What you wish someone had told you...

[concraftidor]

I use a winder tool and clippers now, although when I started maille at 14 I used wooden dowels with a hole drilled in one end and brute force of my hands. I cut the coils with a jeweler's saw if I'm making something to sell or something out of precious metals. The reason I like buying is because usually they are machine cut, so they all have beautiful flush ends. I'm not going to go through the trouble of using a saw with aluminum, brass, or other non-precious work myself since it takes awhile, but I love the look of perfect flush ends. I will note - I don't make sheet, I make fine jewelry out of maille, so usually I like it to look as perfect as possible. As such buying is easier, but sawing is cheaper.

[Sheepish]

Cross-stitching: No matter how pretty you think it'll be, don't use the metallic floss! Or, if you really must, use shorter stands, the frustration of starting and ending the stuff PALES in comparison to the fraying, breaking, tangling...

[concraftidor]

Cross-stitching: No matter how pretty you think it'll be, don't use the metallic floss! Or, if you really must, use shorter stands, the frustration of starting and ending the stuff PALES in comparison to the fraying, breaking, tangling...

Piggyback tip: If you MUST use metallic thread it should be couched, not cross-stitched. You can couch in a cross-stitch pattern, but it is a thread that is really designed more to be lain rather than imbedded, as originated in the gold film thread of the Medieval era. I wrote my thesis on Medieval embroidery, and learned that trick!

[Sheepish]

I... don't know what that means actually... lol

What is / how do you couch metallic thread?

[RMDC]

I wrote my thesis on Medieval embroidery, and learned that trick!

What I wouldn't give to read it!

[Eliste]

What is / how do you couch metallic thread?

I think Concraftidor is talking about full metal threads here- like those used in goldwork. DMC metallics are meant to go ahead and be stitched.

Couching is a way of affixing thread to the fabric. Rather than having the thread go in and out of the fabric, it lies on top of the fabric. You then use a more pliable thread to go up and down around the thread in spaced intervals. This keeps the main thread in place without it having to be sewn in and out of the fabric.

[concraftidor]

Exactly. I use that technique even with the DMC because I think it produces cleaner results. The Wiki article for the technique is actually pretty useful and has some great pictures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couching

I use a lot of Medieval techniques when I do fine work because it truly helps the quality, but mostly I'm just a good ol' cross stitcher!

[concraftidor]

I just started doing something and figured I'd share it here because it has CHANGED MY LIFE!

To finish my edges before I stitch i've always either dipped/ran in wax (messy, annoying) or stitched it (time-consuming or cumbersome since I keep my machine stored away). But yesterday, in a rush, I tried using lightweight iron-on interfacing cut into thin strips and it's GREAT! The edges are quickly secured and fraying is prevented, and the interfacing is soft and nice to hold in the hand. I'm so thrilled, though I may retract this if it begins to peel off. but for now - love it.

[Kareesh]

I just started doing something and figured I'd share it here because it has CHANGED MY LIFE!

To finish my edges before I stitch i've always either dipped/ran in wax (messy, annoying) or stitched it (time-consuming or cumbersome since I keep my machine stored away). But yesterday, in a rush, I tried using lightweight iron-on interfacing cut into thin strips and it's GREAT! The edges are quickly secured and fraying is prevented, and the interfacing is soft and nice to hold in the hand. I'm so thrilled, though I may retract this if it begins to peel off. but for now - love it.

I may need to try this. I've never really done much to my edges because everything else seems too time consuming or just doesn't sound like a good idea for a long term thing.

[Hecksgirl]

I have been wondering about this! The iron-on stuff seems like it would be better than tape, but have been too scared to try it out. Will definitely pick some up next time I'm in town!