Thread fraying
I have never had this problem before and just want to ask if anyone else has. I changed the fabric on this to 28 count lugana and am doing 1 over 1 so the project is not quite as big. I am finding that my dmc thread is fraying even using an 8 inch piece and threading all the time. Does anyone have any suggestions? It is going to look beautiful when finished and the smaller count only needs one thread but rethreading so much is killing me! LOL. Since it will be almost 400,000 stitches, that's a lot of threading! I am using a #28 needle also, maybe using a 26 would help? I don't want to try it since I would then have to pull such tiny threads and would hate to cut the fabric (we have all done that haven't we?) Thanks in advance!
Posted by: s1fuss on 04/19/15
There is a thread holder available (thru this site probably) that will hold 20-30 needles. Just buy a pack of needles and thread one with each color you need -- when I'm working a project with 40-50 colors I find this the easiest way to deal with it, especially if you only have small areas to stitch.
by: quilterangel123 on 04/19/15
Changing to a # 26 needle may help open the holes and reduce drag on the thread. Worth a try.
by: MissKitty on 04/19/15
#1 -- I am surprised the floss is fraying

#2 -- I know that some stitchers use several needles at one time. It sounds difficult to keep all the threads from getting tangled. A light bulb just went off in my mind. Maybe that is why there is fraying. I sometimes keep a few threads loose in the back but never more than one needle at a time. -
by: NANCYE G on 04/19/15
No...there is large areas of the same color so I am not using different colors at this point. Only black right now but I can only do probably 25-30 stitches and the fraying of thread is horrible. Just wondered if there might be a solution. I will probably use a larger needle and try that. I was just as surprised that the thread was fraying and even tried changing skeins. This project uses 41 skeins of black.
by: s1fuss on 04/19/15
s1, when I have to use black or white floss, I always use Anchor. It is much nicer to stitch with, although I love DMC. DMC black seems to be "fuzzy" to begin with and I often have to pick off tiny fuzz balls. Anchor is available here at ECS. It would certainly be worth a try. While in Europe, I stitched/embroidered with Anchor exclusively and only switched to DMC when I moved back here because of it's ready availability. Anchor is made in England or Scotland, can't remember.
Keeping your floss short also helps and try a slightly larger needle. I really, really dislike working large areas in those two colors for some reason. Good luck and let us know if you find out what the problem is. Some of us wash their fabric before using it.
by: Texas Stitcher on 04/19/15
s1,
Just a thought. Change your needle if you decide to stick with the size 28 needle. I use 28 size almost exclusively and wonder if the "nubs" on the inside of the eye of the 28 are causing the fraying. The tutorial on the Scarlett Quince website actually shows pictures of the "nubs" on the INSIDE of the "eyes" of different brand needles.
I have noticed fraying after a while when using DMC color 3371. Also, my size 28 needles have a tendency of starting to bend and then break in the "eye" area.
Don't know whether this will help, just a thought.
by: Bermuda on 04/20/15
BERMUDA -- that is interesting. I usually only change needles when I lose one.
by: NANCYE G on 04/20/15
Hi NANCYE,
Yes, I lose 28 needles because the top area near the "eye" begin to bend and then break.
Another thought is that I tend to have to re-thread my size 28 needles lately- most probably because I try to use as much of the thread on the needle that I can and the short length of thread causes the thread to pull out of the "eye" section- and my re-threading the eye a few times because the thread pulls out is causing the fraying because of the "nubs" located in the eye. I may do some experimenting this evening and see if I can create fraying of some thread on a piece of 28- count scrap fabric.
I think that her trying a size 26 needle should be her first option to see if that works and opens the fabric a bit more to "ease" the thread through.
Hopefully she'll get back to us as to what works.
by: Bermuda on 04/20/15
Hi, it must be beautifull, but did you try using shorter lengh of thread, and unrolling it after each point. Lucie
by: luchabot on 04/20/15
I did not stitch at all yesterday on this project. I pulled out a smaller unfinished project to work on until I got over my frustration. I think I will try today to use a larger 26 needle (I only buy John James gold needles) and will see if opening the hole works. The one thing is I usually open a new pack of needles when I start a new project (especially this one with so many color changes expected) I did wash my fabric first, so I don't think its the drag from stiff material or faulty skeins of threads since I have now tried 3. If it continues I may try anchor thread as well. I love the fact that all of you have such great ideas and every suggestion is appreciated. You guys are great! I will keep all informed as my progress continues....and continues and continues lol. This project may take me a millennium of questions!
by: s1fuss on 04/20/15