Pulled thread work

[Mara]

Hi Sharon and everyone, I really admire the pulled thread work that I see on some samplers, like Sharon's contemporary samplers. I've never done any and I really don't know where to start. I also don't have any good books on this, although A-Z of Embroidery Stitches 2 has quite a few stitches, but no tips on how to play a design of pulled threadwork area on a contemporary sampler. Anyone have any advice or resources? Thanks! Mara (in stinking hot Beijing!)

[Ulla Fredriksson]

Thanks for the link.What a combination of stitches with a special surface and a lovely embroidery.A great ideal.
Ulla

[Trish]

Hi Mara,

I, too, am working on the pulled thread. I found most of the stitches in either Carolyn Ambuter's Open Canvas or The New Anchor Book of Pulled Thread. There are several stitches I haven't found yet (the Frost Stitch and the pulled herringbone). As for playing with the designs, I thought I would use some geometric forms to begin with and then move on from there. I will probably produce a more traditional sampler. I am using other stitches, with a small variety of threads and some beading, around the pulled threads just to mix things up a bit but my main focus will be pulled threads. Hope this helps.

Paula, you are right, Marg's blog is lovely.

Trish (in somewhat chilly Newfoundland)

[Mara]

thanks Paula and Trish (and Marg for having such great inspiration your website!) I think I will just dive in to this and see how it goes. maybe I should give over on the planning side! cheers Mara (in incredibly rainy Beijing- we must have had a year's worth of rain in one evening yesterday - heavenly!)

[MargB]

thankyou all for your kind words . Mara I like the old (193? ed) of Mary Thomas for pulled thread as well as the McNeill book. I am not sure whether the newer ed of MT has the same work in it - it is prettier and in colour but I love my ed. Her stitch descriptions seem easier for me to follow than McNeill's but the latter has some great contemporary examples. I don't know why but I just love pulled thread work. Grace Lister has a lovely letter G done in PT on Flickr - in fact all her work is abolutely stunning - worth a look. she is there as gracelister Alice.

[sharonb]

Hi Mara - for stitches McNeill's Pulled Thread embroidery is really good.
For designing the sampler why not go through your old notes from the scrumptous surfaces class as the design process is the same

[MargB]

Mara It suddenly occurred to me in the middle of the night (you know - when the real thinking happens) that your problem may be similar to mine. I look at those wonderful samplers of Sharons and think ' That might do what I want! What stitch is it?"

I find that it is almost impossible for me to work out what a pulled thread stitch en masse will look like from the stitch instructions in most books, I find. I am slow at following the instructions at the best of times. However what I have discovered is that if I see something I want to try I make an educated? guess - look at the samplers in Mary Thomas - get a piece of linen and just do it! so far it has all been a learning experience.

I have been steadily trying new stitches each month - part of my TIF challenge, as far as I am concerned . Now I am using the stitchalong as an impetus to get together my own sampler so I will have something to help whenever I am looking for the right stitch!

Hope that is some help. there are quite a few stitches in the A_Z books - can't remember how many in the first but the newer one has quite a lot. I must lash out and buy them - my semipermanent loan from the library will wear a bit thin soon.

[Trish]

I took a look at Grace Lister's letter and her other work. Thanks for the suggestion. I agree the end result is a little hard to tell. I like both of the books I suggested because they show the stitches used in larger patches and/or as part of a picture. I am really just learning too and am in awe of some of the work I have seen.

[MargB]

I should have read your message again Mara. You weren't really asking that question - I don't think? sorry! I am rushing around in circles at the moment. There are examples of contemporary work in McNeill and also a couple in another book I own The Needlework School. Sharon's are the best I have seen really. I go back every so often for my dose of eye candy! Do do her Sumptuous Surfaces course if you get the opportunity - I am sure you would love it. It has to be my favourite course almost ever (and that is a long time!).

[sharonb]

Mara I just realised that I might have a bad memory as I thought you did the Sumptuous Surfaces course but I may have got it wrong ...

[Carol-Anne]

Is this course going to be repeated, Sharon?

[Mara]

that's right, Sharon, I haven't had a chance to take SS yet! oh dear! I'd like to take it very much, especially for the pulled thread work.
anyway, in the meantime I am playing around with my sampler while on holiday in Norway. I will post photos when I get back to Beijing next week. Tomorrow we are going up to the high mountains and seeing as my husband is driving and I am navigating, I think we might just have to take the road that passes by Norway's biggest handwork exhibition and market, don't you??!! Hopefully I'll also get some sewing time up there in the mountains, the days are long here and we are leaving the kids with Grandma!!
cheers, Mara (normally in Beijing, currently in beautiful southern Norway)

[Carol-Anne]

Wow, a small change in temperature and climate, hey Mara, not to mention cultural differences. Actually, I've never been to China or Norway, so this is entirely based on how I imagine things to be. Have a great break and enjoy your stitching.