How to Make Embroidery Thread Cording
Twisted cord can be decorative or practical, used as edging, a drawstring, handles or couched into an embroidered piece. Twisted embroidery thread cording is quick to make with the help of a few household tools, and will go faster than many other methods of making cords. The finished cord is durable, and adds a professional touch to needlework projects or to garments. Use the same thread you used for the project to coordinate, or choose something smooth to go with wild textured threads.
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Things You'll Need
- Embroidery thread
- Yardstick
- Scissors
- Cup hooks
- Drill (a hand-cranked drill works best)
Instructions
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1
Cut lengths of the embroidery thread three times the length you want your finished cord to be. You need at least two lengths of thread, and can have as many as you like. Lay the threads out neatly alongside each other, and tie them together with a knot in each end.
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2
Loop one knot around a point anchored to something heavy. A cup hook screwed into a wall is an ideal anchor point.
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3
Fix a cup hook into the chuck of your drill. Loop the other end of the threads around this cup hook. Hold the drill and stand far enough away from the anchor point that the threads are under gentle tension.
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4
Turn the drill to twist the threads. As you turn, the threads will get shorter and you will need to walk towards your anchor point. Keep tension on the thread. Check periodically to see if the twisted thread kinks around itself, but do not let this happen in an uncontrolled manner. You have put in enough initial twist when the thread kinks around itself smoothly.
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5
Remove the drill hook from the end of the threads and loop them around your finger, while keeping tension on the thread. You may need to untwist the very end of the threads to make room for your finger. Use the hook to hang the drill on the threads. Move towards the anchor point, using the weight of the drill to help keep tension on the threads so they do not kink uncontrollably around each other. Loop the end of the threads on your finger around the anchor hook.
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6
Pick up the drill and turn it in the opposite direction from what you did the first time. The two plies will twist back around themselves, making a stable cord. You are finished when the cord wants to lie flat, with no kinking.
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7
Remove the ends of the cord from the hooks and knot for a temporary finish. When you use the cord, you may wish to wrap, sew or knot the ends. You will need to do something so the cord does not fray.
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Tips & Warnings
To make a two-colored cord, cut half the cords you need from each color. For your initial setup, fold each color in half. Loop the folded ends around each other, so one color points in each direction. Tie each colored end together. Follow the directions given, and when you do the second twist the two colors will twist around one another.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
