How to pick a primitive palette

Have you been thinking about using silk threads for a sampler? It is a good choice; silk was the thread most often used in sampler stitching over the last few centuries. It is strong, easy to use, and has a beautiful sheen. 

Kreinik Silk Mori (a floss), Silk Serica (a pearl-cotton-size), and Silk Bella (a super-fine size) are three different weight, or sizes, of silk thread available from Kreinik. You can get them on standard sized spools or large cones/skeins. They come in more than 175 colors. 

To some, 175 colors may not sound like enough. To others, especially those just starting to use silk, it's overwhelming. No problem; here we will show you how to get started:

1. Pick a starter thread assortment like one of our Silk Home Decor Collections. You get a small collection of silk colors with minimal investment. The "antique" set is particularly synonymous with the primitive look, but you can also go with a brighter group if you prefer. Here are links to sets from which to pick:

• 25-skein sets

• 10-skein sets

2. Narrow the 175 down to primitive, shaker, antique, or "sampler" style colors (see the list below) Print a copy and take it to your favorite independent needlework store, or visit one of the many online shops that carry Kreinik Silk Threads. Look for "half-skeins", or 2.5-meter skeins to start your collection. Choose these colors in Silk Mori for cross stitch, applique, and hand embroidery, or Silk Serica for Hardanger, needlepoint and crazy quilting. Note: Silk Bella is perfect for small details in all techniques, but doesn't come in as large of a color range as Mori and Serica.

Visit this page to see swatches of these Silk Mori colors

Visit this page for Silk Serica colors

Visit this page for Silk Bella colors

1093 Light Wood Violet

1094 Medium Wood Violet

1096 Dark Wood Violet

1098 Wood Rose

1119 Garnet

2014 Medium Gold

2016 Dark Gold

2017 Very Dark Gold

3063 Light Henna

3065 Dark Henna

4074 Medium Dusty Green

4076 Dark Dusty Green

4077 Very Dark Dusty Green

4203 Light Sage

4204 Medium Sage

4206 Dark Sage

4212 Lightest Avocado

4215 Medium Dark Avocado

4216 Dark Avocado

5057 Very Dark Slate Blue

5107 Very Dark Cerulean

6123 Light Dusty Lavender

6124 Medium Dusty Lavender

6216 Dark Dusty Lavender

6127 Very Dark Dusty Lavender

6204 Medium Dusty Plum

6205 Dark Dusty Plum

6207 Very Dark Dusty Plum

7012 Lightest Lead Grey

7014 Medium Lead Grey

7024 Antique Parchment

7025 Parchment

7086 Dark Straw

7087 Very Dark Straw

7126 Ecru

7134 Medium Bark

7135 Medium Dark Mocha

7136 Dark Mocha

7166 Dark Brown Black

7173 Light Honey

7174 Medium Honey

7175 Medium Dark Honey

7183 Light Sable

8050 Black

8075 Medium Dark Charcoal

8077 Very Dark Charcoal

8086 Dark Gray

All of the Milkpaint color range (the color numbers begin with "0")

3. Get a silk color card and use it to match silk colors to an antique sampler. Then once you have your list, you can order just what you need. Here is the link to the Kreinik Silk Thread color card, which has actual thread swatches.

Don't be intimidated by silk threads; stitchers have been using it successfully for centuries. Your fingers will be spoiled by its softness, your mind will be impressed at its strength and durability, and your eyes will delight at the beautiful, natural sheen. For the price of a small skein or spool of silk, it's worth a try.

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Stitching tips from the experts: You

A stitcher posted a question about Blending Filament on our Facebook page recently, and the wonderful community of stitchers chimed in with helpful suggestions. Facebook is wonderful for sharing and discussing, and we welcome all comments and questions. Come on over to our page and "like" us at
 www.Facebook.com/Kreinik.Manufacturing.Company.

Here are some of the tips in response to the question, "How do you keep a metallic from breaking?" It looks like the most important factors are: adjusting tension, using shorter lengths, and making sure you have the right needle. 

• Shorter threads and larger eyed needle - don't pull too tight and slow down — Bev F.
• Stitch slower, and use shorter threads. — Karen C.
• Use a larger needle so that the thread won't get worn from rubbing on the ground fabric. — Beth V.
• Definitely use shorter lengths! — Anita C.
• Thread Heaven and short lengths. — Emily W.
• I always use shorter strands and I lightly wet it with a sponge and that helps a lot. — Anne K.
• Change your needle - your needle might have a burr in the eye that is wearing the metallic down and you might want to switch to a slightly larger needle - it'll make the hole bigger as you pass the thread through the fabric, making it easier for the metallic to pass through the fabric. — Erica K.
• Use a wider eye needle this way there is no fraying as you pull it back and forth thru the fabric. — Denise S.

• I have found using short lengths of thread helps out a lot with the breakage. Instead of Thread Heaven (I have never used it so I have no opinion on it), I just used a damp cloth to dampen the thread and it works wonderfully for me. Also, after every couple of stitches I let my needle and thread untwist by holding my fabric upside down and letting the needle and thread dangle on its own and it untwists for me. — Dawn T.
• Short lengths, don't pull through the fabric too tight, and maybe a needle with a slightly wider eye…Be gentle and patient with it. — Steff W.
• I use the Japanese needles with any of the metallic threads - the round eye helps with the fraying. Shorter lengths as previously said and keeping your fingers over the eye so the thread slips less. Then tension - then gentle but firm in your handling. — Robin B.
• Continually twist your needle with each stitch as you go, which will keep it from twisting then breaking. One of my teachers said this is a Japanese embroidery technique. So, for each stitch or two, twist the needle in your fingers a rotation. Then as you go, in between stitches, keep twisting as you pull it out. You will find your thread rarely breaks if you do this. — Mary M.
• Watch your tension - I've never had an issue with it breaking. Also use shorter lengths and Thread Heaven (thread conditioner). — Susanne C.
• Use much shorter lengths to prevent so many twists and the wear and tear on the thread as you sew which can cause it to get caught. — Katrina S.
• With the Blending Filament, I have found that using shorter lengths helps in keeping the filament strong. It means threading a needle a few more times, but the fewer passes through the fabric you make, the less tugging you are doing on the thread… — Carolyn M.
• Thread Heaven, short lengths and let the thread "untwist" almost every stitch. — Judy K.
• With Blending Filament, you can sometimes do all of the stitches without it and then just stitch the blending filament on top. Neat thing about that is that it really sparkles and it isn't twisted with the other thread. — Christine F.

For more about Blending Filament in particular, visit these pages:

• Secrets of Blending Filament Revealed: http://www.kreinik.com/articles/news.php?newsid=78
• Uses for Blending Filament (video): http://www.kreinik.com/articles/news.php?newsid=136
• Blending Filament Threading Technique (knotting it onto your needle to avoid slipping out of the eye): http://www.kreinik.com/articles/news.php?newsid=8
• Glissen Gloss to Blending Filament conversion chart: http://www.kreinik.com/articles/news.php?newsid=50
• Colors available in Blending Filament:
  http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php?productid=51&cat=20&page=1

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My hotel is purple

Russia is quite a different experience for me. The color of buildings, the gregariousness of the people, the rushing, the waiting, and the massive traffic jams—all these things make up the city that Muscovites inhabit. I just returned from a teaching trip to Moscow, and the days were as busy as the city itself.

On my final day in this cosmopolitan center, I spent 5 hours walking through the central city along the rings that make up the traffic circles. How shall I describe it? "Too many cars, park where you can, and traffic traffic traffic."  I saw the statues celebrating authors, playwrights and generals.  Remnants of the USSR are everywhere with the hammer and sickle on building and in the subways. Little stores are found in passageways under the streets and down dark staircases. There are many farmers' markets vending fresh fish, meats, honey and vegetables.  The smells of roasting food, fast food and sweets are everywhere.  

Foods are my hobby, and eating in Russia for me was a foodie paradise. I had a very special herring dish, described as "Under the Fur Coat - chopped herring covered with beets and chilled." I enjoyed salmon shashlik with fries, current/cranberry pie, pickles and more pickles and of course, what every russian consumes, Vodka.  This Vodka was cloudy and flavored with horseradish juice.  I found it to be spicy hot in flavor and quite tasty during and after the many toasts to health, business, families, our pets and anything else that came to mind.  We accompanied this with glasses of raspberry juice and mead.  I enjoyed the salmon soup, the chicken noodle and the Russian traditional soups.  I do not eat beef , so i did not have the borscht. Honey was abundant this time of year as well as a variety of teas (chi) and lots of espresso.  

Traveling to the consumer craft show, we rode by car.  A 35-minute ride took three hours down and two hours back. Since traveling overseas can be quite exhausting, the car ride was a great way to catch up on sleep.  The last day, however, i rode the subway and the train, which proved to be a better way to travel in this city.

The consumer show had crafts from all over the country, from traditional embroideries, crochet and pieced quilts to stitched and beaded icons, large origami designs, jewelry, sewing, felting, doll making, and of course decoupage.  The most amazing products were racks of decorative paper napkins.  These are purchased as inexpensive designs for decoupage. The crochet was made from very bright colors.  There were felted bags, hats and lots of slippers.  And of course there were food vendors selling traditional pierogi in the shapes of rabbits, pigs and fish.

I taught two master classes, the second being a sell-out.  Even though I spoke no Russian except Dah and Nyet we all understood each other, including a few jokes which I slipped in on Anton, my interpreter.  I introduced many ideas in stitchery that we have used and taught in the US for years.  They were a great, patient audience.  I am looking forward to returning.  First though, I want to learn the Russian alphabet.

For the photo album of Doug's trip, visit https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151029652510940.419444.104419880939&type=3

by Doug Kreinik

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Meet Doug Kreinik

Doug Kreinik with author Betsy Hershberg

Doug Kreinik is the son of company founders Jerry and Estelle Kreinik. He now owns the business and truly lives every day to share his family's passion about creativity, textiles, design, and thread-making.

He has traveled the world showing people not only how to make things with thread, but how to imagine projects transformed into personal expressions with color, texture, and dimension. He created the company motto, "Threads visualize thoughts," and loves seeing how people express their creativity through Kreinik thread.

In his 'thread seminar,' he brings hundreds of needlework models covering all ranges, skill levels, and types so that stitchers and would-be stitchers can see the possibilities of using thread, stitches and fabric. In this seminar series, he also details the ins-and-outs of thread manufacturing, adding his own personal stories that will make you laugh. We still get calls from previous seminar attendees who remember particular models or stories, and are still inspired by Doug's lectures. On a recent trip to Russia where he taught classes for Kreinik's distributor, Gela, the interpreter had to ask Doug to slow down because attendees were getting "emotional" - that is, so excited about the possibilities and what they could create with Kreinik threads, they needed more time to write things down and absorb the information. Doug is so energetic in person, making for lively and fun conversations.

Doug loves talking with people and is a good listener, hearing their stories and sharing possibilities. "Early in my career here at Kreinik," notes Creative Director Dena Lenham, "I attended a particular trade show with Doug. He was busy talking with customers while one shop owner stood in the aisle, looking our way, for a lengthy time. I repeatedly offered my assistance, saying, "Can I answer any questions...can I help you with anything...?" Finally she touched my arm re-assuredly and said, "No, honey, I just like to hear Doug talk."

You can hear Doug talk, plus ask him questions and view some fabulous needlework samples when he brings his thread seminar to the fabulous needlework store, The Needlepointer, in Everett, Washington, next week. For info, visit http://www.theneedlepointer.com/special_events.php

PS: It's his birthday next week too!

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About Balger

 “I just purchased an old cross stitch design which calls for Balger thread.  I understand that this is no longer made.  How can I figure out what to buy in Kreinik thread?”— recent email inquiry

We get these questions a lot. “Where can I find Balger?” (Pronounced Ball-Zhay) “Which Balger do I need to order?” Here is the Official Story behind that strange word associated with Kreinik threads.

“My parents liked French words, so they made it up,” says Doug Kreinik, referring to the early days (40 years ago) of Kreinik Manufacturing Company, when Jerry and Estelle Kreinik began importing and then making threads in their Parkersburg, WV home. “At the time, we were selling a French silk, so my parents thought it would be good to have a French name for the metallics.”

Unfortunately, it just confused people. “As we were going on,” Doug recounts, “people wanted to meet Mr. Balger. People were looking for Mr. Balger in Parkersburg.” In the early 1980s, a consultant brought in to help the home-based business grow into a thread factory suggested putting everything under the actual family name. As the thread sizes evolved, individual names for the threads became the standard, such as Very Fine #4 Braid and Tapestry #12 Braid, all under the Kreinik name.

So, short story even shorter, Balger is Kreinik circa 1970s. In fact, if a design or teacher refers to Kreinik as “Balger,” we can usually tell the age. Today, Kreinik is technically Balger, we just don't use that name as much anymore. If you come across a chart calling for “Balger”, it probably means Kreinik Blending Filament or Kreinik Fine #8 Braid, which were the only two metallics we made back then.

Whether “Kreinik” is easier to say than “Balger” is another question - we get many pronunciations. “Cry-neek” or “Krennick” are popular. Doug teaches people to think of it as “sad santa,” as in “Cry Nick.” Whatever you call us, we’ll answer. Thanks for buying and creating with Kreinik threads the past 40 years. We are looking forward to many more years to come…

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Frayed at the ends? That’s cool

Consider it “altered threads” — that is, intentionally fraying the end of a thread to create a unique texture. This works for making tassels, creating a fuzzy effect, replicating hair (yes, metallic hair), and other texture choices. Step one is to take your finger and tap the end of the thread to separate the strands. Alternately, you can use a straight pin or needle to gently pull apart the fibers.

If you are involved in card making, scrapbooking, collage, and other fiber art on paper, Kreinik iron-on-threads are the quickest way to add metallic thread embellishments. No stitching required. Here is how we made tassels by fraying the edges of the fusible ribbon fibers:

Fusible Tassel

1. You will need: Kreinik Iron-on Ribbon, Kreinik Press Cloth, Home Iron or Craft iron turned on to the highest heat setting, straight pin or needle
2. Cut a length of Kreinik Iron-on Ribbon. Lay thread onto scrap of cardboard.  Using a straight pin, gently comb through the ribbon to separate the fibres, creating a frayed effect.  Continue using a straight pin or an old toothbrush until both ends have been frayed approximately 1 1/4” (or desired length). Do not fray the entire piece of ribbon, just the edges.
3. Lay the ribbon onto your cardstock or page. Fan threads out with a pin until desired effect is achieved.  Press with your hot iron, using the press cloth (either Kreink’s Adhesive Press Cloth or Non-Adhesive Press Cloth) to protect your iron plate.

  

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Oh la la - French knitting with metallic threads

Do you need another gadget? Well, maybe… Take a look at this how-to video showing the newest tool from Clover.

At a recent trade show, we sat down with Carol Porter of Clover Needlecraft Inc to get a demonstration of how to use Kreinik metallic threads with their French Knitter apparatus. It seems like a marriage made in heaven - combine colorful fibers with a macrame-like tool (that will hold the thread for you), and you can create gorgeous jewelry. Add beads, and oh-my-goodness, you can really make stunning accessories.

It may take a few minutes to get into the rhythm of using the tool, but Carol assured us that once you start, you find it relaxing and "natural". Crafters, stitchers, and sewers are used to using their hands, methodically moving (as we multi-task, sometimes), and counting (let's not call it math), so there's a good chance we'll take to this. If you need to, run the video a few times to get the hang of it. You can also find the video on our YouTube channel: www.YouTube.com/Kreinikchannel.

We found that the bracelet Carol made with Kreinik 1/16" Ribbon in 026 purple was very soft. Many bead colors coordinate with Kreinik metallics naturally, so if you want to get a Clover French Knitter and start playing around, we suggest getting a spool of 1/16" Ribbon (or using some leftover material from another project).

Do you need another gadget? Maybe so — if not, we bet a teen girl in your life would love this.

The Clover French Knitter, in stores now.
Kreinik metallic threads, in stores since 1972.

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