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Conversion assistance?



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 14th 03, 06:23 PM
Jenn Liace
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Default Conversion assistance?

Yesterday I purchased a pattern called Needlepoint Rainbow Sampler,
simply because I like the vibrant colors and the different stitches
used. What I didn't notice at the time, though, was the variety of
threads that the pattern calls for. Eeek! Major shopping and storage
required if I don't convert!

Question #1: Paternayan wool is one of the main threads used. I
found a list of color conversions to DMC for all but one color - 958.
None of the 4 different sites I went to had this color listed at all.
It's marked as "orange" on the pattern, but it is overlaid with
another color of DMC in a rice stitch so it's hard to tell from the
color cover what shade of orange it might be. Is 958 a misprint, a
discontinued color (this pattern is over 20 years old) or is there
maybe just no similar conversion to any other brand?

Question #2: The sections using Paternayan use 3 strands each. If I
substitute to DMC floss, how much would I use?

Question #3: There are a couple sections that use DMC #3 perle
cotton. Can I substitute with a different gauge of perle cotton or
with floss and simply use more strands?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can share!!

Jenn L.
View My Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace
Current projects:
Chicago Skyline (The Needlecraftsman)
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)
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  #2  
Old September 15th 03, 12:52 AM
Boohoo1971
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For questions #2 and #3...why don't you just play around on the edges of your
fabric, the area that will be hidden when it is framed? Try different number
of threads to see what covers. Do remember that the variety of threads that
are called for will give a texture you will not get with just DMC. Your
project sounds interesting, have fun with it. Boo
  #3  
Old September 15th 03, 04:33 AM
Ruthie
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Hi, Jenn!

Keep in mind that I am brand new to needlework! As a neophyte, my stitch
tension fluctuates, and my stitches vary greatly in both smoothness and
twist, or the lack thereof...

I just finished a piece using both persian wool and DMC floss. The wool
was not Paternayan, but a now-discontinued one put out years ago by DMC.

I was working on 10-count canvas, and using plain old
basketweave/tent/continental.

I got good coverage using two or three strands of the wool. (Dyes affect
the wool, making it thicker or thinner. I don't know if this is also
true for cotton.)

In the floss, I used 12 strands, and I can see some spots where I could
have used more. But the stitches may also have been affected by my
inexperience.

I would also think that better coverage could be had by using six
strands and doing cross-stitch.

JMIO (I is "inexperienced")

Ruthie

  #4  
Old September 15th 03, 12:07 PM
F.James Cripwell
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Ruthie ) writes:
Hi, Jenn!
(snip)
In the floss, I used 12 strands, and I can see some spots where I could
have used more. But the stitches may also have been affected by my
inexperience.

I would also think that better coverage could be had by using six
strands and doing cross-stitch.

JMIO (I is "inexperienced")

Ruthie



Just a little note here. I think most people realise the importance
of "stripping" threads from the 6 ply strands of embroidery floss.
Otherwise you tend to run into trouble with twisting as the length of the
thread shortens. However, there have been people in the past who forget
this when they use all six strands together. They just cut the appropiate
length, thread the needle and start stitching. 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.
Clear as mud? HTH.

--
Jim Cripwell.
The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of one's life, any
time that is spent in stitching.
Adapted from a sign on The Cobb, Lyme Regis, England.
  #5  
Old September 15th 03, 01:19 PM
Dianne Lewandowski
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Jim is correct, except:
For surface work when you want a rope-like effect, as in Portuguese stem
stitch, or coral knot. There you don't want to strip.

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.

Dianne

F.James Cripwell wrote:

Ruthie ) writes:

Hi, Jenn!
(snip)
In the floss, I used 12 strands, and I can see some spots where I could
have used more. But the stitches may also have been affected by my
inexperience.

I would also think that better coverage could be had by using six
strands and doing cross-stitch.

JMIO (I is "inexperienced")

Ruthie




Just a little note here. I think most people realise the importance
of "stripping" threads from the 6 ply strands of embroidery floss.
Otherwise you tend to run into trouble with twisting as the length of the
thread shortens. However, there have been people in the past who forget
this when they use all six strands together. They just cut the appropiate
length, thread the needle and start stitching. 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.
Clear as mud? HTH.

--
Jim Cripwell.
The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of one's life, any
time that is spent in stitching.
Adapted from a sign on The Cobb, Lyme Regis, England.


  #6  
Old September 16th 03, 07:10 PM
Ruthie
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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.


  #7  
Old September 16th 03, 08:11 PM
F.James Cripwell
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Ruthie ) writes:
Thanks, Jim and Dianne!
(snip)
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.
(snip)
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


I am not going to get involved any more. As we say many times, just
about everything in needlework is personal preference. I have never
stitched with 6 strands, 4 is the most I have used. But when I first
learned to strip threads, the effect was so wonderful that I just think
everyone should know about it. My reason for commenting was that in the
past I have come across people who know how important it is to strip
threads, but forget when it comes to using all 6 together.
--
Jim Cripwell.
The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of one's life, any
time that is spent in stitching.
Adapted from a sign on The Cobb, Lyme Regis, England.
  #8  
Old September 16th 03, 10:08 PM
Joan Erickson
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Ruthie ) writes:

Do I need to actually separate each strand?


Then F.James Cripwell wrote:
My reason for commenting was that in the
past I have come across people who know how important it is to strip
threads, but forget when it comes to using all 6 together.

Another side benefit from separating strands is that the floss seems to
knot less once separated. I'd guess that my knot-creation went down
probably by at least 85% when I learned about separating strands!
I became an expert at untying them. Now I'm surprised when I get one!

Ruthie also asked:
snip
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.

This is just a normal occurance. It happens from the threads lying on
top of each other on the back side (where it's not laid/railroaded).
Sometimes there's more variance, sometimes less. I've had it range from
no difference in length at all to an inch difference by the end of the
length. I usually don't pay any attention to my floss ends until I pull
the needle through and only 1 thread comes with the needle!
HTH!
--
Joan

See my first-ever design he
http://www.heritageshoppe.com/joan.jpg

"Stitch when you are young and poor, frame when you are old and rich."
- Elizabeth's (rctn'r) sister's MIL (Barbara Marr)

  #9  
Old September 16th 03, 10:44 PM
Dianne Lewandowski
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Joan Erickson wrote:

Another side benefit from separating strands is that the floss seems
to knot less once separated. I'd guess that my knot-creation went down
probably by at least 85% when I learned about separating strands!
I became an expert at untying them. Now I'm surprised when I get one!


Try telling that to me after making about 40 tiny bullions this
afternoon with a single strand of silk floss! Argh!! 6-petaled
flowers, and if you goof a bullion, it's start all over time. Frogging
is not an option with finer threads. It would take as long.

Dianne

  #10  
Old September 17th 03, 12:23 AM
Joan Erickson
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Dianne Lewandowski wrote:

Try telling that to me after making about 40 tiny bullions this
afternoon with a single strand of silk floss! Argh!! 6-petaled
flowers, and if you goof a bullion, it's start all over time. Frogging
is not an option with finer threads. It would take as long.

URG! I can only (and only *want*) to imagine. At least you got to
stitch this afternoon!

--
Joan (still at work)

See my first-ever design he
http://www.heritageshoppe.com/joan.jpg

"Stitch when you are young and poor, frame when you are old and rich."
- Elizabeth's (rctn'r) sister's MIL (Barbara Marr)

 




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