Tips for Using Metallic Threads

1. Make sure that the fabric is taut on your frame at all times.
2. Purls (a fragile corkscrew of soft pliable wire that can’t be restored to the original shape after it’s been distorted) are especially fragile and must be treated with the utmost care.
3. Any metal thread wrapped around a core should be handled with extra care since when the outer layer has started to unwind there is no way to fix it.
4. Most handmade metal threads can be hand washed.
5. Two layers of fabric aren’t necessary unless you need the second layer for support, such as using a very fine ground fabric and are using real gold since it’s heavy.
6. Silver threads will tarnish, but gold ones won’t
7. Use a special pair of scissors to cut the metal threads and don’t use them for anything else. The metal chews up the scissors blades.
8. After a strand of blending filament has been cut for use, applying a tiny amount of Fraycheck to each end can help keep it from unraveling. Leave a long tail to keep the Fraychecked portions from becoming a part of the needlework.
9. It’s been suggested to burn the ends with a match to fuse the pieces together to prevent fraying. Just put out the flame with your fingers.
10. Use short strands, since they are easier to manage and doesn’t pass through the fabric as often so there’s less friction to cause it to break or fray.
11. Rather than use a blended needle containing both floss and filament, some people prefer to do their crosses first with the floss alone. Stitching over the top with the filament gives more glitter and prevents problems due to the fact that they have different levels of elasticity.
12. Test the filament on a piece of scrap fabric to prevent melting due to an overly hot iron.