Cant find the right thread size

[Anja Harrington]

I tried buying size 8 pearl cotton for my next Hardaenger project. The only colors i can get is white, off white, black and red, but not my purple or green. The only sizes for all the other colors is 5. So what can i do? Can i just split a size 5 thread in two and stitch or is that a too much of a difference?

thank you in advance.

Also i like to know, how the backside of a Hardaenger piece supposed to look like. Because i think mine looks like a mess.

thank you again

Anja

[Margaret]

good to see you are now getting a lot of advice Anja. The site I mentioned is Nordic Needlecraft not Nordic Needle.  Nordic Needlecraft is in Scotland, i have designed 3 cushions for them and Susan the owner has 5 samplers I have done which she is charting and doing all ter instructions for, so do not know how long that will take, I gave her the graphs done on graph paper as I do not know how to do it on computers.She also does hardanger and quilt holidays at her lovely home and they are doing really well.

[Margaret]

Anita, I think you use 12 for your kloisters on 36ct, have not done any on 36ct as eyes not good enough.

I have a cloth my granny did, she passed away in 1956 so it is old and I wash it reguarly, the lace edging has seen better days but the hardanger has survived intact even with a lot of washing and I wash all my cushion covers, runners etc with no problem

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

Hi Anita,

a waste knot is a knot you cut away. It is not on the backside, but the front. You make a knot at the end of the thread, bring needle to back about 2.5 cm away from your first stitch, come u where you want to start and then needle away. You then cut the know away, weave the end underneath several stitches on the back, and have a neat ending. Never ever have a knot on the backside, unless it's ribbon embroidery, or with metallics, where I usually keep them to prevent the threads from pulling out.

Anja Harrington said:

Hi Anita

i really don't know the difference between waist knot and the other. I tried with the knot, but don't really like it for some reason. I also prefer to weave the ends in. 

[Anita]

Thanks for the information Margaret.Wow! You are so lucky to have your  Granny's hardanger.Am sure it must be a treasure.

Margaret said:

Anita, I think you use 12 for your kloisters on 36ct, have not done any on 36ct as eyes not good enough.

I have a cloth my granny did, she passed away in 1956 so it is old and I wash it reguarly, the lace edging has seen better days but the hardanger has survived intact even with a lot of washing and I wash all my cushion covers, runners etc with no problem

[Margaret]

Now have my doubts Anita, I use 12 on 25 & 28 ct,  before there was a 16 there was only 12 available but I think 16 would be more suitable for 36ct. Unfortunately I do not have any 16`s or I would try it out.
 
Anita said:

Thanks for the information Margaret.Wow! You are so lucky to have your  Granny's hardanger.Am sure it must be a treasure.

Margaret said:

Anita, I think you use 12 for your kloisters on 36ct, have not done any on 36ct as eyes not good enough.

I have a cloth my granny did, she passed away in 1956 so it is old and I wash it reguarly, the lace edging has seen better days but the hardanger has survived intact even with a lot of washing and I wash all my cushion covers, runners etc with no problem

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

I've done several designs on 36 ct., the combination 12/16 is correct.

Margaret said:

Now have my doubts Anita, I use 12 on 25 & 28 ct,  before there was a 16 there was only 12 available but I think 16 would be more suitable for 36ct. Unfortunately I do not have any 16`s or I would try it out.
 

[Anita]

Thanks Sibille and Margaret.

I've not stitched on 36ct fabric.So I've bought 36ct ,yet to buy threads and I'm going to do one as soon as I finish the designing part.

Sibille Kreideweiss said:

I've done several designs on 36 ct., the combination 12/16 is correct.

Margaret said:

Now have my doubts Anita, I use 12 on 25 & 28 ct,  before there was a 16 there was only 12 available but I think 16 would be more suitable for 36ct. Unfortunately I do not have any 16`s or I would try it out.
 

[Connie Kusevskis]

Hi Anja, Nordic Needle is a great place to get all your Hardanger needs, but don't count out ebay there are auctions all the time where you can get a good deal. Pearl Cotton is not easy to split, I wouldn't do it, you really need the right thread for your projects. Your back should look pretty much like the front, it should be hard to tell the difference, and no knots in fine embroidery you don't want the bumps, just run the thread under the blocks, I usually do eight and have never had anything come loose

[Deb Lee]

[Elizabeth Braun]

I'm coming into this one a bit late, but Anchor also has a very good range of #s 5, 8 and 12 pearl cotton.  The #12 range has recently been revamped and considerably extended.

If you need some links for where to get hold of it, just let me know and I'll post some with pleasure.=)

[Joyce Jenkins]

I have not done hardanger myself but one of my best friends has done several. The backs of hers looks very good, almost like the front!  I would think that you should really use the size thread that the pattern calls for.  You might try shopping for the thread online.  I hope someone with more knowledge will answer you. good luck! 

Sorry I am late and did not see any of the other answers! I am new to stitchin fingers

[Margaret]

I recently tried to ordersome perle 8`s DMC in the varigated colours only to be told that they have deleated all but 2 colours, do not know what DMC are up to as Anchor have increased their range, think I will start using finca but have masses of DMC in stock but of course half the time they are not the right colours!!