Tapestry help please......

Barneysmom

HI, I'm just about to start a new tapestry but one thing I'm not sure about.
The thread looks quite thick, should I split it as you do with embroidery thread?

Seakay

Usually not, unless specifically instructed to do so in the pattern.
Tapestry wool is quite thick - aprox a double knit.

Barneysmom

Thanks for your quick reply Seakay! :cool::cool::cool::cool:

ChocClare

What size is your canvas? With some finer canvases, you're better off with crewel wool than tapestry wool. If it's a kit, then go for it - you need to cover all the "squares" and don't want anything showing through after all!

morganlefay

Different makes of wool behave differently. Appletons has - I think - 6 or 4 strands and you can split it and use as many as you like. can you work a bit of the background just to see what you like the look of ? or ask the shop where you bought the canvas ? it's really up to you - I don't think there's any one 'right' way to do it, I just go on what looks best to me.

knithryn

If you split the wool, be careful about not using too long a piece as it will fray and wear thin easily with pulling it through the canvas.
A couple of things to help reduce this...
1. Pull straight up and down through the canvas and not at an angle. At an angle you will rub the wool more on the canvas edges.
2. Before starting a new piece of thread, gently run your fingers up the thread, and then also down the thread. One way you will find more little fibres stick out. Choose which end of the thread to have as the needle end by thinking about which way the thread runs most smoothly, without the little threads sticking out. So if the canvas is on your lap and the thread held vertically above it having taken a stitch, the little threads down the length of it should be pointing downwards. If you stroke the thread down from needle to canvas you get the minimum number of little threads emerging from it.

You can use as many threads as you like. You can mix and match. You can combine one strand of one colour with another strand of another colour. You can use different stitches, eg cross stitch, (there are a whole stack of different stitches). And basketweave supposedly causes less canvas distortion than half cross stitch, though I never could get used to basketweave.