Hi:

I find if I drop my threaded needle every once in a while it will stop the twisting

Bye for now

Take care and hope this helps

Really, I am not trying to be rude.

This sounds like an easy fix. You want to stitch faster. When you stitch faster your thread gets tangled. It takes more time and wastes floss. The solution is to stitch slower.


Sorry if this sounds sarcastic -- By the way, what are you stitching to sell?

I have to agree with the others. The faster I stitch the more mistakes and tangled the project looks. As far a floss I drop my needle quite often while I am stitching so the floss will untangle. I have found after 30 years of stitching that my best projects are the ones that I took the most time and patience with. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

What projects are you working on?

syagel -- thanks for agreeing with me.

I find that I use both the drop the needle maneuver and let it untwist and also the slight twist when I pull the thread thru. It just depends on the thread I'm using. I personally don't find that stitching any slower helps at all. There is just an inherent twist to all thread which makes it a pain in the you know what!

You may be working your floss in the wrong direction....No kidding, there is a direction to floss. It is the direction created during manufacturing process. You can feel the difference in direction when you run the floss between index and thumb after separating the strands. One direction is rougher. You want to thread your needle so that you are pulling the smoother through the fabric....You still have to play Drop the Needle, depending on how much you twist your thread, but knots are practically a thing of the past. :)

That's interesting. I usually fold a piece of floss in half to thread the needle. I guess that means that I am stitching with one piece on grain and one piece against grain. Never noticed.

Nancy sherry
I loop & stitch, play drop the needle and twist.. I can not feel difference in "nap".
also, I think DMC floss is not the same, it seems thiner to me..
any comments?

I loop to start too, so nap doesn't help me. Although I cannot see the nap anyway.

As for railroading, I've been doing it but I'm not noticing any difference if I don't railroad. I got so, so frustrsted about it, but then decided yesterday that all I want to do is stitch, enjoy, and relax. I'm stitching for me, so what does it matter. But that is me, personally, so I'm not saying everyone should be the same.

I've noticed tangling/knotting on more humid days, so I've been using a product called Thread Heaven, "a thread conditioner and protectant," as the the tiny blue box says. It seems to help.

Yesterday I tried doing hardanger, kloster blocks, for the first time, and I loved it. But that doesn't mean I'll be giving up on cross stitching. Just have another thing to sqeeze in :-)

I recently got a book about hardanger....have always loved the look, but never thought I had the time to learn! So far it looks a LOT simpler than I ever imagined! Just browsing the books, looking at needlepoint, too. The pictures are so pretty! :) I'm working 4 projects so it will be awhile before I start....but looking at this stuff is almost as much fun as shopping! :)

You know, just because we talk about "railroading" and other practices does not mean we have to actually DO any of it! "Just stitching" is fine with me! If it puts a smile in your soul, do more of it! :)

Happy 8th of July! :)