I finally got back to working on my August TIF challenge piece and here is what I've managed to do today. As always, click on the picture to see the details.
I has occurred to me that some of you might not know about this method of separating stranded embroidery floss. I know it took me years to discover this little trick which makes it SO much easier than the old hold-it-all-in-the-air, grab-it-in-your-teeth-and-pull method. Please click on my very amateur photo to see it closer if you'd like. The top part of the picture shows a piece of floss separated into 6 strands at the end. In your right hand grab one strand and then, with your left hand, hold the remaining strands loosely. Pull on the single strand and it should just zip out, leaving a slightly clumpy bunch of thread in your left hand. Just straighten out the clump, grab another single strand and repeat the process until you have the number of strands you need to work with. Such a simple thing, and yet it saves tons of time and never tangles!
I has occurred to me that some of you might not know about this method of separating stranded embroidery floss. I know it took me years to discover this little trick which makes it SO much easier than the old hold-it-all-in-the-air, grab-it-in-your-teeth-and-pull method. Please click on my very amateur photo to see it closer if you'd like. The top part of the picture shows a piece of floss separated into 6 strands at the end. In your right hand grab one strand and then, with your left hand, hold the remaining strands loosely. Pull on the single strand and it should just zip out, leaving a slightly clumpy bunch of thread in your left hand. Just straighten out the clump, grab another single strand and repeat the process until you have the number of strands you need to work with. Such a simple thing, and yet it saves tons of time and never tangles! 
Love your mini tute on seperating threads. I teach my kids this method with the variation of holding the threads in the left hand vertically and shaking the bundle to straighten the threads after the one has been pulled out. I find the biggest problem is that people just refuse to cut a short length! We always reccomend "fingertip to elbow plus a little" as the ideal length, but people want 1 metre !!! Shows you how much people hate starting and ending off. Not me, I just hate KNOTS, VBG.
ReplyDeleteThanks for spreading the good word,
Hooroo,
Christine.
Sorry...thought you knew!! lol great idea eh?? Glad to know I'm not the only one who measures thread..wrist, elbow, arm!! he he
ReplyDeleteSee ya soon
Mrs Noofy
hee hee good one,.,.
ReplyDeleteI do this all the time!!!! Just never thought about it!
((((hugs))))
Maggie