Thread Comparison Chart

Throughout the years there have been several manufacturers of Z twisted rayon thread, but currently we know of only one, EdMar Co. Use the chart below to compare the weights, twist, yardage and suggested needle size.

Thread Name	Weight	Twist	Length	Needle size
Nova	Extra heavy	Loose	10 yds.	Darner #18
Bouclé	Heavy	Bumpy	10 yds.	Darner #18
Lola	Heavy	Tight	19 yds.	Milliner #1
Ciré	Heavy	Very loose	10 yds.	Milliner #1
Frost	Medium	Very tight	15 yds.	Milliner #3
Iris	Medium	Somewhat loose	15 yds.	Milliner #5
Glory	Fine	Somewhat loose	20 yds	Milliner #7

Meet Brazilian Embroidery: A History, Part 1 of 2

Note: I am a hobbyist who loves arts and crafts! I wrote this post as a brief intro for fellow novices - if you’re intrigued, I encourage you to dig deeper! My sources are listed here to help you get started.

The hand embroidery family is titanic in scale - for every one type you discover, there are hundreds more to explore. Which creates the age-old, kid-in-a-candy-store dilemma: Where to start??

Etsy actually alleviated my existential angst here, by dropping this lovely little Brazilian embroidery kit into my search feed. Crisis averted!

But what IS Brazilian embroidery… ?

Inquiring Minds

Q. People talk about the bullions and I have watched people make them, but they look complicated. What tips do you have about bullions?
A. You just have to jump in and start making them. If you make a mistake, you can unthread your needle and pull it out. The most important tip I can pass on is bullion and cast-on stitches should be wrapped loosely on the needle. If you get them wound too tight, it is a struggle to get them slid off the needle. If you want thicker bullions you need a thicker weight of thread. You can’t make the bullion any thicker by adding more wraps. Here is a "sanity saver": When you have finished your bullion or cast-on stitch, make a knot on the back to secure that bullion. Sometimes bullions get so tight that they will burst open and it will unravel your work back to the last knot.

Q. I really like to do ribbon embroidery. Can I adapt a Brazilian Embroidery pattern to Ribbon Embroidery?
A. Yes, if you have a little bit of experience in Ribbon Embroidery. You will need to decide which stitches you know to use in place of the traditional Brazilian stitches. It would also be a wonderful opportunity to mix the two techniques and create something totally original.

Brazilian Embroidery

The difference is caused by the method used to manufacture the rayon thread. For example, cotton thread uses an S twist when the fiber plies are combined into a strand. Rayon thread uses a Z twist. One type of twist turns the fiber plies clockwise; the other turns them counterclockwise. When forming the knots of Brazilian embroidery, the embroiderer must wrap the thread onto the needle in the opposite direction from that used in other types of embroidery. Otherwise the fibers of the thread will unravel and make the resulting stitches and knots unattractive. (wikipedia)

This particular style does not have the "rules" Hardanger Embroidery or Canvas work. The Brazilian embroidery pattern usually outlines the major stitching and features of the design and it is up to the stitcher to fill in areas or make adjustments as s/he sees fit.