Module 3 - Chapter 5 - Cord making

A. Machine stitched cords

Although I had already done machine stitched cords in the past, I must admit that this time I had to struggle quite a lot, both with my machine (the needle went loose and got stuck in the darning foot) and the "drinking straw" technique.

I tried to use different cores and fabric strips wouldn't pass through the straw because they were too large. So I ended up by not using the straws and with a little bit of practice I could manage the job.

Generally I can say that the closer the zigzag stitch, the less visible the core will be.In the samples were I used chunkier threads and fabric strips I did less stitching and deliberately left some of the core unstitched, pulled the thread a bit further and continued the stitching. Heavier threads/strips were partly twisted before they were stitched.

Of course I will have to stitch greater lenghts of cords, the following samples will serve as reference for the future.

4 a+b: I started with a "basis" cord

core: organza ribbon, orange with blue and orange stitching

light blue with orange stitching

4 c: orange fabric strip with blue stitching

4 d: dyed Texere yarn, the wool part took the dye very well, whereas the other thread remained pale. I only stitched the "narrow" parts of the thread with light orange rayon thread

4 e: blue silk strip, knotted , core twisted before stitching
4 f: core: textured knitting yarn with blue thread
      stitching: light orange rayon thread

4 g: here the stem of a grass plant was covered with blue and orange thread

4 h: orange and blue pipe cleaners. The stitching is not very spectacular and seems to "disappear"

4 i: orange and blue silk thread covered with blue 

4 j: A strip cut form an old turquoise sweater and an orange knitting yarn were covered with blue stitching. While stitching I used advantage of the stretchy quality of the core material and pulled it slightly. This resulted in a "curly" cord.

4 k: blue fabric strip with tubular chainette ribbon twisted around it, covered with blue stitching

 4 l: commercial fabric strip with blue coton knitting yarn covered with copper metallic thread

4 m: core: a blue knitting yarn inserted into a nylon tubular knitting yarn, covered with copper metallic thread 

4 n: cling film, twisted, covered with blue and light orange thread

4 o: merino wool for felting, partly covered with orange thread

4 p: paper wire covered with blue stitching