Can you ID this craft supply?

by Sister-Diane on September 1, 2009

in Portland Crafty

So, over the weekend, I met Amy, who had kindly offered me some craft materials of her grandmother’s.

She gave me an absolutely epic plastic canvas haul, which I’ll tell you about in another post. But she also had some metallic thread I’ve never seen before, and we’re wondering if any of you can shed some light.

Here’s one spool in its original package. Amy also has a large tin filled with dozens of these little spools in all kinds of colors. There are two weights: a “tapestry thread” that’s thicker, and then this “blending filament” that’s very fine.

It doesn’t appear to be designed for sewing machine use, because the spools have no center hole.

So, what is this stuff used for? Anyone?

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  • laurinda3
    I have used it on various cross-stitch projects...

    But also used it in crochet. Several years ago I crocheted lace sleeves and trim for my sister's wedding dress. I wanted to add a little sparkle, so I used 2 strands of blending fillament along with a fine white crochet thread.
  • LindyLouLand
    earthfaire.com has beautiful bead bracelet kits to knit and they also sell this thready stuff. I believe that you could use it to thread beads on and knit or crochet jewelry--bracelets in particular.
  • Kare
    I've used blending filament with stranded cotton to give embroidery and cross stitch a bit of a sparkle. I have never seen the tapestry weight stuff but I'll bet it's for pretty much the same thing.
  • thingsbright
    I think the title of this post would be an excellent Flickr group. I pick up craft supplies at tag sales and thrift stores often and there will be one random thing in the bunch that I can't identify. And sometimes, when you really have no clue, all the googling in the world doesn't get you anywhere. It would be a fun way to help each other. :)
  • SisterDiane
    Now, THAT's a fun idea!
  • Malla
    I have successfully used it in craft! It works great for kumihimo or micromacrame as an accent thread. It's not strong enough to be the main thread for beadwork or jewelrymaking, but it can be used for a nice "peekaboo" effect. There's a glow in the dark version I'm stitching to strategic parts of my Halloween costume.
  • SisterDiane
    Ah, I hadn't thought of micro macrame - great idea!
  • Those threads (in multiple weights, I think they've expanded into other thread weights since that was made) are used primarily as glittery accents in cross stitch projects; particularly for patterns Mirabilia and Told in a Garden (daughter and mother, respectively, by the way). Generally one stitches with a couple strands of embroidery floss, and combines some of this thread in for sparkle.
  • lylacfey
    When you look at a massive cross-stitch piece and see the beautiful silvery threads throughout that is Krenik. All of us stitcher's use it. We also use it to add shimmer to our stitched bead work.

    Must use Thread Heaven with it. It's a wax cube you can find in the sewing department. If you don't use Thread Heaven you will go mad trying to work with this stuff.

    You did get the haul. I am jealous ;) of all your PC magazines. Oh, that is a treasure trove.
  • You use both in cross stitch and embroidery to add a bit of something different to your work. The blending filament is one I've used (always in conjunction with another floss, thread, or yarn) often: it's thin enough to add no bulk to your stitches. The tapestry thread can be used on it's own or with another thread for the same purposes.
  • The Amy
    Wow... never been a subject of a blog post before... Thanks for all the info everyone! Now, does anyone want it? Or will Diane be coming back over to use it on some epic plastic canvas project???
  • Yes! At least, I know what *I* used it for. I had a cross-stitch pattern that I made a while back (I think it was of fly fishing - I made it for my father-in-law.) It called for the blending filament - you add one little strand in with your cross-stitch thread and it gives it a nice glimmer and sparkle. I don't know if it's used for anything else, though! (In the pattern I used, the filament was used in stitching the flies which were all around the edge of the pattern. Maybe even in part of the actual fish too - rainbow trout anyone? :-))
  • maybe it's like invisafil?
  • chppie
    Yes, yes I can. I actually remember it and probably still have patterns calling for it. The blending thread is used in cross-stitch to add sheen and/or color to an area of stitches. Simply include a strand along with the requisite number floss strands and stitch away. Lots of Christmas stitching patterns use it. sometimes you see it in needlepoint too. It's kind of a pain to work with so you have to stitch slower. I think it twists up really easy. As long as it's anchored you should be able to use it for other crafts as well, although I've never tried.

    I've actually never used the coarse one. Enjoy experimenting!

    Nice PC haul!
  • Sarah
    I use Kreinik metallics in my needlepoint. I have only used the thicker colors, but my Grandmother-in-law has used the blending filament with white to make sparkly snow on christmas stockings.
  • I don't know if this is the same stuff... but back when I was doing a lot of counted cross stitch (maybe 15 years ago??) I remember using this kind of metalic thread on some x-mas ornaments. The blending filament you would add to a normal thread and use them both together as you stitched and it would add sparkle. I remember they came in a lot of colors.
  • SisterDiane
    I've said it before and I'll say it again: You all have excellent brains.

    Thanks, everyone, for the speedy info and all the great ideas for use!
  • ScientificQuilter
    Sister Diane

    I have indeed used this metalic thread before. I was cross stitching a little angel for my grandma before she passed away and the pattern called for this thread. I believe I used it to make the angel wings. I believe I also used white thread to help stableize it. You can also get this Kreinik thread in gold, which you could use for the halo. It gives the stitching a slightly glittery effect.
  • lizandrsn
    Years ago I cross stitched a garland of Christmas Tree lights along the side of placemats. The bulbs specifically had a "glare spot" on them, so I added a length to the color in the spot. It really popped! In my experience the stuff shredds and stretches if you don't play nice with it.

    My GF cross stitches Fairies with the Krenick in the wings. Talk about heavenly!
  • allthingspaper
    This probably wasn't the intended use, but I bet you could use it to make some cool spirelli designs on paper - am thinking for card making especially.
  • SisterDiane
    Mmmm... great point!
  • Oh ... just found this article with all sorts of uses from the website: http://www.kreinik.com/articles/news.php?newsid=29
  • SisterDiane
    Awesome find, Jared - thanks!
  • It seems like it would be used for some kind of embroidery or general fiber art. Maybe it's meant to be doubled up with another thread for an interesting effect? Could be fun to play around with.
  • greetingarts
    You hold it together with your strands of embroidery floss, it adds a sparkle and shine. Can be a bit fiddly to work with, and may break, but once you get used to it, it really does add an extra oomph and is quite fun!
  • greetingarts
    You hold it together with your strands of embroidery floss, it adds an extra shine. You can use it for cross stitch, plastic canvas, needlepoint, whatever. A bit fiddly, but it really adds a litte oomph and can be quite fun!
  • SisterDiane
    Did you say plastic canvas?! :-)
  • greetingarts
    Yup, sure did. Although, you have to be a little more careful about snagging it against the plastic which could make it break.

    Have fun with it!
    Michelle

    http://greetingarts.typepad.com




    ________________________________
  • SisterDiane
    Thanks for the link, Dale Anne. Now, has anyone used this in crafting?
    The website is a little vague about uses.
  • it's meant for embroidery- you can hold it along with the floss for a metallic look. at least, that's what i think (they just started carrying it at joann's and it's next to the floss). i've also used it held together with yarn to make sparkly earrings and such.
  • janetmckinney
    You add a length of this to embroidery thread to give am etallic sheen to your embroidery work. good for cross stitch
  • SisterDiane
    OOh, that's neato!
  • SisterDiane
    OOh, that's neato!
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