Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Posts: 1,836Hi,
I was just wondering what others prefer to use for noses, sculpting toes, etc. I think more and more I'm leaning towards Pearl Cotton over the Floss. What do you use and why do you prefer it?
Oh, and if you use the pearl cotton have you figured out a way to keep it neat? Does anyone use those storage systems they sell, winders and all. I don't think the pearl will fit on the floss bow things they sell(??). Any hints?
Thanks!
~Chrissi
ebay, ctcatherwoods
coming summer2006...www.CatherWoods.com
Sophie Z'OursI usually make my noses with twisted cotton, as it is easier to find and mainly because i like its mat look.
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Kim-Bee BearsI use both.... (floss is cheap and comes in a lot more variety) I recently got a lot of pearle cotton at Joanne's in three packs that was marked down from $8.00 to $1.00 each! I got TONS of it (proably about $40 worth) and it came in all different colors... Usually, it is around $1-$2 a piece! I use to make friendship bracelets when I was younger and used the storage and bobbins - I don't now but thanks for reminding me, I think I will pick one up! My floss/pearle cotton bin is looking a bit messy!
I am switching to the Pearl Cotton from the floss, I think it looks nicer. I have a bunch of the 'cards' for storing the floss on.... I spent last night winding 6 colors of Pearl onto the cards......no winders, just used my feet to hold the thread, and wound it by hand........hubby kept laughing at me, no offer of help, just laugh......
pandamac
Wild Thyme OriginalsHi Chrissi! I think it's just a matter of preference..... I use floss rather than pearl cotton, and for me it's just a scale/size issue. Floss can be easily seperated into smaller strands, which is great for me since I generally make smaller bears, and even my larger bears have fairly delicate features. I often use just three strands to do a nose... fewer on tiny ones! Plus I can "untwist" the floss as I stitch the nose, which is a look a prefer for my more modern looking bears. Pearl cotton has a twist that you really can't undo... of course that's part of the charm of pearl cotton!
I use the bows for floss organization. Not sure what they make that is specific for pearl cotton....
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals
Posts: 8,574I don't think there is a right or wrong answer...DMC embroidery floss certainly gives us more variety in color-however with some internet searching it is possible to locate more pearl cotton colors than what is available easily and what is considered bear colors.
I think even 1/8th" ribbons could be used attractively as well....kind of a ribbon embroidery nose....
regarding the little cards for winding floss....I have them and have used them, but I prefer something larger- and turned my floss box into a crystal box.
I iron my floss before I use it. Ironing lays the floss fibres down and makes for a much easier sew and much smoother nose.
Its just a matter of preference.....
Jellybelly BearsI use both too, depending on size of the bear. I do like the DMC cotton as it looks finer and can be used as the same thickness as Perle...just have to keep all the threads even and neat!
Matilda Huggington-beareWhat Dilu said!!!! she said it so well ,no need to repeat it. 
Wendy
Baird'sBears
Ironing, eh? I'm allergic, but . . .
This sounds like such a great idea that I'm going to search out my equipment and try!
Melbourne, AustraliaWhen I want plain colours, I prefer to use DMC perle cotton and as it comes in three different thicknesses and a reasonable variety of colours.....it seems to suit my need pretty well.
For my coloured noses I use (Watercolours by Caron) a handpainted 3 ply pima cotton seperated into a single thread. There are so many lovely colours and it's available from Barb at Joggles.
I have used floss (as you American girls call it) from time to time on smaller bears, but because I do mainly larger bears I don't find it that suitable.
:hug:
Sandi
