Silk Wrapped Purl

The second needlework nibble kit introduced a new thread made by Bill Barns of Golden Threads. Again it is actually an old thread that was commonly used in 17th century embroidery but then went out of production. Silk Wrapped Purl is copper wire wrapped with Au Ver a Soie silk that is coiled into a purl. They can be couched in place with matching silk threads, such as Au Ver a Soie 100/3 or Soie Paris or treated in the same way as other metal purl threads.

There are two kits available; each covers a different technique for attaching the Silk Purl. In the design I have, lengths of Silk Purl are couched in place with matching silk with a single strand Soie Paris in a matching colour. So far I have outlined each section of the design. They will be filled in using the same technique. At first I found it a little bit fiddly working with this springy thread but I soon got the hang of it. It would have been easier with the work on a stand but I had mounted the linen in a small spring hoop for ease and was holding that in my hand.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching