/2014 - 23:56

Kathe Todd-Hooker (not verified)

Justy went in the mail; a couple of minutes ago.

kathe

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 00:44

Richard Haas

Thanks Kathe. I know I am going to enjoy reading and learning from it. There have been a lot of good reviews about it.     Thanks