My preferred version of Christmas In July is to be making not shopping. One of my favorite is “The Good Morning Brigade” So today I am starting my day by reminding myself and sharing with with all the positive energy of all creative endeavors.
Thread The Needle Day the meanings I like best: Literal meaning – Taking a thread and guiding it through a sewing needle Metaphorical sense – Finding a path through two opposing views
Lord know we need the grace that some from both those exercises.
Sooner or later everything reaches a tipping point.
Edited 2021-02-13: Some dreams don’t work out as hoped – this was one.
Still it does include some strongly held beliefs about our responsibility for the good of the craft (whichever one(s) you enjoy)
We are finally launching a “dream project” AllJustString is intended to provide a place for personal development of our skills and knowledge, keep the information accessible and organized in a manner that will allow those who follow to find and benefit in a way not currently possible in other venues.
It is also a founding principle that many of us don’t have craft-tunnel-vision – meaning that we enjoy many forms of craft and there is great diversity in how we each choose to bend our string. We can admire and respect those who practice a technique whether we choose to participate,
Our goal is help each other build on skills and knowledge and derivations – while giving our undying respect and support to those offering the opportunity to expand our knowledge and skill from the quick picture or video tutorials, to (at least in my home) a whole bookcase of others who have “done the research” and codified technique, and in many cases, the history of their chosen craft.
It is our obligation as an artisan (someone who works with their hands and their heart) to acknowledge as much as possible those who made our development possible. It is our ethical obligation to respect their copyrights and never feel we “need” to get attention by sharing that which is not ours to share.
At the end of the day, other than for marketing purposes, the only thing likely to be truly original is how you present it. And that work should be judged on your competence and vision.
Our goal is to help you find the knowledge and information you need, in a manner respectful to you, and to your sources of inspiration.
I hope you will join us and bring along some friends to show and share our love of our crafts and our fiber artistic adventures (remember, beads are lumps string so they count too)
Burying Ends – The basic technique – draft 15-Jun-2009
It seems that no matter what the craft, if it uses string, sooner or later, every one asks for/needs suggestions on how to bury ends.
It is also important to consider “suitable to the project” – one would not want to make HUGE holes, even on the backing of a large quilt.
No matter what I am teaching, I always tell students that they should leave LONG tails – this will vary depending on the technique
For Quilting/Sewing or most other needle work, at least 4in/10cm and my personal practice is about a foot. This will allow you to use something like Clover’s Self-Threading Needles
For knit and crochet, enough yarn to form at least 3 or more complete stitches, but usually about 12in/30cm – If you have MANY color changes, this could add up, so you will want to consider learning Russian Join or some other “bury as you go technique”
Again, This may seem wasteful but… Unless you are using real precious metals, it is just not worth the frustration! Yarns, thread, or most stringing materials are relatively inexpensive. Certainly much less expensive than the mind altering migraine meds that such frustration leads to
You can always use the thrums for something else later so feel free to save them.
Okay, so now you know that “for future reference, but what to do with that project with a gadzillion ends NOW?
There are many ways to thread a needle, or more effectively to needle a thread – and many types of needle threaders. ItsAllJustString.com
Although I sell many different threaders, for burying thread ends, particularly possible short ends.
Rather you may find this low tech ‘technique’ suggestion. While I am sure I was not the first to invent it – it was something I started doing in relation to bead stringing so will claim rights to parallel development*.
You will need
Needle almost any size will do – (Bead Note: it MUST be able to go thru your beads while threaded with hand sewing thread that has been knotted to create a loop _NEEDS MORE EXPLAINATION
Length of Thread
Generally I use Nymo or Bobbin thread or Perle Cotton – it will depend on the technique and the “holes” that exist in the fabric.
Needle – type will vary depending on your project, but for buying say quilt ends
Optional:
Flexible sheet foam
Tweezer or Forcepts that are capable of easily gripping the yarn or thread used in the project.
1. Using a strong but fine thread, thread a needle with a length of thread at least 3-4 times the length of your needle (i.e. if you needle is 2in/5cm long, use a piece of thread measuring 6in/15cm to 8in/20cm in length) it is just easier to work with. Generally I use bobbin thread or for nymo, but whatever you choose it should be strong.
2. Tie a secure knot about 1/2 inch LONGER than the length of your needle. I actually keep a bit of flexible sheet foam in my “tool kits” so that I will have something reasonable firm to “tie the know against” – but still flexible for easy removal of the loop you are creating.
3. Slide the loop off – trim ends but not too close – don’t want the knot to come out
4. Using the tweezer or even a ‘thread crochet hook’ pull the thread end into/thru the loop.
If it is very short, you may want to “hold it with the tweezer”
*Sincerely hoping this explanation will avoid a lot of unnecessary – it was ‘refined” a bit for stringing beads onto carrier YARNandTHREAD
The Duct Tape Scholarship for high school seniors is often an eye-popping adventure into the creative minds of today’s teens. I can’t help thinking what a great Quilt Art Challenge could come out of this, …
I often comment that you can build a house with not much more than just Duct Tape
But I really lovewhat the Teens keep doing with this stuff – and the idea that they are using Duct tape to help build their own futures thru the scholarship competition, well that is just frosting on the cake.
Enjoy
Wheat
P.S. You can see both the past winners and this year’s entries, at the Duct Tape Club
This series (list getting longer every day) of brief articles is about many aspects of sewing for every level of expertise. Much of it can easily be used by Quilters too.
