Here’s an update on Nautilus by Kay Stanis.
Thanks to Mary Corbet’s post on handling silk threads, I can say using a larger eye needle to open the holes is helping alot. Also, even though my hands didn’t feel rough, Gloves in a Bottle helps too. I’ve had this bottle almost 10 years. I haven’t used it much because my hands aren’t a problem, generally! Just like my spool of invisible thread, this bottle will last my lifetime. I got it at Stitch by Stitch in Cape May, NJ in April 2016.
The other strategies that I am employing are starting in the smallest areas to see visible progress, using 2 strands to cover more, and staying with Trebizond (not using Silk Serica). After cutting 2 lengths of white and 2 lengths of light Turquoise Trebizond, I separate and iron them. That gives me 6 strands of each color. Once I finish stitching them using 2 strands, I have to take a break. It helps. Some.
It’s time for a break!
Well, the next part of Nautilus by Kay Stanis involves more separating of Trebizond or Silk Serica. I like using stranded Silk Serica less than Trebizond and I didn’t think that would be possible.
Generally, I try to find something positive to blog about. As a kid, I remember being told, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” But, I have to warn you not to strand especially when it involves this much silk thread. I had to stitch all the spirals first and will fill in the chamber with 1 or 2 strands in the Outline Stitch battling snags. None have been worse than this one but all are annoying. I’m not using too long lengths either.
The only positive is that the final piece will be lovely if I can ever fill in the chamber. It feels like I’ll be doing this for days. Two strands cover more but snags more too. I really want to get this stitched in 2025. Fingers crossed!
I have to give it a break to give me time to forget how much I dislike stitching with this thread.
Besides working on my National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) which I won’t show until after the exhibit in March 2026, I will alternate stitching between three ANG Seminar projects. First up is Nautilus with Kay Stanis.
As this was a 1-day class, I didn’t get the basting finished. So that was first to stitch. Some of the basting lines were so close that getting the tissue paper off was tedious. I needed my Uncle Bill’s tweezers.
I wrote Mr. Bill’s tweezers first but realized that was wrong. Do you remember Mr. Bill?
Kay had us unstrand Trebizond to lay over the padding. I didn’t know you could do that and I’ve used Trebizond before (as supplied). So, this part was a completely new learning experience. I can’t say it is easy to work with but it is creating a smooth surface. Kay explained a little about different silks. Mary Corbet discusses them in great detail on her website and I’ll summarize her thoughts with, Trebizond is not meant to be taken apart but the three plies of flat silk can be separated. We also learned about using a sugar rub to remove any roughness from our hands and which lotions Kay likes for handling these silk strands. It’s not so much my hands causing a problem rather it was the Congress Cloth. I had to hold it as I passed it up and down with each stitch. I won’t be doing this too often! But, I am happy to have learned about it and even happier to have completed this part of the piece. And, it’s all going to get covered anyway. You would never guess this is Trebizond.
My second class at the 2025 ANG Seminar in New Orleans, LA was with Kay Stanis for Nautilus that has involves blending thread embroidery and beadwork.
Being just a 1-day class had me a little worried about how much we could accomplish but Kay did an excellent job of it.
I laced one side – she loves teaching lacing and it’s good to know how. But, I prefer Evertites.
We basted the square and large spiral portion of the design but still have lots more basting to do. Then, we carefully scored and ripped out the large spiral.
After cutting the felt padding, we attached it.
We basted tissue paper to outline the pears. And, after learning how to get 3 strands from Trebizond and Silk Serica, we started with the basic satin stitch. These are flat silks and are different from Splendor, Needlepoint Inc Silk, and others. These catch on EVERYTHING but are nice and shiny.
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