I didn't take a class, but did attempt to do some tambour using instructions
from a book I purchased at Lacis. I too am usually adept at such work, good
with my hands and patient at handwork.
I found tambour exceedingly difficult, was very unhappy with my progress and
eventually abandoned the project in favor of hand beading.
I may try again, but it's really difficult, at least for me. It's oddly
reassuring to hear a similar story.
angela
+++++
Angela F. Lazear
Cabbage Rose Costumes
www.cabbagerosecostumes.com
Theatrical Costume Design
"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none:
be able for thine enemy rather in power than use,
and keep thy friend under thy own life's key:
be checked for silence, but never taxed for speech..."
W. Shakespeare
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynn Downward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Historical Costume" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 3:17 PM
Subject: Re: [h-cost] Tambour embroidery
And there's the thing, Julie. You're managing the fabric, placement of
the "vicious hook" which is just big enough to get stuck on threads
while going back through the fabric, the thread (separate from the
hook) in your left hand, and the beads. that's what makes it so hard
for my brain. I can't juggle all those things at once. You're right
about the chain stitched on the wrong side of the fabric, which is
facing you. You have the thread and most of the beads on top of the
fabric and just the extra thread and some beads below while working.
You learn with practice to rotate the hook "just right" so it gets
through the fabric without catching, but it takes a bit of practice,
like crochet with a fish hook.
The size of the hook used is dependent on the weave of the ground
cloth. We used a really tiny hook while working on netting; we used a
larger one while working on linen and the largest size while working
on osnaburg. Contrary to logic, neither the larger hook nor the
smallest hook was easier to use. You know how one is taught to crochet
using a large hook with fat yarn; that logic doesn't help here.
i just reread what I wrote. Very negative. I had a terrible time with
tambour. I was only one person in a class of 8-10; most everyone else
managed to learn and enjoy the process. I only learned it.
LynnD
On 9/29/05, Julie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I'm wondering just what *is* tambour embroidery. I have a series of
needles in assorted sizes that I can put into a handle, run thread
through the needle and up the hollow body of the handle and do what I was
told was punch embroidery or Russian embroidery.
I also have a tambour hook. It looks like a crochet hook on a solid
wooden handle but has a vicious point on the head of it. I don't see
where the thread would go with this one. I thought it was worked from
the wrong side of the fabric and the thread (and beads) run across the
front of the fabric. You make chain stitched on the wrong side that's
facing you.
Which is what? And is either one found before 1600?
Thanks
Julie
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