Ordering sewing and embroidery threads

[esther_reeves]

(Health warning - for Haberbashery addicts.. do not click these links if you are feeling weak!)

I am planning to do orders to a couple of thread suppliers in the next week and wondered if anyone else wanted anything while I am at it. If you live close, I can pass it on via mutual friends or you are going to be at the summer court player event then

Comments

[ravenrigan]

I am going to be strong, though I have bookmarked the embroidery frames at Barnyards for future reference.

I am really lucky with my embroidery silks. I get them all on "cheeses" at the Handweavers studio which is just around the corner from me in Walthamstow and is an Alladins cave of crafty goodness, with more fibres than you can shake a stick at, plus a good range of books. I have yet to make a significant dent in any of the colours I have bought, and each cheese sets me back £1- £2 depending on how much is on it. Every time I go in there I add a few more colours to my stash.

[esther_reeves]

I am so envious of your local supplies!

[ravenrigan]

I do tours if you are ever in London ;-). The fabric stores can be a bit hit and miss, it depends on what they get from the wholesaler, and really good stuff like the £3 a yard silk devore can go pretty fast.

But I have never taken a chum around the market and had her find nothing to tempt her.

If anyone wants stuff from the handweavers studio I can always go in and pick it up for you, or if you tell me the colours you are looking for she will do samples for free which I can post to you. Don't know how well they will work in a machine, I do my embroidery by hand, though they do mercerised cottons, which my friend Jez says should work.

And then I can get more for me :-)

[ammos]

I really ned some linen sewing thread. I can list what colours in if you know where to get some anywhere local to you and not me(north Wales). Yes I have tried Aberkahns they only stock poly cottons, or metalics sadly.

[ravenrigan]

The handweavers studio does linen thread, in a good range of colours, and a couple of thicknesses. The stuff I got is good and sturdy, so probably not for very fine work (I used it for blackwork, then decided I preferred the silk). I wouldn't use it in a machine either as it retains a very slightly lineny texture.

What do you want it for?

[esther_reeves]

Empress Mills.. look under bookbinding. Those are linen thread though I'm not sure what thickness I get confused about the various different thread gauges..

[esther_reeves]

http://www.texere.co.uk/index.php?yarn=linen

Texere has a range of line threads. As ravenrigan says if you say what you need it for I can advise better.

Tom might be interested in some more linen thread too, he tend sot use it for leather work mostly.

[esther_reeves]

A third wonderful thread company or more accurately yarn and anything fibre associated is Texere (http://www.texere.co.uk/) in Bradford. Their website is pretty good these days but if you are ever in the area do pop into the shop it's an aladines cave, one down side of mum not living up there any more is I don't get to go there, or Bombay stores or Dehnhome mills.. oh well the move was a good thing for her and her health so can't complain to much.

They are no so much sewing threads but if you do any other fibre arts or just like random threads to couch down or similar then they are well worth a look.

[esther_reeves]

Actually saying that they have a wonderful range of threads for hand embroidery and some which would work in the machine as well as knitting etc..

[cov_cloud]

embroidery hoop/ frame - ah yes, I should get one of these ... now what size do I want/ need and if noone else wants one I might treat myself to their beginners embroidery goodie bag in the greens ?

[cov_cloud]

thats barnyards by the way

[esther_reeves]

which goody bag are you thinking of? Can you give me a link or exact name?
I noticed there is a hand embroidery one too. http://www.barnyarns.co.uk/Hand-Embroiderers-Introduction-Pack-pr-21122.html

plus they do a 1/2 price 18 real box of maderia
http://www.barnyarns.co.uk/Madeira-18-Spool-Presentation-Box-9840-pr-21796.html

[cov_cloud]

It was the hand embroidery one I was looking at.
I am currently confusing myself looking at frames. A square frame that attaches to a stand seems to make a lot of sense - but then I guess hoops are around for a reason of practicality that i am missing ?!