Mabel's silk gauze experiments

[Mabel Figworthy]

Today the kit for the doll's house footstool arrived -- gosh the wooden bits are fiddly! I'm glad DH and youngest are going to take care of that bit for me . DH thought it would be rather nice as it would make it a present from all of us.

Anyway, here is the kit:



You need a stiff cardboard frame to tape the silk gauze to, but DH has promised to make me a number of plywood frames in different sizes which I'll be able to re-use . He won't be able to do that until the weekend though, so I'll have to be patient...

With the kit I had also ordered an extra bit of silk gauze to experiment with -- and I must say I'm glad I went for the 60ct rather than the 72ct . Here is a picture of the 32ct and the 60ct side by side, with a penny to show scale. Click on the picture and then in Webshots click on it again and choose "view full screen" to see the full horror of it... Definitely a job for the thinnest silk thread I've got with a 28 needle!

[burgundyice]

Gosh that's tiny, in the first picture I didn't realise how small until I saw the needle next to it!!! But a really pretty little design though... maybe beyond my patience & eyesight lol. How big will the stool be when it's finished? What size dolls might rest their feet on it?

Louise

[Lisa]

its official!! Mabel is officially off her rocker!!!

[Mabel Figworthy]

*rolls eyes madly*

The footstool is for a standard 1/12 size doll's house -- I haven't actually measured it, but I'll look it up on the website *goes off to find measurements*

Got it: it's going to be 2.25inches W x 1.6 D x 1.6 H (56mm W x 40 D x 40 H), so presumably the stitching will be a little less than 56x40mm.

First pictures hopefully this weekend!

[crazycat]

and i was worried that my 32ct was small *fetches mabel a cloth to mop her brow she must be ill*

[Dazbo666]

Mabel, I didn't realise you were scientific as well as incredibly creative.... cos you're gonna need a microscope to work with that material

GOOD LUCK

[burgundyice]

I'll look forward to this one appearing!

Louise

[SusanF]

Mabel, can you actually see the holes?

[Mabel Figworthy]

Just about . As I am very near-sighted, I may be able to do this more easily without my glasses!

[Rose]

Mabel I don't know how you are going to manage this but , Wow good luck.

[Slinky]

This is just too much of a coincidence. Only last night I was idly browsing through Willow Fabrics and stumbled across this silk gauze - I'd not heard of it before. I read the description about it being used for doll's house pictures and commented to my husband that it was a really niche product!!

And here you are, Mabel (:oops: ), trying it out for us all.

I must say I can't actually comprehend how small the fabric is. Even 1 strand of floss will be too big, surely? I guess you'll be using some of your Eterna silks? (Which, incidentally, I got too on your recommendation - perhaps you should get a commission! - and am part-way thru stitching a Po for my son. Interesting stuff.)

This project will be fascinating. PLEASE keep us posted.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I will, don't worry! How do you like the Eterna silks? I'll be posting a bit about them and Madeira silks a little later when I've finished the biscornu I'm making using both types.

Oh, by the way...

I'm not Rose....

[Slinky]

Oh, by the way...

I'm not Rose....

(hides face in embarassment). Post duly corrected (above)

The Silks, well, I read your thoughts and would agree. The sheen is to die for, they feel fabulous and simply refuse to tangle, even when you know that had it been cotton the tangle would have been so severe you'd have had to cut the knot out. I've been impressed with the price and amount of colours.

That said ... I'm finding the thickness of the 12 strands varies within skeins and between different coloured skeins, but not so that it'd notice really. I am stitching with 4 where I'd use 2 in cotton, and still haven't decided whether I like the coverage 4 gives.

My biggest grumble is their delicateness (if there is such a word). I'm not blessed with super smooth skin and find the strands catch at the slightest provocation. To the extent that I've invested in a super inexpensive (£1.98) pair of cotton gloves off eBay to wear while I'm stitching. They've not yet arrived but if they work I'll be much more likely to stitch more with these silks.

I've never stitched with silk before so I can't make a comparison with other brands, only with cotton DMC and Anchor, so perhaps my comments above are just the nature of the silk thread beast?

[Kute Kitty]

Good God, I hope you've got a magnifier!

Best of luck!

[Slinky]

Mabel, I've just realised that perhaps I should've got the MiniTwist silks rather than the Stranded ones. The website suggests they might be easier to use. Which ones did you buy?

[tattyted]

I'm looking forward to seeing some pics of these Mabel as by the time I got to read it your pic had vanished! Hope its coming along well and your not getting too much eye strain.

[SusanF]

Oh dear, I was dreaming about stitching with silk gauze last night!! The only way I could stitch with it was to shrink myself down to mini size and then it was fine to stitch with

So now you know what to do Mabel - find yourself a shrinking pill

[~threadbear~]

I'm just in total awe over this. I just can't comprehend even thinking about stitching anything so tiny and with silks too!!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Well, it'll be a case of wait and see -- when DH has finished my frame I'll start on the footstool, which is fortunately on the lower count of the two. Not with silk, the kit uses Anchor threads -- which is nice because I've never tried those and am looking forward to seeing what they're like.

Slinky, I've got the stranded, which is the "flattest" and therefore shiniest silk they've got. The silk twist, as far as I can tell, is more like the Madeira silk, twisted (obviously ) and therefore less shiny but easier to work with. It all depends on the effect you're after!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Rose, I'm sorry about the picture -- I honestly hadn't thought of it . I've edited the photograph to blur the chart, and will pm you with it; if you think it's all right I can then put it back up again.
Again my sincere apologies; the last thing I want to do is get the forum in trouble!