Thanks, Jim and Dianne!

I was going to use "stripping threads" as my subject, but figured that
the first word might attract unwanted attention. I don't need any more
spam about viagra!

Do I need to actually separate each strand? I was doing something a bit
unconventional. I happened to have a new toothbrush sitting there (don't
ask me why) and I brushed the floss with it until there was no twist.

As for laying tools - I think I'm going to have to have someone *show*
me. The written instructions I have come across are not suited to my
peculiar mind. (I am another of those who can read upside down and
backwards - and I can't tell left from right.)

But I have been doing something with my thumb. After I pull the yarn
through, I sort of lift it and gently fold it over, either horizontally
or vertically, and hold it in place while I make the next stitch. I can
unroll any twist before I make the stitch. Is that "laying?"

I have noticed two things about stripping wool. I did quite a bit of
blending, for shading; in one area (where I first started doing the
thumb thing) I wound up with diagonal stripes, because the strands were
always in the same place. Before, I was *adding* twist, to make sure the
two colors mixed well. The stripes aren't too obvious, thank goodness.
I'll be entering this in a crafts competition. A small one - it'll
probably be the only needlepoint there.

The other thing is, I frequently started with two strands of wool with
equal length, but wound up with one strand shorter. It happened with the
floss, too, but not to the same extent.

I suspect that it goes hand-in-hand with another problem - uneven
tension on the strands, so that half of the stitch sticks up. I hope I
made that clear. It happens more with the wool than the cotton - because
cotton doesn't stretch.

I've tried evening it out by pulling one strand a bit further through
the needle, and even taking the needle off, and carefully smoothing them
out before re-threading, but it only seems to work for about 3 stitches.

Suggestions gratefully anticipated!

Today I'm off to my LNS to see about getting a "learner" kit for cross
stitch. I bought a nice "stamped" kit - too nice to learn on. Another of
my amazing brain tricks - I convinced myself that I needed to make it
for a wedding present, but the wedding's Saturday, and I don't think
it's gonna happen, do you?

But I have to go to the dentist first. Which will really cut into the
ol' stash fund. :-(

Bye for now,

Ruthie

Dianne wrote:

Anytime you want a flat appearance and greater coverage of the thread,
you must strip the strands apart before stitching. Without a laying
tool of some kind, however, when using more than 3 strands, you'll be in
trouble. A laying tool can be a thumbnail or needle, by the way.

Jim said:
If you are using all six
strands of floss, it is still important to solemnly strip each strand out
of the original floss, and recombine them before starting to stitch.