I started using Sampler Threads in about 1996, and fell in love with the concept of hand-dyed fibers right away. I use them all of the time now, but use them differently than I did at first. I used to stitch each cross one at a time left to right, then right to left, making my work noticeably striped. Now, I'm more apt to stitch a row at a time -- like I would with regular old embroidery floss. The color change is still noticeable, but isn't as harsh. It gives my needlework a more heathered look.
A lot of my customers ask about the washability of hand-dyed fibers. Generally, I don't wash pieces with these threads, but I have, and have only had one piece bleed. If you're careful while stitching with over-dyeds, you probably won't have to wash your piece. Some stitchers have told me they pre-wash their threads (using vinegar to set the color) BEFORE they stitch. This makes sense (any bleeding will take place in the sink, rather than on your fabric). But it's too much work for me! Nobody guarantees color-fastness anymore, so always be careful about getting your threads wet.
Where I fall down in keeping my threads organized. My Sampler Threads and Weeks Dye Works each have their own big bag. The threads are on their cards (most of the time), so I USUALLY know what color a skein is. So, when I start a new project, I flip through a hundred skeins of thread, looking for the ones I need. Putting these on a ring system (with a hinged ring, like you buy in an office supply store), in alphabetical order would make more sense than my current system. But, a little disorder never hurt anybody.
A tip I picked up recently was to keep five skeins of Sampler Threads (from different dye lots) around. Every time you need a new strand to work with, pull it from a different skein. This will give your piece a VERY hand-dyed look. This concept is really interesting to me, but when I imagine myself going through 500 skeins of thread, my interest wanes.
I sell a lot of limited edition Sampler Threads, when those are available, and I also sell hand-dyed fibers to people who have no idea what they'll use their purchases for. In fact, The Thread Gatherer's Silk N Colors is the one item in my shop I sell consistently, where the customer has no set plan for that purchase. Having a good stash of fun fibers is a blast, and a good back-up for late night stitching emergencies. A substitution now and then is great fun, and won't our kids be glad to inherit such things (like huge baggies full of ill-tagged flosses?)
© 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