variegated thread

[Charmed]

I treated myself to some variegated thread but having not used it before I wondered if there was a way to cut it, to get a nice flow from one lenght to another?? or are the colour changes so subtle that it doesn't matter?! I'm sure I read in a magazine there was a way to cut.......but I can't find that mag anywhere or did I just dream teh whole thing?!

[Angel]

When I cut variegated thread, I look for a long stretch of one shade of one colour and cut right in the middle of that. Then, when I stitch (if say the thread chages from red to pink) I start at the end with the read and stitch until I'm in the pink. Then I start the next length with the pink and stitch until I'm well into the red, then I start the next with the red.

[Nachstenliebe]

I've never uses variegated thread, but Angel's advice seems a good way to go about it.. I was curious about this too so thanks for asking about it!
Faith

[Angel]

hehe Angel LOVES these threads/ They're so much fun, I just can't use my loop method to start them.

[Charmed]

Ohhh thanks Angel! also thanks for reminding me about not being able to do the loop start!! I would have gone about things as I normally do.......
So you'd have to use 2 stands the same, obviously?!
Thank you Angel

[Angel]

hehe yes, I thought you may. I tried the loop start, but I found that what looks like it will line up wonderfully....doesn't in reality It may well do for the first ten....twenty stitches, then it starts to just go wrong Yeah, I use two threads the same as each other.

You're welcome.

[Wandatoo]

Besides not using the loop start, be sure to do the entire stitch before moving on to the next one. Don't do a row of one part, then come back to cross the stitches. Your colours will show up better if the entire stitch is done at once.

[Angel]

Hehe yep. Angel agrees.

[kell]

I do the same as Angel, although I find that the loop start gives a very pretty "mottled" effect if the colour changes are subtle, so you might like to try that too, to see if you like it.

[Charmed]

Thanks everyone for the advice just need to find the right chart to try them out on (I suddenly found myself in Hobbycraft this afternoon so of course I had to buy some more variegrated threads )

[Angel]

They're always nice for framing bookmarks, coasters, ATCs, cards etc. And they're small enough to slowly ease you into them.

[agi]

Most monochrome patterns are very good for variegated threads.

[Serinde]

Just what I was going to say! Great minds, Agi, great minds!

[socialsue]

I have not used variegated threads much because most of my charts doesn't ask for them..... however, I may try it one of these days just out of curiosity. I am waiting to get firestorm threads..... I think, for one of my African animals chart.

socialsue

[Mabel Figworthy]

I love using them for monochrome designs, anything geometric and the like -- Ink Circle motifs, My Aunt's Attic (freebies!) and lots of the French monochrome designs are great for them.

Another use is in Assisi work (I used a lovely turquoise/lilac/pale blue one as a background for some Assisi seahorses), and single initials for e.g. a coaster.

Use the same number of strands you'd normally use, except when you're using a thread like Caron Wildflower or another indivisible thread, they are often about the thickness of 2 strands already.

I like working in patches or blotches rather than lines, to get rid of the stripy effect. Like Kell I do occasionally use a loop start, but generally only if the variegation is fairly subtle -- with one of those rainbow threads it might get a bit psychedelic

here are a few examples of how I used variegated/hand-dyed/space-dyed threads:

[Angel]

WOW! I love the background effect you've created...now...who can I make a coaster for?

[Charmed]

Lol, I imediately thought the same thing as Angel when I saw Mabels work! (its fab stitching I really like the letters!!)
Before I was trying to find something to stitch with my new threads....now I'm spoilt for choice.... Thank you Mabel

[Angel]

hehe *senses a coaster exchange coming up after the egg one*

[Charmed]

hehe *senses a coaster exchange coming up after the egg one*

lol, sounds like a plan

[Sarah Gixxer]

Wow, those are all stunning, Mabel! I particularly love the seahorses.