Threads lying flat help...

[nixx7]

I've been cross stitching for many years and I've never bothered making my threads lie flat next to each other. When I try to make them flat it seems to take me twice as long to stitch

I was just wondering what everyone else did? And how important do you think it is?


Nicci

[bookknurd]

I don't worry about it very much, unless the threads are being so unruly that it's greatly affecting the look of the stitches. I'm not submitting it for any formal judging, so no one needs to look at it that closely anyway.

[nixx7]

Thanks.

I'm working on a piece with blended stitches and every website I've looked on are convinced they need to be flat.

I just don't want to get halfway done for it to look silly.

[Rose]

Personally when it comes to blended stitches I think it gives a better effect if they are not laying flat. I mean you want the colours to "blend" so to have them mingled is going to give you a better mix, especially when you are viewing it from the proper/expected distance. That is just me others will have different feeling I am sure. The biggest thing is that you are happy with the result.

[nixx7]

Thank you for you help

[MaggieM1750]

I agree with Rose on the blended threads bit. Depending on how different the 2 threads are, it can look a bit stripey if you always have the same thread on the bottom.

But for regular, same color stitches, I have started to railroad. It does take some time when first doing it. But now its just the normal way I stitch and I don't even really think about it. When going down into my hole, I stick my needle between my two threads. Your threads stay separated when going through and they lay better. I can also tell when my threads start twisting sooner than I could before- so I just drop my needle and let my threads untangle when I notice them twisting.

You could also use a laying tool, a big needle- like a 20/22 if you happen to have one, or a trolley needle. I've not used any of those, railroading does the trick for me so I've not needed to try anything different.

[meganh]

The railroading works very well for me too...whenever i notice my threads are too twisted i just railroad the next few and problem solved..this has worked well for me for 30+ years

[speart]

UGH, blended needles=hate.

But for regular stitching, I tend to railroad both top AND bottom. It really seems to help keep the top nice and fat, and once you get into the rhythm, this method doesn't seem to take any longer than not railroading.

[Allyn]

I have a different experience with blended threads. I think it is important for them to lay flat in order to get the proper effect. Yes, they look tweedy when viewed close up, but at 'viewing distance', the effect is apparent. It's an optical effect called 'spatial summation.' You need to see both colors in equal amounts to get the right blended result. I think that the smaller the stitch, the better the effect and the closer it can be viewed without being tweedy.

I use a laying tool on both legs of every stitch. I guess I don't have a good 'railroading' technique; I don't like the way one thread unravels each time I do it and I don't like the way it looks in the completed stitch, so I use a laying tool. I use a trolley needle rather than a regular laying stick.

[cairee]

Im with Allyn on the blended threads need to lay flat. I use railroading, placing the needle between the two threads when going back down. it doesnt take any longer to do it this way. keeping the threads parallel keeps the colors evenly represented, rather than one color on top of the other, which makes a big difference in the end.

I agree with Rose on the blended threads bit. Depending on how different the 2 threads are, it can look a bit stripey if you always have the same thread on the bottom.

not at all! here is a close up of the blended threads in my horses of neptune, as you can see railroading does not ensure that the same color thread is on top every time, it does however produce an even blend.

[Serinde]

Gothic Splendour sees me using both my laying tool and/or railroading to achieve the effect I want. But I also stitch with two hands (one top, one bottom) with the fabric in a frame, which speeds up the process (well, a bit anyway; I'm a desperately slow stitcher). It works for me, and I like the result. Also makes the thread go further -- and even letting the thread dangle and untwist helps there -- and I get better coverage.

[kinley626]

It took me some time to get comfortable with railroading. But I wasn't happy with the way my stitches were laying when stitching over 2 over 1. Now I find myself railroading automatically on other WIPs. I think of it like learning any new skill. Once you get the hang of it, it feels less awkward and you get better/faster at it.