ME: Dakota Colors?
Dr. Zachary Smith
Collectibles.
Upon reviewing the design colors, I find that the color names Dakota
specifies (i.e. Dk. Dk. Rust, Blue4, Lt. Green2, etc.) do not
correspond with any of the brands of embroidery threads we currently
have. I checked Dakota's site, and find no color conversion charts or
any other way of reconciling their color names. Can anyone help? Are
they using color names from some particular company? Since these are
licensed designs, I want to use the exact correct colors.
Thanks,
Doc
Jennifer in Ottawa
link to the Madeira thread colour charts and conversion charts that
Dakota uses. jennellh
On Oct 5, 8:48 am, "Dr. Zachary Smith" <Dr.Sm...@rochester.rr.com>
wrote:
Dr. Zachary Smith
of the main (commercial?) site (who knew?) :-)
Doc
Gen
your own color choices is what makes embroidery fun.
Gen
"Dr. Zachary Smith" <Dr.S...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:febb4c2e-853d-48ab...@v2g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
BEI Design
> "Dr. Zachary Smith" wrote:
> > Can
> > anyone help? Are they using color names from some
> > particular company? Since these are licensed designs,
> > I want to use the exact correct colors.
> I don't get what difference it makes if they are licensed
> or not. Using your own color choices is what makes
> embroidery fun. Gen
But using the designer's color choices are what makes it
(the design)authentic.
Beverly
onetexsun
Sunny
Emily Bengston
A couple years ago, I had a question about one of their designs and couldn't
find the answer online, so I did what people use to do a lot before
internet; I picked up the phone and called their 800-number.
Emily
Dr. Zachary Smith
The colors Dakota uses are Madeira Rayon. Our research suggests that
while rayon is allegedly better for framing purposes, polyester should
be better for a utility quilt as it's supposed to hold up better to
washing, wear, etc.
The catch is that Madeira's poly threads don't seem to correspond to
their rayons, (and they call it poly-neon, whatever that means) so
we're going to need to make some kind of conversion anyway. So the
next question is, are there opinions on poly embroidery thread
brands?
Currently, we have mostly Isocord and a little Metler - all
polyester. The LQS is clearing out Hemingworth at 1/2 price (but
there are some color substitution problems). They'll be picking up
Metler (which I've been told is the same as Isocord, but only comes on
those little spools).
I'M SO CONFUSED!!!
Doc
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.
Doc, you are making this quilt into an awful lot of work! Relax and enjoy
the process- you have said this CQ is going to be a 'using quilt' and if you
do use it then **it will not last forever** no matter what fabrics and
threads you use. Something has to wear out first. So what if it's the
rayon thread? Rayon thread is beautiful with it's soft sheen and amazing
selection of colors and it will please you every time you look at the quilt
to have used the exact colors in the pattern.
If you keep obsessing over thread types and colors and which fabrics and
fiber content and doing such massive research-- then your quilting is always
going to be A Big Fat Deal involving of weeks of research and frustrations
of choices and hard work *before* you ever pick up a scissors or needle or
turn on your sm- and you may never know the joys of just doing it and having
a finished quilt in your proud hands. Sometimes flying by the seat of your
pants and inventing and experimenting and changing your mind as you go along
can produce an original work that amazes even yourself.... Did I really
make this???
So stop with the research and fussing and get busy and jump in with both
feet and make that CQ! If you make a mistake then learn from it but don't
let the possibility keep you from moving forward. Just jump in and play
with your wonderful fabrics and enjoy the process and have FUN! Save your
authentic masterpiece work for down the line when you have a few dozen
quilts under your belt and you are making one for 'just for show' to hang on
the wall and collect dust!
Hugs,
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
"Dr. Zachary Smith" <Dr.S...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:4d5c6b20-17e1-4231...@k26g2000vbp.googlegroups.com...
Dr. Zachary Smith
<quilteac...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Sometimes flying by the seat of your
> pants and inventing and experimenting and changing your mind as you go along
> can produce an original work that amazes even yourself.... Did I really
> make this???
ROTFLMAOWTIME! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! After the other day, I can't
believe you WROTE that! 8^D
You've got me pegged - and how! But this is why I design and DW
quilts; we balance each other.
She can't wait to cut into fabric and get that machine a-hummin'. I
get off on designing/planning to the last detail. In any enterprise
we undertake, we examine, utilize, and respect each others strengths,
talents, and foibles and try to support each other.
I can't remember where in the distant past I heard it, but someone
somewhere put it that there are two kinds of stress: bad stress, and
good - or joyful - stress. The bad kind is the kind you dread, like
doing taxes; the good kind is the kind you enjoy, like the stress of
watching a horror movie (for those who are into them) or... oh, I
don't know.... QUILTING! With experience things become easier, but
when everyone here first started out, it's likely there was some
stress/trepidation at getting seams right, flipping the sandwich over
periodically to avoid catches, etc. It's stressful, but you don't
mind because you're enjoying it. Some stress *can* be fun! (There
are actually some biological reasons for this; chemicals similar to
adrenalin and endorphins generated in the brain that stimulate
pleasure centers, but I digress...)
Getting things right the first time, doing my best, competing with
myself, putting 100% into things I do are things that I enjoy. I
figured this out about myself in college, and I reveled in it. Once
things get rolling I'll have more than my share of "this will have to
be good enough" and/or "whoops!" but generally, from my experiences,
the more I put into the planning, the smoother and more enjoyable the
doing will be and go *for me*.
If you see all this as a personality flaw, I hope you can also see
that there are a lot of worse ones I could have.
(And in case you've forgotten, it all helps me take & keep my mind off
the pain... ;-)
YMMV and all other standard disclaimers apply... :-)
Doc
On Oct 6, 10:37 am, "Leslie& The Furbabies in MO."
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.
for you to relax and spread your wings. Now you have that option as well as
your intensive planning. It's ALL good!
Leslie- trying to be a supportive friend... and ending up confoundedly
switch-hitting in the process! ;-)
"Dr. Zachary Smith" <Dr.S...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:fac0407d-7f98-4fd6...@d23g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...
Dr. Zachary Smith
I *am* asking for opinions on which brands of thread are better/worse.
Things are just more complicated than brand x vs. brand y.
If someone had experience that brand x were terrible, kept breaking in
the machine, faded, etc. or that brand y was really good and they
wouldn't consider using anything else... that kind of stuff (the usual
opinion fests here on RCTQ :-) it might help me figure this mess
out. OTOH, if all embroidery threads are pretty much the same, that
would help too. We just don't know, so I asked.
Doc
On Oct 6, 12:58 pm, "Leslie& The Furbabies in MO."
Herb
> My bad. Sometimes I neglect emoticons when I ought not.
> I *am* asking for opinions on which brands of thread are better/worse.
> Things are just more complicated than brand x vs. brand y.
>
> If someone had experience that brand x were terrible, kept breaking in
> the machine, faded, etc. or that brand y was really good and they
> wouldn't consider using anything else... that kind of stuff (the usual
> opinion fests here on RCTQ :-) it might help me figure this mess
> out. OTOH, if all embroidery threads are pretty much the same, that
> would help too. We just don't know, so I asked.
>
Unfortunately, the answer is the same as it is for so many other
questions: It depends.
Some sewing/embroidery machines are said to work better with some
threads than others. Probably has something to do with subtle
differences in the machines' thread paths and the way the thread was
created. Similarly, there's a needle/thread interaction that could be
a factor.
- Herb
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.
I can't speak on threads for an embroidery machine but I've had great luck
with Janome brand rayon thread (yep, same as my beloved sm!) and Sulky brand
rayon (LOVE rayons!). Sulky metallics have never given me any troubles but
I am careful to get my tension right and use the proper needles for any
sewing job.
I've heard good things about the polyester trilobar thread (I think it was
Kathy A. and where *is* that gal???)- I have Coats and Clark trilobar from
Joann's. I am just about to start playing with the trilobars so haven't
formed any opinions yet. I can tell you that they look and feel very much
like my rayon threads and may be a good substitute for you to use due to the
fragile nature of the rayons. I just did a 'pull til it breaks' test on a
rayon and a trilobar and the trilobar is substantially stronger.
Not much help, but I *always* have an opinion!
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
"Dr. Zachary Smith" <Dr.S...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:40705dc5-efdd-46bf...@d4g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...
BEI Design
I agree, "it depends". I often use Robison Anton poly for
kids clothing or items I know will be laundered often. RA
rayon is a next step up, for sheen and more intense color.
For really spectacular results I like Madeira rayon threads
best.
It depends... ;-)
--
Beverly
http://ickes.us/default.aspx
J*
what makes it uniquely yours is picking the colours 'you' like.
i prefer unique.
j.
"BEI Design" wrote ...
But using the designer's color choices are what makes it
(the design)authentic.
Beverly
Herb
> But using the designer's color choices are what makes it
> (the design)authentic.
This would be important if it was a commercial job and the client had
selected the design from an image and expected it to come out as they
saw it. And if it was, for example, a corporate logo, then one would
be obligated to match the corporation's standardized Pantone colors.
(Not easy with thread)
Otherwise, for personal use, there's no reason to be exact, as long as
the end product meets its goals. In fact, there are good reasons to
change in order to match a color scheme, a background fabric, or
artistic freedom.
- Herb
BEI Design
> Beverly at BEI Design wrote:
>
>
> > But using the designer's color choices are what makes it
> > (the design)authentic.
>
> This would be important if it was a commercial job and
> the client had selected the design from an image and
> expected it to come out as they saw it. And if it was,
> for example, a corporate logo, then one would be
> obligated to match the corporation's standardized Pantone
> colors. (Not easy with thread)
Precisely!
> Otherwise, for personal use, there's no reason to be
> exact, as long as the end product meets its goals. In
> fact, there are good reasons to change in order to match
> a color scheme, a background fabric, or artistic freedom.
>
> - Herb
Herb, I agree completely. The OP wrote: "Since these are
licensed designs, I want to use the exact correct colors."
I assume "correct" colors in this case would mean using the
exact shades of the exact thread the designer assigned to
each fill. After all, professional designers are pros for a
reason.
I love tinkering with colors on purchased designs, and also
digitize designs myself for which I may select any darned
color I want. But I probably would not put "Mickey" in
purple shorts, select yellow for "Eeyore", or color Donald's
beak green. ;-)
--
Beverly
http://ickes.us/default.aspx
BEI Design
> > "BEI Design" wrote ...
> > But using the designer's color choices are what makes
> > it
> > (the design)authentic.
> > Beverly
> yup, authentically someone elses design and colours.
> what makes it uniquely yours is picking the colours 'you'
> like. i prefer unique.
> j.
I also like unique. I digitize lots of designs, and for
those I select whatever colors I like. When I purchase
designs, I am also free to select colors of my own choosing,
and use all of the creativity my little heart desires.
However, the OP wrote: "Since these are
licensed designs, I want to use the exact correct colors."
If, like the OP, I want to make a licensed design "EXACTLY"
right, I would seek to use the colors the *professional
designer* selected. YMMV
--
Beverly
http://ickes.us/default.aspx
J*
j.
"BEI Design" wrote...
Dr. Zachary Smith
That's helpful too. FWIW, it's a Bernina 180. We can get whatever
needles are recommended - that's no biggie.
Doc
Dr. Zachary Smith
<quilteac...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I am just about to start playing with the trilobars so haven't
> formed any opinions yet. I can tell you that they look and feel very much
> like my rayon threads and may be a good substitute for you to use due to the
> fragile nature of the rayons. I just did a 'pull til it breaks' test on a
> rayon and a trilobar and the trilobar is substantially stronger.
Trilobars? Isn't that a fossil? :-)
http://brianlean.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/trilobite1.jpg
Nevermind... I'll look it up...
Doc
Dr. Zachary Smith
head... :-)
Doc
On Oct 6, 6:13 pm, "J*" <fancyfrog...@ribbit.com> wrote:
> fair enough.
> j.
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.
TriloBAL thread by Coats and Clark that I have on hand. Sorry! ;-)
http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=190
http://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/category/highlights/2-000-yds/products/
http://www.syntheticthread.com/superbrite.htm
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
"Dr. Zachary Smith" <Dr.S...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:ecb65499-76fe-4964...@m1g2000vbi.googlegroups.com...
Dr. Zachary Smith
<quilteac...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Okay- I've had the flu for two weeks and still not thinking straight. It's
> TriloBAL thread by Coats and Clark that I have on hand. Sorry! ;-)
Well, that explains why "trilobars" sent me to a slew of medical sites
- Ewww! :^D
Doc
Patti
>gg<
.
In message <7j3j7vF...@mid.individual.net>, Leslie& The Furbabies
in MO. <quilt...@yahoo.com> writes
>Okay- I've had the flu for two weeks and still not thinking straight.
>It's TriloBAL thread by Coats and Clark that I have on hand. Sorry!
>;-)
>
>http://www.coatsandclark.com/Products/Machine+Embroidery/Threads/Triloba
>l+Polyester+Embroidery+Thread.htm
>
>http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=190
>
>http://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/category/highlights/2-000-yds/products/
>
>http://www.syntheticthread.com/superbrite.htm
>
>Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
--
Best Regards
pat on the hill
Bev in TX
MC10001. Of all the ones that I tried, there is only one brand that I had
real difficulty with -- Coats & Clark. I tried their rayon & polyester
embroidery threads and had the same problem with both, though I think their
rayon is the worst. Their thread is not twisted as tightly as other brands,
and this caused me no end of difficulty with it (breakage, thread splitting,
etc). I purchased is at a 50% off sale at Joann's, but this was truly a
case of "you get what you pay for". I now wish that I had spent that money
more wisely.
There is some variation in texture between other brands, but they all worked
well with my machine. Given those variations, you would need to test them
out to see what works best for your project. They were touting Floriani
thread as extra special at my LQS (their metallic thread is supposed to be
made with a different process than the other mfgs), but I have not tried it
yet (it costs more than the thread I normally buy). Their polyester thread
appears to be a bit more lustrous than some, so I plan to try it out some
day.
Regarding thread colors, I just searched and the following site has links to
many machine embroidery thread color conversion charts.
http://www.sewterific.com/threadcharts.htm
For example, if you know a Madeira rayon thread color, then you would use
these charts to find a closely (or the closest) matching color in another
thread type (e.g., polyester) or another mfg.
--
Bev in TX
"Dr. Zachary Smith" <Dr.S...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:40705dc5-efdd-46bf...@d4g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...
... portion snipped ...
Pati, in Phx
than rayon, definitely stronger than rayons, especially when wet. <G>
All trilobals are not created equal... same as any thread. I have
used, and have some of the Superior threads that are trilobal poly,
and they are great, But a bit on the fine side.
Coverage will vary depending on the size of the thread and the density
of the stitching. <g>
I too, love Sulky threads--rayons, metallics, slivers, and
holographic-- but understand some of both the strengths and weaknesses
of them. And different machines do seem to react differently to
different threads. Play with tension as needed and be prepared to do
several "test runs" to get things straightened out. If the test runs
work, then use them. <G> If not, figure out what to do and make notes
on/about it. Keep the "losers" with the notes to help remind you what
you did/didn't do. It is a learning process, and that means making
less than perfect examples along the way.
As to color choices.... yes each company has their own set up, and
different design designers/digitizers will use their "favorite".
However, if you have a color picture you want to get close to, you can
use whatever specific colors/brands you want to use. <G> I am one who
usually wants to change things up...and choose my own colors for a
design. Others are not comfortable doing that, at least at first. So
whatever works, works.
Have fun,
Pati, in Phx
n Oct 6, 12:25 pm, "Leslie& The Furbabies in MO."
Taria
sharing your vast knowledge of threads (and other quilt
help) I appreciate it and know it has to help others too.
Taria
"Pati, in Phx" <pati...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:2ccbb59f-2960-455d...@e4g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
J*
j.
"Dr. Zachary Smith" wrote ...
Yeah, Homer just wouldn't look right without the right color yellow
head... :-)
Doc
"J*" wrote:
> fair enough.
> j.
Herb
> pardon?
> j.
Homer Simpson - re-colored....
J*
nevermind tho, it must be a cultural thing and have no culture as a back up
to understanding most things in this world...
j.
"Herb" wrote ...
Homer Simpson - re-colored....
J* wrote:
> pardon?
> "Dr. Zachary Smith" wrote ...
> Yeah, Homer just wouldn't look right without the right color yellow
> head... :-)
> "J*" wrote:
>>fair enough.
Dr. Zachary Smith
> i got the hair colour part but i dont see the relevence.
Sorry, but I don't think you got either. (But then I could be wrong)
Homer Simpson is bald except for (exactly) 3 hairs in a comb-over and
some zig-zag fringe.
His HEAD, and the rest of all the caucasion characters' skin-tone on
the show is yellow - it's been a running gag on the series since it's
inception.
The relevance is, if I'm going to use licensed characters, I'd prefer
to use as close to the original artists' conceptions as possible.
It's tribute to whatever characters I use rather than parody,
statement, or individualism. One might choose to make Disney's 7
dwarves rainbow colors as a socio-political statement, but if one just
wants the characters to be taken at face value, or for memory/
sentimental purposes, one may likely want to color them as close as
depicted in Snow White as one could. That's all.
Doc
Polly Esther
"Dr. Zachary Smith" <wrote, in part>The relevance is, if I'm going to use
J*
the rest went right over my head but then alot of things do now.
nothing will ever be the same again.
and as i said, i no longer have any personal culture to fall back on.
i'm born/raised american but have now spent more of my life in nz but
nz'rs all only hear what little is left of my american accent
and when i go to usa they hear none of my american accent.
i have no country, no countrymen who accept me as i am cuz i dont sound like
i'm from anywhere in particular to the rest of the world.
not that it makes a damn bit of difference to the scheme of things.
nothing much matters anymore.
big fat 'oh well'.
j.
"Polly Esther" wrote ...
DEM
I'm thinking....right down to the 'oh well'. If it's family you're
looking for, I'd like nothing better then to be your big sis.
Donna
in WA
J*
i think we're a bit too far apart,
besides which i seem to mess up any type of relation
so i've pretty much given up trying anymore.
i obviously dont have a clue how things in this world work.
j.
"DEM" wrote ...