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 > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > h-costume@mail.indra.com > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume