Same here. I love crochet, knitting, counted cross stitch, etc, and I’d seen a few ads for this months ago and decided to think on whether I might like this. I take this video showing up in my feed as a sign from the universe that this is worth a shot 😊
Kat, I happened to see your article on Threads about your wedding dress and using tambour embroidery. I then started to search about this technique and found your site...what a wonderful find. I have already ordered some silk organza and a Lacis tambour needle set. I love sewing and all kinds of fiber techniques. Looking forward to learning from you and enjoying your You Tube sessions.
This craft is cool!👍 I've gotta try this out. You didn't elaborate on how big/small the needle sizes actually were so I did some research to get a better understanding about the size numbers and learned the size number sort of corresponds to the needle's diameter which would make more sense sense if they were sized that way (in millimeters). For example, the diameter of size 70 is 0.7mm, size 90 is 0.9mm, and size 110 is 1.10mm, etc. Since I work with wire gauges, knowing this give me a much better idea of the hook/needle's actual size. I'm definitely going to check out this series. Thank you so much for introducing a me to another cool craft. Your work is absolutely beautiful!❤
I'm so excited for this!!! I originally started watching your TikTok because of your forensic sewing content, but you also made me fall in love with a new skill. Thank you 💞 I can't wait for the rest of this series :)
So excited for this series... I have been watching various tambour videos ever since I saw your wedding dress blog... so keen to try this out for myself one day!
So happy to have stumbled across you today, I subscribed after the first 60 seconds, really like your way of presenting/teaching! Looking forward very much to learning, thank you!
This is so awesome! Thank you for providing different options for learning with stuff we may already have hanging around. I'm so stoked to get started! Love this! 💕
I’m so glad you popped up on my feed. I bought my tambour needle years ago and still haven’t used it because I couldn’t afford the frame. But you gave some great suggestions. I’m looking forward to seeing the other videos in this series. Thanks!
Hi Kat. Probably a silly question but when you purchase pre-strung beads do you string them onto your thread of choice or use the thread they arrive on? If you move them onto another thread, what is the best way of doing this? What was the thread you said you use, I can't quite catch what it is called. Thanks.
I've just started experimenting with tambour and it's pretty neat. I'm wondering if there's such a thing as 'good' and 'bad' quality tambour needles and how they might affect the chain stitching. I'm using Coats & Clark sew-all thread on polyester organza, and the smallest needle that came with my set off Amazon. As I'm working, the thread doesn't really seem to slide very fluidly ... it gets stuck a lot in the needle's hook, even when it's not under tension. Do I need a different needle perhaps or is there maybe something about my technique I can change?
I would appreciate your opinion about whether it's good idea to do it on felt material? Great channel❤ probably going to bingewatch a bunch of your videos
I've discovered tambour embroidery several years ago. Even bought the hook, but never actually tried it. Now I see more and more of the beautiful embroidery pop up here and there, so I think it's the sign and the time) so exited to follow) so gonna look for the hoop (I have really small and wacky plastic ones, terrible, don't wanna ruin the experience)
Oh this is wonderful! I am a bead weaver and do I have the beads...your enthusiasm is contagious. Yet another way to expand ones love of art. I so look forward to learning from you.
Your videos are the best ones for me. I’ve attempted tambourine before. I tat, crochet, knit, cross stitch, and spin. I also do a lot of beading and have won first place in the Arizona State Fair for a malachite and gold hat band I beaded. I’ve taught shuttle tatting, so I understand the learning curve and the fiddler fingers at the start. My problem is finding a good hoop or frame that will hold the tight tension on the sheer fabric as I work. All the hoops seem to let that sheer fabric slide between the rings and I can’t keep it tight. I don’t mind paying for a good set up, hoop or frame, but I don’t want to pay for something that won’t work for me. Do you have any suggestions.
Definitely a slate frame! There's no slippage with a slate frame because the fabric is either pinned or stitched into place - it has the added benefit of working with larger pieces as well. Lacis sells a relatively low-tech option that uses clamps, and there are nicer hand carved ones on Etsy - I don't have a specific source recommendation because I make my own slate frames - which is also an option if you know basic woodworking (or have a woodworking friend!)
@@katmakesThank you. I bought the slate frame from Lacis. Got linen thread to attach the silk organza to the frame and just waiting for the Fil a Gant thread to arrive. Can hardly wait to try this again-this time with the right equipment. ❤
@@katmakes I need help. I got my slate frame from Lacis and used waxed linen thread to attach silk organza to the twill tape. But when I tried to adjust the frame to square up the fabric and tighten it up a bit, the corners of the fabric tore a bit. Once I figure out this dressing of the frame I’ll be fine. But I was so frustrated that I did what I always do in these situations and took it all apart and put it away until I get more info and instructions.
I love watching crafters who love what they are doing! Not sure if I'll try this as I have problems grasping very small items at the moment. I'm definitely going to watch every video though as I find crafting skills so interesting to watch and I love learning new skills. I bead weave, crochet, sew, knit and quilt but I'm also dealing with bad arthritis at the moment so might not be able to join in. Won't stop me from watching it all and I'm so excited for this series!!
Ugh. -throws overly dramatic tantrum- it can be so hard to find crafting supplies locally in NZ. I scoured 5 stores for a latch hook a couple of months ago, it was in the last one, a single hook sad, alone, lying under some forgotten clearance things and only 1 shop had the canvas and the holes are really too big! Oh for a population worthy of ALL the crafting supplies.
Oh my goodness! I am a lifelong embroiderer (😂) and a recent beading fanatic! Cannot wait. As a retired teacher, I may not be able to go for silk organza, but I will investigate my options.
Im so pleased I found you. I am about to embark on tambour. There is also something else with a common theme , I too am a kiwi. I knit usually children's toys as opposed to garments but I wanted something new and came upon tambour with a strong French leaning. So looking forward to demo 3. Great teaching explanations.😀
I am working on a left handed video with some tips but I think it might take me a while and I don't want to slow you down.. here are some to start: - Most of the lefties I've spoken to hold the tool in their dominant hand - it's very similar to the way you'd hold a pencil and it has the trickiest job to do so it makes sense BUT I have spoken to at least one who was taught to hold it in her right hand regardless. Based on numbers alone I'd say you probably want to use your left hand to hold the tool, but you can try the other way if you like! - the clockwise and counterclockwise wraps I talk about in video three will be the same regardless of handedness - it might help you control you thread if you keep it off to your right side, rather than off to the left as I usually do
Hi Kat. I have a couple of questions: 1. do you earn your living from making? Or do you have a separate part or full-time job? 2. You mentioned you made your slat frame. Do you have wordworking skills and all the saws/tools you needed to make it? Thank you.
I have a full time job! I do make a small amount of income from things like the RU-vid partner program and Kofi donations which are AMAZING but my regular job pays my mortgage and most of my project costs 😅 On the slate frame- my dad’s an avid woodworker and some of the skills have worn off on me! My skills are not amazing but I’ve got enough (plus some tools) to get the job done 😅
You can do it on anything that you can pierce with the hook - so technically yes - BUT you won't be able to see your lower hand, the twill weave of denim is more complex (prone to snags) than regular plain weave fabric, and you have to be able to stretch your item in a hoop or frame to stitch. You might consider making an applique and stitching it on instead :)
It doesn't have to be silk - the benefit of silk is that you can steam it and reduce any puckers you do end up with, whereas polyester is a bit less forgiving. Polyester's fine for small projects and learning though!
fantastic teacher, great info, loved it, watching all your stuff, so excited I discovered your videos. I have always loved beaded clothes and watching documentaries and museum shows on embroidery of historical textiles. Thank you for your love of tambour and creating these videos. Your wedding dress was beautiful!
Yep! There are a few links in the description of this video - and I have a 'getting started' page on my blog with a list of more links! It includes all the places I like to shop, as well as a bit more information on what you can find at each place! www.katmakes.com/tambour-embroidery
Wow, I've never even heard of this. I used to make victorian lampshades....hmm. I used to search for vintage beaded trims and tassels all over the place. But. I'll bet this type of embroidery would lend itself quite well to embellishing a victorian shade. Guess I'll have to learn how to do this and find out! Thanks for this wonderful tutorial!
Omg! I love your work. I’m so inspired. I have lots of seed beads and I’ve watched your work but can’t figure out how you do it. The short videos are too hard to follow. A class from you for beginners is something I’m excited about. It wasn’t easy to find this page but I’m glad I kept looking. I hope you will consider posting your teaching page on all the short videos.
You just popped up on my views. So glad. I always wondered how such elaborate embroidery was done. You are such a delight in your enthusiasm to share what you learned through trial and error. 💖🌺🌹.
Thanks for a great introduction to this brand new craze in UK thanks to Rosie Embroidery. I’m awaiting my kit and can’t wait to start. I’ve yet to watch your other videos. Thanks again. 👌🏼🦋😘
You can totally use organza! The main issue is that it unravels, whereas tulle doesn’t, but you can do things like folding under the edges or finishing them with some fray check or glue ☺️
Ah this is a good Q! I'm still working with my one original #70. They can get bent over time if you're using them with thicker fabrics, and you'll want to be careful to store them so that the tip is protected when not in use, but replacing them would be a *very* long term problem - not like a regular sewing machine needle that you want to replace quite frequently!
Hi @KatMakes, I discovered you in Threads Magazine recently. I've owned my tambour supplies since last summer. I started playing with it then, but got busy helping with a friends wedding and costuming a show. I'm an experienced seamstress, crocheter and knitter, but find that I catch the threads frequently coming back up the organza. I have listened and attempted to apply the backward pressure to avoid this, but I wonder if it could be my hook? I know in other crafts, the quality of the tool can greatly impact the outcome. I purchased Lacis and Zarodis and am stitching on poly organza in a wooden hoop wrapped with bias tape. I feel like I have good tension on the fabric. I wish there was someone near me so we could chat in person, but I haven't found anyone so far! Thanks for any thoughts!
Ahh exciting! I'm glad you found me here! Good question - seems like you've done a bit of troubleshooting as well which is awesome! I have heard other folks having issues with the Lacis hooks so it is possible - the good quality hooks are the Schmetz brand ones (even if the shanks have been cut off, the listings might say "german made") - there are other brands that seem to be more snaggy, and from what I've seen lacis seems to sell both in their packs interchangeably. My preferred source is Maydel (there's an affiliate link in the description of this video) - she's got the goods!
@@katmakes Thank you for your response! I followed your suggestions and purchased silk organza (instead of poly) and the hooks from Maydel. When they arrived I was on another project, so just now getting back to it - BUT - I see a difference already! Now I need to practice to get the fluidity, but I’m not having the problem of catching the threads on the return pull. Thanks again!
Kat, I’m a first time bead embroiderer and my passion project is upcycling a dress I don’t wear by adding beaded appliqués. Think of the crystal encrusted Clio Peppiatt dresses. I’m very confident in my ability, even though it’s my first time, things like this with rhythm and glitter come easily to me. However, the dress I’m upcycling is made of stretchy, soft, very opaque polyester blend. The dress itself is also comfortably tight fitting. I have yet to start, but I have the whole dress mapped out (I did it while binging this series to gain some knowledge before jumping in) So I have an idea for all the beading and sequins itself but, do you think it would be more beneficial to do the embroidery as an appliqué and sewing it on after? or do you think that sewing the embroidery directly onto the dress would be best? I know you explained the difference between the tambour and aari, and if using one method would work better than the other. Please give me your opinion!
Hello! This sounds like such a fun project! I think it's totally doable, and such a good idea to breathe new life into something you're not wearing - but here are a couple of things to think about: I'd definitely do the beading separately and attach as applique after, but keep in mind that your dress is stretchy and the appliques won't be (Even if you embroider on stretchy fabric..which I don't recommend for a first project...chain stitch doesn't stretch) - so you may have issues with the dress becoming too tight if you have, for example, a piece of embroidery going all the way around the waist, for example. As far as the two methods are concerned, they won't make a difference as far as stretch is concerned, so choose whichever one is most comfortable to you/best suited for your design!
Hey Kat! First, thanks so much for this series. I tried to learn tambour embroidery with old books that explain the technique, but have not been very successful. I just have one small question. Do you have a specific place from which you buy your silk organza? I tried finding some in fabric stores close to home and can't find any. Thanks!!
Hello hello! Thank you so much! Hopefully the videos will work better than your books! To answer your question - I'm not sure where home is for you, but I live in New Zealand so this may not be helpful.. The Fabric Store is one of my local shops, and I get the majority of my silk organza from them. I know Dharma Trading in California also has it but only in black and white (www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/silk/silk-organza-fabrics.html?lnav=fabric_silk.html) - other than that I'm sorry, I don't have any other recommendations unfortunately!
Hi Kat! Thanks so much for your generosity in sharing these lessons with us! This is so exciting because I've loved all your videos on tambour embroidery and have wanted to learn it for some time. Your advice just saved me from buying some tulle fabric, so I'll be off to hunt down silk organza and a tambour needle. I'm looking forward to future videos! Susan🥰❤❣
Thank you so much Susan!! Comments like this give me LIFE, I'm so glad you're along for the ride and really excited for you to learn! Thank you for being here!
Hi Kat - Amazing videos!! As a hobby I make leather shoes. I am wondering if tambour work is possible to do on leather? if not that what alternative fabric do you recommend for footwear uppers? I was also thinking about using velvet
Thanks for the question! I have a few ideas but I think ultimately it's going to depend on the look you're trying to achieve - technically, you can do Tambour on anything that you can pierce with the hook - so a thicker leather would be right out but if you used a softer, thinner leather for the upper and then added a lining after the fact I think you could make it work. I'd probably float the piece of leather on fabric to hoop it rather than hooping the leather itself. Alternatively, you could do any kind of fabric as an overlay, really - and just use whatever leather/puff/counter/lining you'd usually use under it for support/structure. Something like velvet or canvas or (if it's a more special occasion shoe) even just organza would be fine, if you're not relying on the fabric to add structure. I hope that helps!
Can I tambour bead on felt? I am just starting to research this craft and everything I see is on sheer fabrics. I make patches/appliqués that need to be more stable but would love to use this technique for my sequins.
Absolutely! Technically you can do tambour on anything that you can pierce with the needle - *but* it's a lot easier to work (especially when you're learning) when you can see that lower hand, which is why you see it on sheer fabric. Felt would work, I've worked on leather and denim and other thicker fabrics as well - I'd still recommend learning on organza though. Another option (though depending on your style this may not work) would be to adhere or stitch the organza applique to a heavier weight backing after doing the tambour part so you can get the stability that way.
@@katmakes thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and giving such a detailed reply! That makes sense and luckily I have some organza to practice on. I will most def share my results with you if I end up using this technique on my project ☺️
How is tambour embroidery on the wrist and hands? Do newcomers to the craft need to worry about injuries? I worsened my tendonitis crocheting and am very hesitant to pick up any new tools that have repetitive motions. (Also thank you for such a thorough video! So glad I followed you over from TikTok!)
I honestly think this answer is different for everyone! I have some tendonitis-adjacent problems, and will sometimes wear my splints if I'm embroidering for long periods of time, but that's enough to keep me from having any problems. There's a bit of thumb-specific action that happens to form the stitch that you'd want to watch out for but it's less wrist-intensive than crochet so I don't think I'd compare it to those motions directly. Perhaps a bit more like writing or calligraphy.
@@katmakes thank you so much! I really appreciate your detailed response! I’ll continue to research and follow your series before committing to buying supplies 😅
Oooooh I’ve been wanting to get into this for awhile now but couldn’t quite get started. You have just given me the confidence to move on it now. Thanks. Also, besides silk organza what other fabric can be used? I just watched some instagram reels and it was in another language but the fabric definitely was not organza or tulle. It wasn’t see through at all. It was the indian technic that was used obviously.
Yay! I'm glad you've decided to give it a try! On fabric: Silk organza (or polyester organza) is the best for learning, but technically you can do tambour on anything that you can pierce with the needle. I've used chiffon, silk crepe de chine, denim, (thin) leather - and once even a piece of silicone! Fabrics that stretch are a little more limiting but also not impossible. It's hard to know what it would have been without seeing the video you saw, but once you've gotten the hang of the stitch with a sheer, stable fabric, you can stitch on whatever you like!
Very excited to potentially pick up another craft! While I’m sure I have something laying around that can be used, is there a recommended type or thickness of thread if we are stringing our own beads so I can be prepared for the next video?
Oh, I forgot THREAD! This is a very good question - I will cover it more in the next video, but: My two faves are Sajou Fil a Gant and Gutermann Hand Quilting - both are glazed cotton threads that are really lovely and strong for holding beads and sequins. When learning, a high quality all-purpose sewing thread (Like Gutermann) also works - don't get a cheap store brand though, they tend to be a bit splitty and your needle will snag more :)
This is awesomw, cant wait to give it a try! Do you have recommendations on where to purchase a tambour embroidery tool from? P.s. you are helping my beaded evening bag dreams come true lol.
A beaded evening bag sounds Incredible!! I don't have one amazing recommendation for a tool unfortunately - my favourite one is from a shop called Brodely in France, the Lacis one is pretty good but it uses the longer shank needles so it's a bit less versatile. I'd probably recommend Etsy over Amazon to shop around, I've heard of some people buying the Amazon ones only to discover that the screws come loose over time, or the needles have burrs.
@@katmakes thanks Kat! I put in an order for a lacis one at JoAnn fabrics with a coupon and maybe if I get into it, I'll go hunting for one that's a little more high quality 👍 can't wait to try this out!
I'm starting to learn tambour embroidery and was so glad you showed us the string beads you use. When I went to the craft store and saw several types and sizes of beads, I knew I didn't have a clue what to start with. I purchased a small bag of 4mm round beads to start practicing; next time, I'll pick up beads on string. I look forward to learning from you. Thanks.
One can, but proceed with caution! Silk net was a common Tambour base before nylon options were invented (think 1920s flapper dresses) and they ended up ripping and falling apart under the weight of all the beads and sequins. It does fall into the Tulle category of having more mechanical give than organza, so I still wouldn't recommend you learn on it - but in general, I'd say it's fine to use for smaller or less densely embroidered pieces but if you're wanting something that has a LOT of beadwork, a nylon tulle would be a better option if you'd like all your hard work to last :)
