- Coarse crewel wool (4-ply) for laid work
- A medium thread for couching
- Fine wool (2-ply) to tie and stab stitches.
A number of wools were tried - Some were too fluffy, others not strong
enough to withstand being pulled through the linen more than a few times while
some did not take dyes well.
In general, a tight spin with at least 3 strands made a good choice.
Choosing the right piece of wool allows this hound to have a realistic,
fluffy coat (the cross stitches are just going on) but the hand dying of the
thread allowed some to use the technique of 'tie-dye' to prevent the dye
penetrating the treads. This allowed for subtle tone to be produced.
There is more about the craft of spinning.
The Stitches The threads
Working tips and instructions
