Stitch Progress on Baroque, and Battles w/ Threads

Hi all,

So, I'm about to post some pix on RCTNP of my latest progress on Baroque.
I'm about to start the really interesting kind of double swirl inside the
squares- it goes between the Jessica & Smyrna, and will then be filled with
a Rhodes and some beads. My intent is to finish 3 of them, so I have 1 left
to do with the class for the demo - the other stitches I will be demo'ing on
a blank - but this one needs the inner/outer portions. My big plan is to
completely finish the main work with this piece by tomoorow. Cause then I
must go full steam ahead on finishing my Amethyst Dreams - since Donna's is
already at the framer, and mine needs to at least get the fixing's ordered
this week.

Along with that I will now rant about the worst battles I've had with some
threads in quite some time. Yes, worse than Neon Rays. Hard to believe.

So, if you look at the pix, you'll see in the narrow V-shaped borders what
looks like a row of black grommets/rings connected in black, with purplish
lines parallel, then some shiney pale metallic between the purple & the
black. The purple narrow stuff is Petite Sparkle Rays, which I subbed for
1/16 Kreinik, and is pretty nice to work with (Just leave enough tail that
will unravel which you plan to waste). Although it's hard to see, on either
side of the double laid purple, is a long satin stitch of Perle 8, in the
same midnight blue color as the smyrna motifs inside the squares. It
actually makes a difference, giving some better definition to the purple.
The black round things are small Jessicas done in Perle 5 (not great fun,
very hard to see for the joining sitthces). For those who've never done
Jessicas - they're a fun stitch - the trick is that one stitch joins up to
the beginning, but then you will normally do several more - which will slide
under the existing first stitches and go down in those holes - so you
essentially lift the base of the wreath, slide under and then go down in the
correct hole - finishing usually as you go down in the last corner stitch on
the RHS. Gives the no-visible end or beginning look. Jean Hilton explains
these really well in any of her books. The black lines are a center of 1/16
ribbon, which also forms XS in the center of each Jessica, and then the line
is flanked by Neon Rays on either side. Whew. All pretty straightforward.
Until...the metallic short stitches (over 4 or 5) which are between the
black, and actually the barely visible perle 8. What a PITA. First, I
changed the Kr#8 to Crystal Braid 12 because I needed to start, and couldn't
find a Kr 8 that was exactly the right color. The Crystal Braid has a nice
kind of luminescent look. But, it really wants to unbraid. In the large
stripes with it, no big deal, as I knot the starting end before burying the
anchor (and later snip it off), and it was big stitches - lots of Thread
Heaven, constant tension - all pretty good. But, for these littler stitches
- turns out I really had to stick with short lengths, and the darn stuff
wants to crimp up. Plus, it was almost impossible to actually get into the
correct holes to stay on a straight diagonal line - I actually had to flip
the piece frequently - to check placement, or find it. And redid more
stitches than I've ever had to. Argh. Also, I've definitely gone to the
technique of leaving about an inch of tail after finishing and burying -
which I then go back and carefully (with paper towel under) apply Fray check
with a Q-tip onto the tail, let dry, and then snip short. I've done this
with the Petite Sparkle Rays as well - works great, keeps the stuff from
unravelling further, and no knots or lumps on the back.

Final big rant - the metallic Jessicas in the squares are Gold Rush 14.
Great lavender/silver color. This is a chain-knit thread with metallic
woven in. Normally - short lengths, stretch it, work with tension, and
you're okay. But, for the Jessicas - which really should be done with one
length - I had to use about a 28" length. So, let's see - I wasted one 1/4
done, the next 3/4 done - the chain somehow undid, I cursed. The 3rd time -
finally - got it anchored and started. Also - I switched from a 22 petite
needle to a size 20. Seems big, but that's the key - not to make the hole
bigger for the thread - the 22 was enough - but the eye on the 22 & 22
petite was a bit too grabby for the Gold Rush. It felt like stitching with
a log, but, oh, well. The Jessica's all got done. So, if you ever use this
stuff - which has a specific look - remember to be careful with the needle
eye. Plus, I really had to keep tension with the 2nd hand all the time.

Rant over. It may be a long, long time before I use crystal braid again!

Ellice

I feel your pain! I spent what seemed like most of my weekend working
with the Frosty Rays to do some of the diamonds in Amethyst Dreams - I
had forgotten how much I hate it. That stuff is horrible! I must
have ripped two of the diamonds out three times, the others at least
once and trimmed all of them of stray threads. But it's done now and
onto smoother threads. . .

Linda

On 1/19/09 2:24 PM, "lewmew" wrote:

I feel your pain! I spent what seemed like most of my weekend working
with the Frosty Rays to do some of the diamonds in Amethyst Dreams - I
had forgotten how much I hate it. That stuff is horrible! I must
have ripped two of the diamonds out three times, the others at least
once and trimmed all of them of stray threads. But it's done now and
onto smoother threads. . .

Linda


I understand. I will say, that in the class, everyone except IIRC, Donna, &
I had issues with the Frosty Rays. I've used it a fair amount, so will deal
with the issues, and have developed some technique that sort of lessens the
pain. I've only done a very minimal ripping with iton this piece (those
Rhodes) when it got caught. But, I always knot the end about an inch in, to
hold the filament with the tube. And work it with tension on it constantly
- which is a PITA. Glad you're done. I think one of the gals in class had
to buy 2 extra cards, and I started everyone with 2 because of the
likelihood of ripping.

I kind of screamed when the chainette of the Gold Rush suddenly unsipped
from the metallic. Oh, well.

Ellice

On Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:51:05 GMT, ellice wrote:

Rant over. It may be a long, long time before I use crystal braid again!

Ellice


Oh man. That's a saga. I've never used the crystal braid, but I've
had similar problems with Tiara. Hateful stuff.

Sara

"ellice" wrote in message
...
On 1/19/09 2:24 PM, "lewmew" wrote:

I feel your pain! I spent what seemed like most of my weekend working
with the Frosty Rays to do some of the diamonds in Amethyst Dreams - I
had forgotten how much I hate it. That stuff is horrible! I must
have ripped two of the diamonds out three times, the others at least
once and trimmed all of them of stray threads. But it's done now and
onto smoother threads. . .

Linda


I understand. I will say, that in the class, everyone except IIRC, Donna,
&
I had issues with the Frosty Rays. I've used it a fair amount, so will
deal
with the issues, and have developed some technique that sort of lessens
the
pain. I've only done a very minimal ripping with iton this piece (those
Rhodes) when it got caught. But, I always knot the end about an inch in,
to
hold the filament with the tube. And work it with tension on it
constantly
- which is a PITA. Glad you're done. I think one of the gals in class
had
to buy 2 extra cards, and I started everyone with 2 because of the
likelihood of ripping.

I kind of screamed when the chainette of the Gold Rush suddenly unsipped
from the metallic. Oh, well.

Ellice


At least you can say with confidence that the piece is stunning and it's
going to be worth all that aggravation.

L

On Jan 19, 2:24*pm, lewmew wrote:
I feel your pain! *I spent what seemed like most of my weekend working
with the Frosty Rays to do some of the diamonds in Amethyst Dreams - I
had forgotten how much I hate it. *That stuff is horrible! *I must
have ripped two of the diamonds out three times, the others at least
once and trimmed all of them of stray threads. *But it's done now and
onto smoother threads. . *.

Linda

I didn't mind the Frosty Rays so much on Amethyst Dreams. I did have
to frog that first diamond and restart, but I learned a lot in that
first attempt.
What I really hated was the Hi-Lites. How can something that looks so
nice when stitched be such a pain? Especially the wrapped bars in the
lower left quadrant. I wasn't sad at all to sub for the outer border
and lose the Hi-Lites.

Donna in Virginia

Rant over. *It may be a long, long time before I use crystal braid again!

Ellice

So when exactly is the class meeting again?

And I suppose you don't want to hear how I spent some pleasurable time
yesterday doing my background on my little dogwood canvas...

Donna in Virginia

On Jan 21, 8:14*am, Donna wrote:
On Jan 19, 2:24*pm, lewmew wrote:

I feel your pain! *I spent what seemed like most of my weekend working
with the Frosty Rays to do some of the diamonds in Amethyst Dreams - I
had forgotten how much I hate it. *That stuff is horrible! *I must
have ripped two of the diamonds out three times, the others at least
once and trimmed all of them of stray threads. *But it's done now and
onto smoother threads. . *.

Linda

I didn't mind the Frosty Rays so much on Amethyst Dreams. I did have
to frog that first diamond and restart, but I learned a lot in that
first attempt.
What I really hated was the Hi-Lites. How can something that looks so
nice when stitched be such a pain? Especially the wrapped bars in the
lower left quadrant. I wasn't sad at all to sub for the outer border
and lose the Hi-Lites.

Donna in Virginia

Hmm - I dont mind the Hi-Lites so much. I did learn the best thing to
do is use a small eyed needle and knot it so it can't slip through.

Tonight I think I am tackling the diamonds in the long zigzag. . .
Maybe this weekend I'll get a chance to take a picture and post my
progress.

Linda

On 1/20/09 8:42 AM, "Sara" wrote:

On Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:51:05 GMT, ellice wrote:

Rant over. It may be a long, long time before I use crystal braid again!

Ellice


Oh man. That's a saga. I've never used the crystal braid, but I've
had similar problems with Tiara. Hateful stuff.

Sara

The crystal braid has a very nice look, but what a PITA having to use long
lengths. Just because this project needs the long lengths, otherwise tons
of stops and starts - and the anchoring places will just start getting way
too bulked. IME, a lot of canvas workers use the crystal braid, as it has
nice coverage. Tiara - not great, but a nice look. Usually I go for the
Treasure Braid series - in whichever size for metallics - I like working
with it, it's softer, a bit nicer to stitch with than the Kr.

I'm still in after headache, I think, from very slowly putting in the spiral
wreath things. Which in the original are done in 1 ply of splendor (silk)
but after doing 1, DH & I decided it was too fine in purple on black, so did
them with 2 plies, which meant that I had to lay all the stitches. Woo hoo.

Ellice

On 1/20/09 11:00 AM, "lucille" wrote:

"ellice" wrote in message
...
On 1/19/09 2:24 PM, "lewmew" wrote:

I feel your pain! I spent what seemed like most of my weekend working
with the Frosty Rays to do some of the diamonds in Amethyst Dreams - I
had forgotten how much I hate it. That stuff is horrible! I must
have ripped two of the diamonds out three times, the others at least
once and trimmed all of them of stray threads. But it's done now and
onto smoother threads. . .

Linda


I understand. I will say, that in the class, everyone except IIRC, Donna,
&
I had issues with the Frosty Rays. I've used it a fair amount, so will
deal
with the issues, and have developed some technique that sort of lessens
the
pain. I've only done a very minimal ripping with iton this piece (those
Rhodes) when it got caught. But, I always knot the end about an inch in,
to
hold the filament with the tube. And work it with tension on it
constantly
- which is a PITA. Glad you're done. I think one of the gals in class
had
to buy 2 extra cards, and I started everyone with 2 because of the
likelihood of ripping.

I kind of screamed when the chainette of the Gold Rush suddenly unsipped
from the metallic. Oh, well.

Ellice


At least you can say with confidence that the piece is stunning and it's
going to be worth all that aggravation.

L

Thanks so much, Lucille. Last night after I got the wreaths in, and the
first background of the sparkle rays - I looked at it and suddenly said
"this is a glitzy piece but not too" DH looked over and asked "don't you
like it? Is it too much?" No, I don't think it's too much - but it's more
kind of glimmery than I usually do. Fortunately, I've been told by Donna,
and DH, that it looks really good IRL, as compared with the photos.

It is definitely the most aggravating piece I've ever done. But, fun at the
same time.

Ellice