Stitching with Transparent Threads

On Monday we looked at stitching my Kelly Clark Tree with thin threads and lighter stitching in a non-metallic color to match the sky. While the finer thread was a possibility, today I’ll look at some other possibilities for stitching this — transparent threads. I’ve looked at these threads in the past, comparing different kinds of Kreinik’s Easter Grass, comparing ways to stitch glass, and creating a needlepoint window.

Three of the threads used in those articles are tested here.

Threads & Stitches

Easter Grass was not tried because I did not have any in my stash. You can look at the Easter Grass article linked above to see how this thread behaves.

Nordic Gold has long been my go-to thread for windows and glass because of its combination of transparency and ease-of-use. It was stitched on the left side over Mary.

Water n’Ice was made specifically to be transparent with longer stitches. I have used it effectively in the past for ice and for snowglobes. It is stitched at the top over the large star.

Prisms Matte Clear is a thread I find troublesome because it is very thin and full of static. It is a completely transparent thread, coming in matte and shiny textures. It is used in the center on Jesus.

Nordic Gold was stitched in Giant Four-way Continental. Water n’Ice was too thick for this stitch, so I used Pavillion for it. Prisms Matte Clear was too thin and was stitched in Tent. I stitched a separate row at the bottom of the crib, doubling Prisms.

Conclusions

The Water n’Ice is clearly not a good choice for this piece. It’s too white for the blue background. Unhappily this thread is not available in a transparent bright blue.

Nordic Gold is less aggressively white and some details can be seen through the thread. It too reads as white when against this darker background. It will also not work here.

Prisms was the big surprise. It is still just as troublesome to use. I had to work in very bright light and use a needle threader. Even then I was often unsure of where I had stitched (top center of Jesus). It left a slight but pleasant sheen and every detail can be seen. I’m looking at the piece at an angle currently. Even though the stitches can clearly be seen, I can still see the details through them.

I did not like that I couldn’t see the stitches well enough to know where I had stitched. Could doubling the thread help with this but not harm the transparency? At the bottom of the crib and moving towards Joseph I tried this. It worked! I could stitch more easily and the details can still be seen. So far this is the best solution.

I’m waiting for some threads for my next test, thin blue metallics. I hope it will be Monday’s article.