A sparkling substitute for memory thread

If you've heard the news that DMC is discontinuing their Memory Thread, don't worry: you can substitute Kreinik Wired Braid™. The only difference is that Kreinik's version is metallic, so your designs might brighten up a little bit. Hey, when you're made to stand out, you have to stand out, right?

Memory Thread and Wired Braid compared

• Both threads are thick fibers meant to be couched onto a design for borders, outlines, and other bold effects
• Both threads are wired, which means you can bend and shape them for 3-dimensional effects
• Kreinik's version are all metallic. Here's a link to the colors available in Kreinik Wired Braid (formerly called Hot-Wire): http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Wired-Braid.html
• Memory Thread had more shades than Wired Braid, but never fear, you can make your own out of any Kreinik shade (see "Other options" below)

Other options for substitutions:

• Kreinik Wired Facets aren't smooth like Memory Thread or Wired Braid, but rather look like a string of beads. They would be a fun, textured option to use in the same way as Memory Thread. See the colors here: http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Wired-Facets.html
• Make your own: 1. Cut an 18-inch strand of Kreinik Medium #16 Braid (our Braid comes in over 200 colors, varying in metallic sheen from basic to antiqued, hi luster, even glow in the dark, http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Medium-16-Braid.html). 2. Insert a piece of craft-gauge wire (from a craft store), working it through the center of the Braid. Then use as you would Memory Thread. 

Here's a conversion list from DMC Memory Thread to Kreinik:

• 6010 Brown = Kreinik Wired Braid 152VW or 005W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 022
• 6020 Black = Kreinik Wired Braid 005W
• 6040 Red = Kreinik Wired Braid 003W
• 6050 White = Kreinik Wired Braid 5760W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 100
• 6070 Light Green = Kreinik Wired Braid 015W
• 6080 Olive = Kreinik Wired Braid 009W or 015W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 016L
• 6100 Navy = Kreinik Wired Braid 051HLW, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 018V
• 6110 Turquoise = Kreinik Wired Braid 015W or 051HLW, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 3506, 014, or 029
• 6120 Fuchsia = Kreinik Wired Braid 003W or 5700W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 024
• 6130 Pink = Kreinik Wired Braid 5700W
• 6150 Orange = Kreinik Wired Braid 150VW or 152VW
• 6190 Green = Kreinik Wired Braid 009W or 015W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 008
• 6170 Yellow = Kreinik Wired Braid 202HLW or 002JW, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 5520, 5720 or 028
• 6180 Lavender = Kreinik Wired Braid 026W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 012
• 6200 Gold = Kreinik Wired Braid 002W
• 6210 Silver = Kreinik Wired Braid 001W
• 6240 White Luster = Kreinik Wired Braid 5760W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 032
• 6310 Gray = Kreinik Wired Braid 001JW, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 025
• 6320 Burgundy = Kreinik Wired Braid 003W or 5700W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 153V, 031L, or 080HL
• 6330 Dark Green = Kreinik Wired Braid 009W
• 6340 Medium Green = Kreinik Wired Braid 009W or 015W, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 008 or 5982
• 6350 Light Yellow = Kreinik Wired Braid 5725W
• 6360 Sky Blue = Kreinik Wired Braid 051HLW, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 9400 or 094
• 6380 Purple = Kreinik Wired Braid 026W
• 6390 Aqua = Kreinik Wired Braid 015W or 051HLW, or Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 029, 684, or 829

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Never do this with your rubber bands

This is a public service announcement to needleworkers everywhere. Share with your stitching friends. Help us spread the word that rubber bands are not good when it comes to textiles. 

This week's blog post is an important tip: keep rubber bands away from your threads. Never, ever,
ever ever ever wrap them around threads that have a silver content, such as Kreinik Japan Threads, or the "J" colors of Kreinik Braids and Ribbons (001J, 002J, etc). It may sound strange to some, but we have seen this over the years: people secure their threads on a spool by wrapping them with rubber bands. Not good. The sulphur or sulphur compounds in rubber bands will cause your thread to tarnish.

Fortunately, Kreinik's black spools were designed to have their own thread-end holder. The illustrations below show how the brilliant mechanisms save your thread ends from loosely hanging around and tangling up in your thread box (just say no to frustrations, and to using rubber bands to secure your threads).

If you're looking for the safest way to store textiles, including real metal threads or threads with silver content, use acid-free tissue paper. Learn more about it here: http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2014/04/practice-safe-storage.html

Let's all practice safe and sane storage!

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Come play with sparkly threads at Kreinik

Does winter have you going a little stir-crazy, stuck in the house, surrounded by gray days? Then join Kreinik for a colorful, cheerful hands-on craft class. Make a string art design using sparkling Kreinik threads. Our theme this month is LOVE. We'll have a cozy, fun time expressing creativity, exercising imagination, and making something to hang at home or give as a gift. Here are details and sign-up (spots are limited):

• WHEN: February 3, 2018
• TIME: 10 a.m. to noon
• WHERE: Kreinik factory, 1708 Gihon Road, Parkersburg, West Virginia
• COST: $12 per person for materials
• AGES: All ages (children must be accompanied by an adult)
• To reserve your seat, access the Paypal payment form via http://www.kreinik.com/shops/classes.html

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Kreinik is coming to Bridalpalooza this weekend

If you're planning a wedding in 2018 and live within driving distance of Morgantown, West Virginia, visit the Bridalpalooza Wedding Expo this Sunday, January 21, 2018. You will find all the usual ideas for dresses, cakes, and decor, but also a unique twist: a creative corner of crafty ideas to personalize your wedding and make it absolutely YOU. Kreinik will be at this bridal show offering threads and creative ideas for adding a handmade, artisan touch to your special day.

A handmade element could be just the thing missing from cookie-cutter weddings. "My mother made the table centerpieces for my reception," says Dena Lenham, Kreinik's Creative Director. "It added another level of love and personalization, and we let guests take them home. It was a special way to share the moment with our close friends." Noted trends for weddings this year include unique placecards, embroidered linens, metallic finishes, innovative invitations, wedding wreaths and interesting floral twists, embellished capes, decorated vases, and other "special touch" elements.

Gather your family and friends for a craft night to make things for the wedding, and you will have more wonderful memories to go along with your day. Even if you aren't "crafty" you will find quick and creative ideas in the Kreinik booth. Samantha Tornes will be demonstrating "no sew" embellishments to use on place cards, table settings, vases, capes, table linens, invitations and more. 

Doug Kreinik will also be at the event making custom shoelaces. That's right: you can have shoelaces made in your wedding colors—what a fun way to show personality. Come to the expo for great ideas like this that will make your wedding even more special.

For more information:

• Details on the event, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wv-bridal-palooza-tickets-40986825699
• If you can't attend but want to know more about personalizing your wedding, stay tuned! We'll be spotlighting ideas on our blog and Facebook page throughout the next few months. 

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Free knitting pattern featuring Reflective Yarn

Stay warm and safe with reflective knitwear

If you knit or crochet hats, scarves, dog sweaters and other outdoor wear, you're going to want some of this: Kreinik Reflective Yarn. This fiber looks like a simple gray when it’s knit or crocheted into a project, but shines brightly when light hits it, adding a little level of safety when it’s worked into outerwear for you or your pet. If headlights from a car or cyclist aim in your direction, the reflective yarn helps tell the driver that someone is there. 

This particular reflective fiber comes on spools for small projects (like stripes or highlighted areas) or cones for larger projects. Super fine or lace weight, you add it to any yarn you already have, making it versatile for all projects. It's a fun material to experiment with as the weather keeps us indoors this time of year. Start now and you'll have all of your gifts made by the time Christmas 2018 comes around.

To get you started, here is a fast, free knit ear warmer/headband pattern from designer/teacher Mary Beth Temple of Hooked For Life Publishing. Ribbed top and bottom for a good fit, the simple diamond pattern in the center is achieved by working a diamond shape in stocking/stockinette stitch and its reverse. The reflective thread is only worked into the reverse stocking/stockinette stitched diamonds, so it lights up in a fun pattern when the light hits it. 

Reflective Diamonds Ear Warmer

Finished Size: Approx 3.5″/9 cm tall x 21″/53cm in circumference, unstretched. Will stretch to fit larger heads

Materials:

Approx 45 yds/41m worsted weight yarn. Model shown in Diamond Yarns Tradition (51% acrylic/42%wool/7% nylon; 100g, 219 yds/200m)
1 spool Kreinik Reflective Thread (buy here)
Circular needles size 7/4.5mm or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch marker

Gauge: 16 sts x 20 rows = 4″/10cm in st st

Notes:

A denotes wool yarn only.

B denotes wool yarn and reflective thread carried together.

Carry the reflective yarn on the wrong side of the work, twisting yarns to keep from tangling if float is more than 4 sts.

Ear warmer:

With A, cast on 82 sts. Set up for working in the round, being careful not to twist Stitches, and place marker for beginning of rnd.

Work 5 rows k1/p1 ribbing, decreasing 1 st anywhere on the 5th rnd for a new total of 81 sts.

Diamond Pattern:

Rnd 1: With A, k4, with B, p1, (with A, k8, with B, p1) 8 times, with A, k4.

Rnd 2: With A, k3, with B, p3, (with A, k6, with B, p3) 8 times, with A, k3.

Rnd 3: With A, k2, with B, p5, (with A, k4, with B, p5) 8 times, with A, k2.

Rnd 4: With A, k1, with B, p7, (with A, k2, with B, p7) 8 times, with A, k1.

Rnd 5: With B, p.

Rnd 6: Rep Rnd 4.

Rnd 7: Rep Rnd 3.

Rnd 8: Rep Rnd 2.

Rnd 9: Rep Rnd 1. End off reflective thread.

Work 5 rows k1/p1 ribbing, increasing 1 st anywhere on the first Rnd for a new total of 82 sts.

Bind off/cast off in ribbing.

Weave in all ends.

originally from http://hookedforlifepublishing.com/2017/11/reflective-diamonds-ear-warmer-free-knit-pattern/ used by Kreinik with permission from Mary Beth Temple

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Come to a Christmas ornament making party

Locals in the Parkersburg, West Virginia area, or those who can make the trip: come to our ornament making party on December 9. Meet new friends and relax for a few Saturday morning hours—and you will make sparkling Christmas ornaments to give as gifts or hang on your own tree. Details below.

• WHAT: Christmas Ornament DIY Party
• WHERE: Stoked Coffee House, 1606 Blizzard Drive, Parkersburg WV 26101
• WHEN: December 9, 2017, from 10 am to 12 noon
• AGES: No age limit but guidance may be required for small children since there these are glass ornaments.
• COST: $12.00 (includes materials)
• REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Seats are limited so preregister and prepay here: https://www.kreinik.com/shops/classes.html

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Pardon the interruption

The Kreinik website is experiencing some technical issues right now. So sorry for the inconvenience as some pages are not accessible. We are working on a fix.

— the Kreinik family and staff

UPDATE: website fixed and back up, Friday 1:00 p.m.

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