HOW TO EMBROIDER WITH METALLIC STRANDED THREAD
Cut your working thread to a length of 20-25cm (shorter than the usual 30cm) and then coat it with a thread conditioner. If working with an even number of strands, cut a length twice as long as you need and fold it in half. Push the loop through the needle’s eye, then thread the ends through the loop and pull gently to secure – keeping the thread from slipping or fraying.
02
If this is your first time
working with metallic thread, choose a stitch you like and then use it to practise with, working on spare fabric and adjusting the length of your stitches until the thread (which is bouncier than cotton thread) lies flat – keeping your
stitches a consistent length for neatness. Backstitch is an effective choice for outlines, long lines and lettering.
03
Another good stitch to
use is Long and Short Stitch. It’s ideal for filling larger
areas and is better suited than Satin Stitch as metallic thread
doesn’t always lie flat when
used for longer stitches – plus, a longer stitch like Satin Stitch can sag when removed from the hoop. Just note you’ll need to take care not to split the threads when working through the holes of previous stitches.
04
One other stitch option that really shines in metallic thread is the French Knot, but you need to make them slowly and carefully. Don’t add more than two or three twists as the knots become harder to make. And, as you pull the needle through the fabric, keep the tension on the working thread even but not too taut so the twists don’t get caught up on the eye.