Silk Purls

This may be a limited edition thread because of the difficulty of making it.  It is a purl made from silk wrapped plate.  About 1 mm in diameter, it makes a wonderful compliment to the round wire silk wrapped purls.  It can be couched in place or cut into small pieces and formed into loops on a surface.  Packaged in 18" lengths.

Thesethreads are copper wire wrapped with filament silk and then coiled over a mandrel into a purl. They are couched in place with matching silk threads, such as Au Ver a Soie 100/3 or Soie Paris.  The purls can be couched down as seen to outline and fill figures. They can also be stretched and used to form hair for lions or people in stumpwork. Often they are cut into shorter pieces and threaded onto silk to be sewn in place, forming loops which stick up off the fabric. Entire flowers were filled using this technique. 

Individual colors are sold that match the Cabinet of Curiosities Historic Colors. Note that garnet color can work as the dark value for both the flame and redde families.  

Note that the new purple is a more reddish purple than in previous years.

These are tiny silk purls, compared in the photo to our normal silk purl collection.  Available to buy as individual colors, if you are interested in shaded families or collections, the color names are listed below for convenience.

Individual boxes of tiny silk purl are available in 18" quantities.

The Neutrals Family contain French Beige, Fawn, Gold, New Pine, Dark Ivory, Silver Pink, Dark Ecru, and Ecru.  

The Stone Family contains Ice, Sage Green, Slate Green, Petrol, Silver, Dove, Pigeon, and Pale Grey.  

The Flame Family contains Chestnut, Henna, and Burnt Copper.  

The Red Family contains Cardinal, Kenya Red, Red, Begonia, and New Blush.

The Blue Family contains Dark Kingfisher and Alice Blue

The Purple Family contains Deep Crocus, Crocus, and Pale Crocus

This is a limited edition thread.  Silk check is made the same way silk purls are made but instead of using a round 'needle', the 'needle' is triangle shaped and rotates while the check is formed.  This rotation of the triangle 'needle' leaves a bend in the coil that rotates around the thread, creating a fantastic texture.  Silk Check can be used in all the same ways that silk purl can be used to add a nice contrast to the smooth silk purl.  There is a extra photo that shows the sizes of the silk purls compared to the silk check as well as looking at the end to contrast the round vs triangle shape.  Boxed in 18" lengths.

These are very large silk purls which can be used for heavy texture on pieces.  Ideas include tubes for fountain spouts, tree trunks, arbor vines or structures.  About 2 mm in diameter.  The boxes contain 18" of the silk purl.

The mixed box contains a piece of every color between 1.5"-6"long.  The boxes are stuffed full and between 24"-30" total.

This flat silk covered wire scallop trim is about 2 mm wide and is found stitched as an accent on 17th century stump work.  Made in Au Ver a Soie colors, it starts as a #8 silk purl.  Depending on the amount of stretch and roller system used, there are two levels of overlap that can be made.  In this version, the loops lay next to each other so the entire loop can be seen.

Each box contains 18".