The thread used to couch is cotton and the first wash shrinks it a little to really bed down the couching thread. It is critical to ensure that your couching stitches are horizontal. No lace is particularly durable but with careful washing it will cope with some wear. Also repairs are easily made. There is a special type of scissors with a ballpoint on the lower blade which makes cutting the net impossible, but you still have to worry about cutting the couching stitches. We all hold our breathe when we do the cutting. --- Rochelle Sutherland
& Lachlan (16 yrs), Duncan (14 yrs) and Iain (13 yrs) www.houseofhadrian.com.au >I was really puzzled to find out that the thread which is couched down is >simply that....just couched down. I was always of the impression that it >would be buttonhole stitched down to prevent the organdie from fraying, >although I do realise that organdie does have special properties. > >My question is this. Is the couching enough to prevent the organdie from >working away from the tulle with time? I imagine it should be fine if a >piece is to be framed, but what about things like collars and fans that are >made for use? > >I would be grateful for some comments and discussion. > >Thanks, >Karen in Malta. > > - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
