Using a laying tool

They can be made from many different materials; wood, metal, bone, glass or even plastic. The important thing is that they are smooth and free from burs or rough areas. Basically they are a long thin or tapered instrument, sometimes with a handle, that resembles an awl. It is also possible to use a large needle to do the same job. There is a version with a sort of cup on the end that slips onto your finger and stays there while you are working known as a trolley needle. They have the disadvantage that you can forget you are wearing them and cause yourself damage!

I prefer a wooden handled tool as it is light to hold and durable. The bone or glass tools can break if you drop them, whereas metal versions are heavier.

How to use a laying tool

Bring the needle through the fabric and then, holding the tool in your left hand, press it against the floss close to the fabric. Gently slide the tool towards you a little, spreading the strands flat against the fabric.

Still holding the tool against the thread, push the needle back into the fabric and pull it slowly through until the thread forms a loop around the tool. Then allow the tool to guide the strands into place before removing it carefully.

In the photograph, left, the top row was worked using the laying tool. The stitches look smoother and fuller than the unlaid row below. The fibre used in this sample was Eterna silk and laying the threads enables it to shine evenly. You can see that in the bottom row the light catches the stitches at different angles depending on how they lay.

Although not as glossy, stranded embroidery cotton or floss can also benefit from being laid. In this photograph the tool was used for the bottom row. You can see how the stitches look fuller and give the appearance of a solid area of stitching, where those in the top row look like separate stitches.

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