As I get ready to write this newsletter I am looking out my office window. It is snowing again! The cars are covered with the stuff. What is fascinating to me is that the flakes are tiny, yet they are accumulating pretty quickly. You would think that small flakes could compact better falling into the little crevices in our large snow mountains. It got me thinking about how much little bits of thread impact our lives as stitchers, so today I am going to talk about gadgets that deal with.....

Tying Up Loose Ends

What can you do when you have stitched too far and don't have enough thread left to finish off properly, whether that is a knot or tucking your thread behind stitching? There is a wonderful little gadget will do the trick for you. This gadget is known by several names including the following:

The Fiber Hider and the Tail Catcher work in similar ways. Before you begin remove the thread from your needle. These gadgets have two pieces, one with a loop and one with a hook. On the back of your work, slip the end with the loop under several stitches bringing the loop out close to the end of the thread. Using the other piece of the tool, slip the hook through the wire loop and then hook the end of the thread. Pull the thread through the hook. Remove the hook leaving the thread in the loop. Gently pull the looped piece under the stitches, pulling the thread with it. If you need to bury that thread further than the loop is long, repeat the process. Carefully clip the end of the thread when you have it buried as far as you want. The Fiber Hider comes in several designs.

The Star De-tailor only has one piece, with a large loop. Push the loop underneath the stitches on the back of your work. Manually feed the end of the thread through the loop, then carefully pull the loop through the stitches to secure the end. Repeat if needed, then carefully clip the remaining thread.

Another type of tool that can be used for small threads is a snag repair tool. These tools have a special end with a small hook, some even have a latch. You slip the tool under the stitching on the back of your piece, catching the end of the thread with the hook and gently pulling it back under the stitching. Trim the end of your thread.

You can also use the tool to fix surface stitches that have become loose by poking the tool through the fabric from the back. Hook onto the loose thread and pull it to the back where you can use the tool to secure it under several stitches. This also works the same way for snags on your sweaters and other clothing. Several options for this tool include the new Thread Pic, The Do-It Tooly and The Snag Lite.

We also carry a couple of snag repair tools that repair snags in knits, garments, draperies, and upholstery. This type of gadget has a needle that you insert directly into the center of the snag or thread from the top. Gently push the tool through the fabric bringing the snag with it. A similar gadget is a stitch fixer which has a pick on one end and a small fork on the other. You capture the thread or snag with the fork, pushing it back through the fabric. Check out the Stitch Fixer (Tapestry Needle Size 28) and Stitch Fixer with Wood Handle.

Once you have one of these tools in your stitching basket, you will wonder how you did without it! It will simplify your life when working with short threads. Now, what do you do with those little pieces once you secure and cut the end of thread?

In August 2008 we talked about orts. "Orts" is a real word meaning little scraps or leftovers. Many people think it is an acronym and we got some pretty creative suggestions like Our Really Tiny Scraps or Thread Snippets. I used to just clip my threads and make a pile on my work station to throw away later. It never failed....somehow the threads would get scattered and end up on me or on the floor.

Then I was introduced to orts collectors. Whether you collect the orts for a craft project or throw them away at the end of your stitching session, you will find it really does make a difference to keep your work surface neat. Here are some suggestions to corral your orts.

This ort collector is actually a multi-purpose gadget that works on an armchair or table. It has a weighted pincushion to keep it in place.

A couple of collectors that you can slip on your bag include the bag caddy and the Traveling Ort Box. You can always use little baskets such as the kitty Mini Ort Basket. These cute little slide boxes also make great ort collectors.

Sometimes you get orts because you have to do some frogging. Frogging is an "endearing" term used by some stitching when referring to removing stitches when you have an uff da (mistake). You rip-rip-rip it out.....sounding somewhat like a frog. There's even a scissors cover that makes reference to frogging called "I Don't Do Frogging".

There is a handy tool to deal with those clipped stitches. It's called Judy's Boo-Boo stick. Clip the stitches that you need to remove. You can use tweezers to pull out the individual threads. You can also try using Judy's Boo-Boo stick by passing the large end with the brush over the clipped threads on the back of the fabric. The threads will catch on the bristles and be gently removed. Use the smaller brush to go back and grab the remaining threads. Be sure to be gentle because the brushes can disturb surrounding threads and fabrics.

Tiny threads are used to make some of our gadgets. A great example is the microfiber cleaning cloths. Microfiber refers to synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon, which measure less than one denier. According to an Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet "Denier is the term used to define the diameter or fineness of a continuous or filament fiber such as silk" The report says that to be a microfiber, the fiber must be less than one denier. As a reference point, fine silk is about 1.25 denier.

Microfiber fabrics have been around for over 50 years. It was first discovered in the 1950's. In the 1970's a Japanese scientist created a fabric we know as ultra-suede. Sweden is credited for creating the fibers widely used for cleaning cloths. Then a variety of blankets, home furnishings, and clothing were made using the microfibers. These fabrics make excellent sportswear, rainwear, tents, and sleeping bags, because the fabrics are wind-resistant, water repellant, and light-weight.

Microfiber cleaning cloths can hold up to seven times their weight in water. They absorb a variety of liquids including oils. Their construction prevents dust from getting away, trapping allergens. With today's concern about viruses and bacteria, it was interesting to note that, TEOnline, said "the cloths reduce the number of bacteria by 99% whereas a conventional cleaning cloth reduces them only by 33%."

A couple of tips:

• Microfiber cloths are not a good choice to clean jewelry with rough edges or loose settings. The fine cloth can snag more easily and it may cause abrasions on some surfaces.
• It is possible for your microfiber cloth to fill up with dirt, dust and fine particles which can scratch fine surfaces. Read the instructions with your cloth to see how to clean it. If in doubt, throw it out and buy a new one.
• Many of these cloths are unhemmed on purpose to avoid scratching by the stitched hems.

You can still get some life out of these threads. One way to use up your scarp fabric and threads are with the Doodles. These little patterns were designed specifically for leftovers. A cute hand-made button embellishes your stitching. The finished design would be great for box lids or card inserts depending on the fabric count you use. Here are several you could do up now for upcoming holidays:

• I Love you
• A Wee Bit Irish
• Happy Easter
• Happy Easter with Bunny
• Mom

Another great way to use up scraps is making bookmarks. The Bookmark Challenge campaign is coming up. You'll read more about it in People Making a Difference. We carry lots of patterns for a wide variety of techniques. Here are just a few examples:

Patterns:

• Sampler Bookmarks in Hardanger Embroidery
• Elegant Bookmarks in Hardanger Embroidery
• Stitcher's Choice Bookmarks I Hardanger and Specialty Stitches
• Stitcher's Choice Bookmarks 2 Counted Cross Stitch
• Blackwork
• Pretty Bookmarks (cross stitch)
• Bookmarks for the season (cross stitch)
• Read, Learn, Dream bookmarks Sampler
• Colorplay Blackwork
• Bookmark Grab bag

People Making a Difference

The National Endowment for the Arts created an Executive Summary called "To Read or Not To Read" compiling results from several reports. The report "confirms the central importance of reading for a prosperous, free society. The data demonstrates that reading is an irreplaceable activity in developing productive and active adults as well as healthy communities. Whatever the benefits of newer electronic media, they provide no measurable substitute for the intellectual and personal development initiated and sustained by frequent reading." Some interesting facts were:

• Voluntary reading rates diminish from childhood (54% read almost everyday for fun) to late adolescence (22%).
• 15- 24-year-olds spend only 7 - 10 minutes per day on voluntary reading, 60% less than the average American. This same group spends 2 to 2.5 hours per day watching TV.
• Reading for pleasure correlates strongly with academic achievement.
• Employers now rank reading and writing as top deficiencies in new hires with one in five U.S. workers read at a lower skill level than their job requires.

That brings us to today's People Making a Difference,

Needle and ThREAD: Stitch for Literacy

Jen Funk Weber understood the importance of reading and the impact on a person's future. In an effort to promote reading, she designed special bookmarks and challenged stitchers to get involved. October 1, 2007 marked the opening of the first Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy Bookmark Challenge. Participating independent needlework shops across the country hosted special events and collected hand-stitched bookmarks. Bookmarks were donated to local libraries and schools to encourage and reward children for reading accomplishments. The Bookmark Challenge is an annual event.

In 2009, 1023 bookmarks were received by participating needlework shops, then donated to schools and reading programs. Bookmarks were done in many techniques including cross stitch, Hardanger, paper embroidery, blackwork, canvas work, needlepoint, pulled and drawn thread, bobbin lace, tatting, crochet, knitting, machine embroidery, peyote beading, Bargello, Schwalm, and crewel, to name a few.

Our readers sent in over 400 handmade bookmarks. Many of your bookmarks went to grade schools to help encourage reading. The Kindred (North Dakota) Public Library also received bookmarks. Sue K. (Nordic Needle store supervisor) is the President of the Kindred Public Library board. She said they used the majority of the bookmarks as incentives for their summer reading program. The remainder of the bookmarks was used as thank you gifts for their volunteers. What a great idea! If it weren't for those volunteers, the library couldn't function, and a great community resource would be lost. Your bookmarks touched lives from young to old. Thank you!

The 2010 Bookmark Challenge will be held March 18 - May 6. We will again be collecting handmade bookmarks to give out to schools, literacy programs, and libraries. The bookmarks need to be handmade using any technique. If you want to participate, feel free to start mailing in your bookmarks to

Nordic Needle
ATTN: Bookmark Challenge
1314 Gateway Dr S, Fargo, ND 58103

Please include your name and location so we can keep track of the number of states and countries who participate this year. Thanks in advance!

I wondered whether there was a recipe that fit in the tiny thread theme so I typed in "little bits recipe" in Google and several versions of the same recipe came up all titled something like

A Little Bit of Everything (Brownies or Bars)

• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 Tbs peanut butter
• 2 Tbs Nutella ( chocolate Hazelnut spread )
• 1 cup sugar*
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1 cup flour

*Healthy Option: unrefined sugar (Sucanat or Rapadura)

While baking make topping:

• 1/8 cup peanut butter
• 1/8 cup Nutella
• 3/4 cup powder sugar
• 4 to 5 Tbs milk
• Coconut

Melt butter, peanut buttter, Nutella and choc chips together and stir until smooth Remove from heat and blend in sugar Blend in eggs one at a time Add chopped nuts, coconut, mini marshmallows, vanilla and flour Bake 350 30 to 40 minutes in a 9 x 13 pan. till set, toothpick in center will test gooey as these will firm up a bit with chilling and become fudgier

Topping: Blend smooth and spread on cooled bars, sprinkle on some coconut Note: remember these will be gooey and with chilling firm up more and store in refrigerator

I (Debi) have several specialty fiber contributors at home. We have a yellow lab named Skipper who likes to lie on the couch next to me no matter what I am doing. I really think it is so he can keep the cats from getting too close to "his" owner. Three cats rule the house. Sarge is our big boy and he just tries to stay out of everyone's way. Next is Willie (named after the Kansas State University mascot, Willie the Wildcat). She is the holy terror of the trio and can't stand the dog. Next is Gabby, appropriately named because though she is small, she's noisy! For Christmas they get special goodies and toys, but first they have to put up with me dressing them up for the occasion!

Let us know about your specialty fibers by adding your pets pictures and comments to the Specialty Fibers forum!

Go to the Specialty Fiber Forum »

&

For those interested in using this article or others published by Nordic Needle, Inc., please use this copy when referencing the information: "The following article was written by Debi Feyh and Ryan Evelyth of Nordic Needle and published in their weekly e-mail newsletter. Permission was granted by Nordic Needle to share this article in (name of your publication). For information on subscribing to their weekly e-mail newsletter, visit www.nordicneedle.com. A free mail-order catalog is available to you upon request if you live in the USA or Canada."

www.NordicNeedle.com
1-800-433-4321