Cording and Thread

[Bernadette Fox]

I am really interested in starting teneriffe designs and doing some fancy knotting with gourds. I am looking all around to see what will be the best cording/thread to use for this. I've seen sinew used a lot for teneriffe and I love the look. But more often I've seen waxed linen or cotton thread. I find the waxed thread a bit hard to work with because the wax makes the thread so stiff and it doesn't give the gourd as fluid look as I am looking for. Does it have to be waxed? What products do you use for teneriffe/weaving?

As for knotting/macrame/netting I see tons of different threads/cords used. I am not looking to purchase a ton of different things when I am just beginning in this technique- I can experiment with different products later when I get the hang of it. But just starting out what do you suggest will look great and be easy to work with? How about nylon beading cord used for Chinese knot making? 

   

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Vickie Seifert]

Hi Bernadette, what I do when starting a fiber project is go where I can feel and kinda test the different threads. Sometimes we want Teneriffe to be fuzzy and sometimes smooth or shiny, so it's personal choice. I prefer waxed linen for most gourd-related projects but, like you, not for Teneriffe. Check out the great threads used for Crewel and silk embroidery. I can spend hours with my threads. Good luck and have fun!

[GAE Challenge]

Have you tried to use an iron (or hair dryer) to blot-away some of the wax from the waxed linen threads? Doing so makes them less sticky to work with. Before using the waxed linen thread for the Teneriffe design, place a length of the waxed linen in a folded cotton towel and iron over the towel. Or, use a hair dryer after the Teneriffe design has been created on the gourd, and blot the area with an absorbant towel.