Silver Thimble Newsletter

Winter 2002/3

“Success has many authors.
Failure is an orphan.”
Anon

Spring Newsletter

Phone: (905) 845-6461
Fax :(905) 845-4738
E-mail: info@silverthimble.ca
Web: http://www.silverthimble.ca

Volume 2, Issue 18 Winter, 2003

64 Rebecca Street, Oakville, Ontario L6K 1J2

Catalogue requests can be made through the links above or with or with our SECURE Online order form.

It has all happened so quickly. Summer in its heat seemed to have lasted forever. Placid as we were, along came autumn, Christmas and winter.

Unprepared as so many of us are, we are rushing to catch up. Here are some ideas.

First of all and certainly the easiest are gift certificates. Any denomination and sent anywhere. A phone call or e-mail will set this idea in motion. These can be used for classes as well as merchandise.

From Australia the arrival of Rajmahal silks, metal threads, kits and art silks has thrilled us immensely. This is all new to us and a very exciting addition to our stock.

Also from Australia: we have beautiful wool blanketing in both cream and navy marvelous for jackets, vests, blankets and teacosies. Featured in "Inspirations" Doctors' Flannel is a great fabric for baby blankets, little jackets, teddy bears and water bottle covers.

In October Jeannette Douglas was here from Calgary to share her spectacular creativity with us. She had created a. special Oakville Sampler which was stitched on linen using overdyed threads and symbolic charms. Totally kitted for those who love the town in which we live -$60.00.

From London, England come I. V.O. (Established 1893) trammed canvases.

Tramé is the laying of a thread of wool across the weft of the canvas in the correct colour to be used in the design. This serves two purposes: it fills out the stitch which will be worked over it, and hides any canvas thread. It also serves as a reminder of the design and colours to be used.

These trammed canvases are Victorian in feeling; the colours are gentle, and they are all presented in a beautiful way, ready for you to complete.

Beth Russell's new canvases are now in stock --some large and some smaller really rather beautiful, we think.

"Just Nan" charts and charms --quite lovely and very different.

New from Zweigart directly from the manufacturers, we are receiving One Yard Cuts of all the new fabrics as they are being produced. You really must check these out.

Helen Stevens; books and kits - new and exciting.

Ott-Lites and Magnifiers in floor portable model - the natural light all year round perfect for stitching and reading.

What is a Dye Lot?

An types of threads are dyed in batches of one amount or another. Each time another batch is dyed, the colour can be slightly different.

Most threads are not marked with an identifiable dye lot; however, some may be.

Why aren't they the same? It cannot be. Temperature, humidity and the quality and content of the water have a role In this.

Never count on duplicating a dye lot at a later date. Make sure you have enough to begin with.

Length x width = number of sq. inches x number of threads to stitch a square inch.

To help solve this, blend before you run out.

Working with Overdyed Threads

Variegated: marked with spots; streaks, etc. varied coloration. First introduced as thread/yarn with measured blocks of colour going from light to dark within a colour family. Usually done: by machine on bleached or natural] fibres.

Spacedyed: usually done by hand on bleached or natural) fibres. Spacing of colour is somewhat measured and most often is of varied colours.

Overdyed: colour is applied to previously dyed colour. A process of hand dyeing that works colour into the base material. Usually unevenly spaced and varicoloured. The original colour becomes an integral part of colour scheme.

Classes and Teachers

Embroidery on Australian Blanketing - with Joan Phillips - can be made into a tea cosy or baby blanket Tuesdays - January 28th, February 4th, 11th; 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Cost: $90.00 plus taxes and supplies

Hardanger - with Joan Phillips -a chatelaine for your sewing tools. Thursdays -February 13th, 20th. 27th and March 13th; 9:30 -11 :30 a.m.
Cost: $120.00 plus taxes and supplies

Free Embroidery with Jane Coryell - Jane's creative, lovely stitching was on display at Abbozzo Gallery during Fibre Festival in Oakville this fall. You can be guided by this very talented needlewoman in a great course beginning Saturdays February 15th, 22nd and March 1st; 10:00 a.m. noon. Cost: $100.00 plus supplies

Tatting -with Norm Reed -as a beginner or more advanced, Norm is the perfect teacher. Saturdays - March 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th; 10:00 a.m. .noon. Cost: $120.00 plus taxes - no supply cost

Stumpwork - (Embroidery with a three dimensional effect. It was a favourite type of embroidery in the 17th century.) with Sherry Del Rizzo. This ideal and talented leader in this field will be teaching in March Wednesday afternoons - March 5th, 12th-19th and 26th; 1:00 -3:00 p.m. Cost: $130.00 plus taxes plus kit fee

Smocking - is a favourite for so many. Learn the basics and beyond from Karen Kirk in a one-day class, Saturday, February 8th, 10:00 3:00 p.m. or Thursday, March. 20th, 10:00 3:00 p.m. A project of your choice is suggested. Cost: $60,00 plus taxes.

Cross Stitch Fundamentals - enjoy this technique even more with this two hour class, Wednesday, April 2nd; 9:30 -11 ;30 a.m. Cost: $30.00 - no kit cost

Basketweave Fundamentals- the foundation of pleasurable stitching, Wednesday, April 9th; 9:30 -11 :30 a.m. Cost: $30.00 no kit cost

Unfinished Projects -come with these items to become motivated to finish - lots of advice. Tuesdays, February 18th, 25th, March 4th; 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Cost: $90.00 plus taxes - no kit cost

Snow Days - if the local schools are closed, the class at the Silver Thimble would be postponed and we will make contact re another date.

How To Enroll

Please either phone, write, fax or e-mail for registration to insure a spot in any class. We accept credit cards, debit, cheques and, of course, cash.

Enrolling in class may be done by phone, fax, e-mail or in person using cash, cheque, Visa or Mastercard.

Kit charges will be given at the time of the first class.
If class is canceled by the Shop, all fees will be returned. If the customer must cancel, we will give an in shop credit

We have just unpacked the most incredible stitching frames. Let me tell you about them.

  1. They are Canadian - made in Calgary.
  2. Made of solid oak and will last more than one lifetime,
  3. Very versatile they are can be adapted for use in quilting hoops, Q snaps and tape bars.

What a superb gift for the serious stitcher! The table, floor and lap models are just a joy.

The Ott-Lites are a perfect addition to the above, particularly the floor model for the floor frame,

Information re Pleating and Smocking

We can do pleating for you at 40 cents a row.
To make this work well, we ask your help in preparation:

When inserting sleeves in a bishop dress, please just sew with an ordinary seam, not a french seam The pleater likes it better!

Of Interest ...

Are you wanting to put a border around a particular peice of stitching but are not sure just how to go about it? The turning of a comer is the most difficult. If you see a pattern or a pieced stitchery, use a smallrectangular mirror, the kind sometimes found in new purses.

Place the mirror on the stitchery and rotate it slowly while looking in the mirror, and you can then set the type of corner you would like to stitch. Really quite easy.

There will be more road construction in Oakville, and some of it will be taking place near the shop. You can enter from the south (John Street) and you can come to our parking lot that way.

Phone 905-845-6461
Fax 905-845-4738
e-mail info@silverthimble.ca

or Regular Mail, 64 Rebecca Street, Oakville, Ontario L6K 1J2

Our 17 page catalogue is on the web. Check us out.

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