As I have more experience stitching through the layer of tulle on top of cat topiary garden, I've realized that using a smaller needle than usual helps. I am stitching with a size 24 tapestry needle on 18 count instead of the size 22 I normally use. Right now I'm just stitching with one ply of silk or cotton floss, so the eye is big enough for the thread to fit, but the needle (and thread) are small enough that they slip right through the holes in the tulle. Occasionally I realize my needle is stretching the tulle a little out of position and I remove the needle and redo the stitch but mostly my size 24 needle works great.
When I have to rip out stitches, I find it easier to gently unpick my stitches with the eye of my needle instead of cutting them with scissors. Cutting with scissors risks cutting the tulle. I think I could repair a hole but I'm not sure so I am not taking any chances. I just turn the needle around and use the eye to pull up a stitch and remove it.
I haven't felt the need to run a row of basting stitches down the middle of my canvas to hold the tulle in place there but some folks might like to do that to make sure the tulle doesn't shift position much. You can always carefully remove the basting stitches (especially if you make them really long) when you get close to stitching over them.
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
3 comments:
Jane,
I'm intrigued by your use of tulle and am looking forward to seeing your progress on this canvas.
For those who need something to hold the tulle in place down the middle, I wonder if, instead of basting, rows or groupings of small magnets could hold the tulle flat and in place nicely until it is stitched down without puckering. The magnets could be moved around easily as needed and serve as a sort of "iron" for the tulle.
Maxine
Maxine, magnets would work nicely. I certainly don't have enough to replace the basting around the edges but I have plenty to hold the tulle down in the center. So far it hasn't been a problem but the tulle does shift a bit and you have to match up the holes in the tulle with the holes in the underlying NP canvas. Not usually an issue for me, though.
It's interesting to hear that there's more to using tulle than meets the eye - I hope you get there in the end!
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