Silk Gimps

This gimp thread has a pair of gimps wrapped around the core giving it a really regular but bumpy texture.  It is delightful to couch in place for stems, grass, trees, and flowers.  I have alternated it with regular gimp to get really textural effects.

The spools have 5 meters on each no matter if the spool is large or small (spools are running low so we are using what we can).  There will be some more of many of these colors when the new batch of spools arrives.

Silk serpentine gimp is a rococo thread with the characteristic wave in the gimp. It is about 1/2 mm in diameter and comes in Au Ver a Soie colors.  The thread can be couched down as an outline or looped to make textured areas.  Each package contains 2 meters

These new colors are a full olive family (2216/2212/199) and the 4525 brown

Silk Gimp is a fabulous thread that is so versatile for 17th century embroidery. This version was made by wrapping a silk core thread with another silk thread around the outside, making a very fine cord. The resulting thread is stiff like a gold thread yet colored. It can be couched as an outline around counted work or couched in rows to fill a shape. Sometimes it is twisted in a loop over and over again and couched down to make leaves on trees. The silk gimp is thin enough to be placed in a needle eye and stitched from french knots to needlelace! The drapes, gowns, and tents in stumpwork are often seen in silk gimp. Lions and other animals are usually seen worked in silk gimp - either needlelace or couched. 

The Cabinet of Curiosities Historic Colors are a collection of silks matched to 17th century stumpwork. The collection is available in many thread lines through Thistle Threads so matching colors can be found in different thread types. A highlight of the collection is deep sets of color families, dyed specially for the reproduction of 17th century stumpwork caskets. Here, silk gimp is available in the range of colors. 

Each tube of silk gimp contains 10 meters of silk gimp. 

Red Family -6235, 6015, 6234, 6233, 6231, 6030

Blue Family - 6202, 6205, 6204, 6203, 6202

Green Family - 6276, 6123, 6041, 6272, 6271, 6270

Beaver Brown Family - 6246, 6247, 6245, 6243

Russet Brown Family - 6268, 6266, 6265, 6263

Flame Family - 6214, 6213, 6211

Purple Family - 6134, 6262, 6260

Olive Family - 6274, 6273, 6272

Grey Family - 6294, 6292, 6290

This 2.5-3 mm strip is a passementerie 'thread' used to create all kinds of interesting textures. In stumpwork it is used to make garlands around circles or ovals which frame a vignette.  Short lengths can be folded over and couched down to make 'leaves' of the garland.

They can also be folded and sewn together to make tassels or edgings for small ornaments.  

Sold in 1 meter lengths in afghan gold, gold, silver, red and green metallic

Two families of matched striped fine silk gimps.  These color families are designed for making couched or french knot rocks for grottos that are shaded.  The striped coloring helps to emulate the look of granite.  The threads can be used for other outlines and effects.  One of each in the shade series in the package.

Each tube is 10 meters

Rust Blue Family - 109, 103, 112

Gold Blue Family - 115, 106, 120

This natural starch glue is used in place of fray check when working with threads.  Use it to keep the ends of gimps from fraying on you while working with them.  The pre-made paste makes it easy to use.  70 gram tube will last you a very long time.  Use a small brush or needle to apply to areas or dip the end of a thread in it.

Used for bookbinding in Japan.  Dries clear and slowly.  Acid free and non-toxic.