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London Embroidery School

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mellor

Laying Tools Guide

Friday 13th September 2019 by Natasha Searls-Punter

brass stilettos, brass, stilettos, stiletto, Goldwork, Mellor, Gold equipment, gold, embroidery, equipment

Laying Tools

Who is using them and why?

Laying tools are one of the great secrets of an embroiderers tool kit. Many people dont even know they exist but those that have used them rarely go stitching without one. At the London embroidery school we feel we have a few of the best and what’s better is we haver some new styles to bring to you.

Laying tools help you to reduce the amount you touch your embroidery to reduce the risk of damage or discolouration to your work. This can be particually useful in the case of silk floss work which can get fluffy through over touching and goldwork which tarnishes and bruises.

 

Mellor

Mellor, if you have looked at goldwork classes then you have probably come across this word and possibly not really known what it meant. Pronounced ‘Mel-Ore’, the mellor is a laying tool specially designed for us with goldwork to encourage the embroiderer to handle the goldwork as little as possible for fear of damaging it or discolouring it with the oils from the skin.

It is a little gold paddle shaped tool which has a smooth curved edge one end which can be used to reshape open curves such as those you might find if you are couching pearl purl for example. The other end is narrower but also rounded (so not to leave an corner impression on your bullion). This end can be used to encourage you stitches into the correct position with the point which fingertips may be too big to get into. This end can also be used to catch the thread under whilst you are pulling your thread with cutwork on it though the fabric so that the thread doesn’t twist or get caught up in the rough edge of the cutwork. This allows for even tension throughout your piece which will create a superior finish when all of your cutwork is evenly layed regardless of the direction you have stitched it in.

View this post on Instagram

The ultimate tool for goldwork, the mellor #embroidery#protips #goldwork

A post shared by London Embroidery School (@londonembschool) on Oct 17, 2018 at 8:34am PDT

Brass Stiletto

Slimmer and (arguably) more elegant than a Mellor, the Brass Stiletto is a more general laying tool. Often used for embroidery work using floss or stranded cotton like monogramming and silk shading where over handling will make the embroidery fluffy, rough or lose its shine. Stilettos are useful for easing the thread down with your non-pulling hand during a stitch, rather than just pulling it through from the otherside. This makes it good for particulally twisty threads (metallics for example) as you can control the twist with the stiletto which helps to reduce the chance of knotting too. The blunt end if shaped asymetrically to offer you both a narrow and a wide point for when you stitching needs a little encouragment in the right direction.

 

Awl

A favourite with dressmakers and pattern cutterns, awls are a tool designed with making holes in mind. It comes to a sharp point to make a clean hole easily without much pressure which can be useful for techniques like plunging your couching work in goldwork. The wooden handle end means it is comfotable to hold during these tasks and so you can give it some real welly if you need to.

 

 

Rosewood Stiletto

The Rosewood Stiletto serves a a good all- rounder. It comes to a sharp point, so is good for making holes in more delicate fabrics like we do in Broiderie Anglaise. It is more delicate than an awl, being made of wood rather than metal but it grows to a wider circumference up the shaft for making different sizes holes. The shaped handle has a nice hand feel meaning that it can also be used as a laying tool for your threads in the same was as you would use the brass stiletto (just watch the point doesnt catch anything you didnt want it to)

 

All these laying tools are available in the specialist equipment section of the website. If you are unsure about any of the uses above, get in touch or join us for a class and see what all the fuss is about.

View this post on Instagram

New blog up today all on our different laying tools and their various purposes, including this one, the brass stiletto. #embroidery #handembroidery #toolsofthetrade

A post shared by London Embroidery School (@londonembschool) on Sep 13, 2019 at 3:00am PDT

Filed Under: Embroidery, News from London Embroidery School, Stock Updates Tagged With: accessories, awl, embroidery, embroidery equipment, hand embroidery, laying tools, mellor, stiletto, stitching

Gifting Ideas

Wednesday 5th December 2018 by Natasha Searls-Punter

scissors, vintage scissors, snips, tassel, equipment, tools, pouch

Following on from their popularity on release, we are happy to announce that the Goldwork Essentials Personalised Giftsets are back in stock!

These giftsets are great for anyone starting off in goldwork embroidery as they come with:

The luxury Hen scissors for cutting those tiny threads, complete with a fancy tassle (swish swish)

You get a festive range of bullion to make into something beautiful…

There is also a Mellor and Bump all wrapped up in a little canvas pouch…

…which we then personalise with your choice of initials

The only tough decision is which of the bullion colours to use first!

 

 

Filed Under: Classes, Embroidery Equipment, News from London Embroidery School, Stock Updates Tagged With: bullion, bump, christmas, embroidery, gifting, giftset, goldwork, hand embroidery, london, mellor, scissors, snips

Pro Tips: Mellor

Thursday 18th October 2018 by Natasha Searls-Punter

Mellor, if you have looked at goldwork classes then you have probably come across this word and possibly not really known what it meant. Pronounced ‘Mel-Ore’, the mellor is a laying tool specially designed for us with goldwork to encourage the embroiderer to handle the goldwork as little as possible for fear of damaging it or discolouring it with the oils from the skin.

It is a little gold paddle shaped tool which has a smooth curved edge one end which can be used to reshape open curves such as those you might find if you are couching pearl purl for example. The other end is narrower but also rounded (so not to leave an corner impression on your bullion). This end can be used to encourage you stitches into the correct position with the point which fingertips may be too big to get into. This end can also be used to catch the thread under whilst you are pulling your thread with cutwork on it though the fabric so that the thread doesn’t twist or get caught up in the rough edge of the cutwork. This allows for even tension throughout your piece which will create a superior finish when all of your cutwork is evenly layed regardless of the direction you have stitched it in.

View this post on Instagram

The ultimate tool for goldwork, the mellor #embroidery#protips #goldwork

A post shared by London Embroidery School (@londonembschool) on Oct 17, 2018 at 8:34am PDT

 

The London Embroidery School mellors are available in the specialist equipment section of the website. If you are unsure about any of the uses above, why not join us for a goldwork class where you will be introduced to using your mellor effectively along with a whole host of exciting, traditional goldwork effects.

Filed Under: Embroidery, Embroidery Equipment Tagged With: embellishment, embroidery, goldwork, laying tool, mellor, specialist, stitching, tool, tools of the trade, traditional

LES: New Branded Products

Friday 24th April 2015 by claire

The London Embroidery School is very pleased to present the first range of LES’s own products. We have started with the Tambour hook and handle, Goldwork Mellor and Pointy Tweezers. All items are new and improved for easier use as well as their snazzy new styling.

Filed Under: Embroidery Equipment, News from London Embroidery School Tagged With: equipment, goldwork, handle, hook, les, mellor, pointy, specialist, stitching, Tags branded, tambour, tweezers

Specialist Equipment & Materials

Friday 6th June 2014 by Natasha Searls-Punter

The London Embroidery School has more to offer you than just classes as the name suggests. We have a wide range of specialist embroidery materials and equipment to satisfy your embroidery needs. From the basics when you starting up or trying a new technique like table clamp frames and scissors, to specific technique equipment like ari hooks and mellors.

There is also a wide range of bullion available for goldwork in a variety of colours and quantities for that special project.

New Products for goldwork have been added too, find them under Gold Plate and Passing Thread:

Obviously if you need help in deciding how to use the materials, you can always take a class and pick up some new skills with us too! Goldwork and Tambour continue to run throughout the year but we are already almost half way through our Summer Season of Courses, with Silk Flower making coming to an end in only a couple of weeks, so book in quick before it goes. Following the end of Silk Flower Making we will be starting something new with Tambour with Feathers! Look out for our other specialist series as they come in as we will have some more dates for the Couture Class range and Lace Jewellery making subject to demand.

We hope to see you in a class soon! 

Natasha SP @ The London Embroidery School

Filed Under: Embroidery, Embroidery Equipment Tagged With: beading, beads, bullion, costume, couture beading class, embroidery, embroidery class, embroidery class london, fashion, feathers, flowers, frame, goldwork, london embroidery, mellor, passing thread, pearle purl, plate, purl, scissors, silk flower making, stitching, table clamp, Tags ari, tambour

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