Actually, it's the second silk gauze piece I finished this year. I also finished stitching "Love Thyself" by Maureen Appleton/The Heart's Content. I had started that one a few years ago, and gave up on it, due to a counting error. Once I got back to it (just working in the offending stitches), it went quickly, and I really enjoyed myself.

Have you ever stitched on silk gauze? People come into the shop and can't believe it's needlework (the stitches are small). It looks more difficult than it is. Nancy Sturgeon of Threads Through Time says she stitches her small samplers in a weekend, and I believe her. Silk gauze, really, is all holes. It comes in 32 and 40 count (I've even heard that 80 count is available!) In some respects, it's easier to see where to stitch on silk gauze than it is on a tightly-woven linen or evenweave.

Some designs work better than others for silk gauze. Don't select a design where you have to blend fibers together (like two colors of floss on the same needle.) Don't select a design with a lot of backstitching, quarter or three-quarter stitches, or complicated shading (which will be lost in the smallness of the design.) One strand of DMC floss covers the 40 count gauze perfectly, but you can also experiment with silks and over-dyed flosses.

There are just a few tricks of the trade.... Silk gauze isn't easily worked "in hand," and is one of the few times I drag out my Q-Snaps. Figure out the size your finished piece will be (divide stitch count by the count of your gauze.) You only need to add about an inch and a half to each side for an allowance (unless for some reason you need more than that.) Get a piece of leftover fabric (cotton quilting type fabric or muslin works great) that will fit in the size Q-Snaps or hoop you have. Lay the piece of gauze on top of that fabric and sew around the edges (so the gauze will be sewn on all four sides to the middle of the fabric.) Then, carefully cut out a window of the cotton fabric to expose the gauze. (Be careful not to cut the gauze.) Stretch your fabric into your Q-Snaps or hoop, and you're set to stitch.

I use a sharp, fine needle, but a size 28 tapestry needle could work, too. I also start in the middle of the design and fabric, to make sure I don't run out of room anywhere. Silk Gauze embroidery is just like very fine needlepoint. Instead of crossing X's, you're just making the first half of a cross stitch (so it goes twice as fast!) Make sure to secure the ends of your thread under previous stitches so your stitches don't pull out on the front. Work over something dark (if you're wearing dark pants, or put a dark hand-towel on your lap, you can see the gauze better.) Light over your shoulder is also helpful, whether that comes from a lamp or natural sunlight.

Most pieces you might choose are stitched on colored fabrics, so you'll need to fill in the background when you're done (this is a fun part of stitching the design, because it all pops to life as you finish the background.) You can match the background color of floss to the original fabric the piece may have been stitched on. Or choose your own color. Make sure to choose a color that will allow all of the colors to stand out (so your design doesn't become muddy.)

Silk Gauze pieces make great porcelain box tops, but I love them framed with a healthy-sized mat, to really make their smallness even more impressive. They can be stretched just like "regular" needlework, with pins through foam core. And once you start stitching on Silk Gauze, you will become hooked.

I'm finishing another Prairie Schooler Sampler (from the Spring series), and plan on doing a few more this year, including a Silk Gauze class here this winter at the shop.) I keep 32 and 40 count Silk Gauze in stock, and highly recommend the technique to anyone looking for something "new."

I hope everyone has a safe and fun New Year's Eve.

© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com