Okay, so this may be a little hard to explain but I'm going to try anyway. Besides, I think it’s
a great technique. So today I’m working on a bracelet and I need to add new thread. I already
weaved in the end of the end of the thread I was already working with, and I
was ready to add the new thread. Now, I would normally add the thread to my
needle, go back a few rows, and weave and knot the new thread through to come
out at the point where I would continue my rows -- dragging most of the length of the thread
through the beads...
This time, what I did was go through the point where I would
usually come out to continue beading, and I would only pull through a short
portion of the thread and weave that back a few rows. When done, I put the needle at the other end of the thread and continue. This made adding new
thread go quicker so I can get back to adding more beads as soon as possible . Quicker, except for this first time because as soon as I did it I felt the need to put a post about it on Facebook, but it turned into this blog post instead. Anyway, I now have less chance of getting tangles just in the process of adding thread. Also, I don’t have to make any awkward twists
and turns to make sure that the thread came out at the right spot.
I don’t know if a lot of people do it this way or not (have
I just stumbled upon something that everyone does and I’m just out of the
loop?), but I thought it would be a great idea to share and it’s something I’m
going to continue doing from now on. I
hope people find this to be a very helpful tip! :-D
Today's gratuitous picture is of a cute, tiny snail that I saw on a leaf as I was leaving a friend's house on Halloween night:
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| Smallest I've ever seen! About the size of my fingertip. |
Hiya April. Saw this on Facebook and thought I'd amble over and check it out.
ReplyDeleteYou weave the thread through? Hadn't thought of that. I tie it off and weave the ends back in. It works better on the peyote stitched bracelets, but shows as a little "bump" at the end of a row if the extra strands have to be woven through two rows. That's why I'll only make the knot at the top of a row so it's doesn't overlap into the next row.
Tangles are an eternal problem. I know how much I can use and cut, but if I go over that, the thread gets worn halfway thruogh using it and tangles so much more. Thanks for the post and I'll catcha later.
)O( Luna
Yeah, I used to do the knot thing then weave through (kinda) and yeah it does leave a bump. Then I heard people talking about weaving the threads through with a few half-hitch (I think that's what it's called) knots should be enough to keep the thread in. It works for me, and no bumps. the thing is, don't just pull it through in a straight line, make turns and bends so that it's less liable to slip. sometimes I even weave in sort of a little circle in some spots.
DeleteHi April!
ReplyDeleteI swear by the half-hitch knots and luckily never slipped so far, but I'm gonna try it the way you posted :)
Hi Laurel! You still do the knots but you work backward instead of forward. I guess that's a good way to describe it.
DeleteApril, when I'm working on a Peyote piece, I leave about 4" of thread when it's time to add another length. I do the same as you, come through that last bead (best to choose one in the middle of a row) with the new thread, leaving 4-5" and begin beading with it for a couple of rows. Then I knot - yes knot the two ends together and bury them in the beadwork separately. I go back and forth across the peyote at least 3 times with each thread to lock it in place. Sometimes I even put a dab of nailpolish on the end when I am ready to pull it through the last few beads. We all have our little helps on beading, don't we? Jeanne
ReplyDeleteTrue, and knots have always been my least favorite thing about beading, so I've learned/come up with tricks to make it easier.
DeleteGreat idea. I'll definitely try this.
ReplyDeleteThat IS a good idea! Really makes sense to put your needle into the hole you want the thread coming out of when you resume beading. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
Delete