SPLITTING THREAD

One of the best ways to show detail with modern floral hand embroidery is to split the thread into different widths, from one strand up to six strands.

1. Cut a piece of six-strand embroidery floss (stranded cotton) around 2–3ft (60–90cm) long, and slowly spread out the end of the strand between the thumb and index finger of one hand, to separate the thread into six, single individual strands (1).

2. Depending on the pattern requirements, take the desired amount of strands (1 str, 2 str, 3 str, etc.) with your other hand and begin to separate them from the main strand.

3. Slowly pull the separated strands away from the main strand, going slowly so that the thread length doesn’t knot.

4. In the image (2), a straight stitch has been worked using different widths of thread, from one strand on the left to the full six strands on the right.