Playing with a cord maker
For my fancy short gown project, I want to embroider gold thread twist onto a guard/welt of silk in a fairly simple design. I've found in my stash a nice dark teal cotton velveteen to use for the gown itself, with a light teal blue silk taffeta I can use for the sleeve lining. I did not want to use the taffeta for embroidering on, and found some black silk satiny (charmeuse?) fabric that will hopefully show off the gold embroidery nicely. Black silk fabrics were often used in the warrants for embroidery.
However, for the gold twist I don't want to hunt down & pay for many many many yards of cheap gold twist (especially since most come in only 3 yard rolls). I love gilt thread in fine embroidery, but I can't afford to pay for that much gilt twist for a garment. So, I decided to see if twisting passing thread might work. I had done a short bit by hand/pencil for my big embroidery project, and it worked ok, but it was not very tight a twist, and it was hard to keep the thread from untwisting itself during the process as the pencil slipped out.
So, I figured there had to be a better way. Thankfully there is, and it is battery operated instead of hand cranked, so after some stalling I bought it. It is called the Cord Maker and Fringe Twister
, and was created by Lacis (the folks who have that wonderful lace store & museum in Berkeley.)
This is what the cord maker looks like out of the box (click to see larger image).
I got it last week, but only took it out of the box this afternoon. It takes two AA batteries, and after hunting down a pair that was recharged (we use lots of rechargeable batteries around here), I got to playing with the machine. Seriously, it looks rather kinky, but it works pretty well once I got things working right. It really pays to read the little instruction pamphlet.
So I gave it a whirl, and the following is what I came up with (photos under the cut). The threads have to be held by the hooks, so the threads are doubled and inserted under the hooks, with all the threads knotted together and held away from the maker. The cord maker twists each set of strands in one direction. Then when all is twisted and under tension, you flip the switch and the whole thing twists in the opposite direction to join the strands together. The background fabric is the silk satiny fabric I will be using for the embroidered guard and it reflects a lot of light.
The cords/twists are, from top to bottom:
This is a close-up view
This view is without direct light, to minimize the glare and shine of both metal threads, and the black satin I put them on. It is possible to overtwist and kink the threads if you aren't careful (like I did on one of them below).
I really like this cord maker, so far. These are samples, so I used about a yard of thread to make the samples. I've not tried out longer lengths yet.
The only drawback so far is that the ends nearest the hooked portions will not get twisted, so that is a loss (as seen in the overview photo). And the knots will have to be cut off as well. But with longer lengths I should have some decent lengths of twisted cord to work with. I may need help with it at a longer length, although the instructions suggested tying the end to a hook, clamp or door knob.
I also realized with the metal threads, that the thicker threads will also not bend as easily as the thinner lengths, which is why I did not do a 4 strand test. I need it to remain flexible. I'm looking forward to making and embroidering for the short gown now. I guess now it is time to frame up the slate frame, and figure out a specific design to work on. Don't worry, I will be doing a sample piece first once I have that figured out.
However, for the gold twist I don't want to hunt down & pay for many many many yards of cheap gold twist (especially since most come in only 3 yard rolls). I love gilt thread in fine embroidery, but I can't afford to pay for that much gilt twist for a garment. So, I decided to see if twisting passing thread might work. I had done a short bit by hand/pencil for my big embroidery project, and it worked ok, but it was not very tight a twist, and it was hard to keep the thread from untwisting itself during the process as the pencil slipped out.
So, I figured there had to be a better way. Thankfully there is, and it is battery operated instead of hand cranked, so after some stalling I bought it. It is called the Cord Maker and Fringe Twister
, and was created by Lacis (the folks who have that wonderful lace store & museum in Berkeley.)
This is what the cord maker looks like out of the box (click to see larger image).
I got it last week, but only took it out of the box this afternoon. It takes two AA batteries, and after hunting down a pair that was recharged (we use lots of rechargeable batteries around here), I got to playing with the machine. Seriously, it looks rather kinky, but it works pretty well once I got things working right. It really pays to read the little instruction pamphlet.
So I gave it a whirl, and the following is what I came up with (photos under the cut). The threads have to be held by the hooks, so the threads are doubled and inserted under the hooks, with all the threads knotted together and held away from the maker. The cord maker twists each set of strands in one direction. Then when all is twisted and under tension, you flip the switch and the whole thing twists in the opposite direction to join the strands together. The background fabric is the silk satiny fabric I will be using for the embroidered guard and it reflects a lot of light.
The cords/twists are, from top to bottom:
- Benton & Johnson #371 in white gold (single strand)
- 2 strands doubled and twisted
- 3 strands doubled & twisted
- 2 strands blue DMC embroider floss with 1 strand of passing, doubled and twisted.
This is a close-up view
This view is without direct light, to minimize the glare and shine of both metal threads, and the black satin I put them on. It is possible to overtwist and kink the threads if you aren't careful (like I did on one of them below).
I really like this cord maker, so far. These are samples, so I used about a yard of thread to make the samples. I've not tried out longer lengths yet.
The only drawback so far is that the ends nearest the hooked portions will not get twisted, so that is a loss (as seen in the overview photo). And the knots will have to be cut off as well. But with longer lengths I should have some decent lengths of twisted cord to work with. I may need help with it at a longer length, although the instructions suggested tying the end to a hook, clamp or door knob.
I also realized with the metal threads, that the thicker threads will also not bend as easily as the thinner lengths, which is why I did not do a 4 strand test. I need it to remain flexible. I'm looking forward to making and embroidering for the short gown now. I guess now it is time to frame up the slate frame, and figure out a specific design to work on. Don't worry, I will be doing a sample piece first once I have that figured out.