Yesterday, I showed you the Lizardine real metal thread as it’s being used on the Floral Glove project from Thistle Threads.

Today, I thought I’d show you Lizardine up close!

In the photo above, you can see that the Lizardine is un-stretched on the left, and stretched out on the right. This is to give you a sense of how it can be used. Notice that it’s pretty much like a smooth tube in its un-stretched state, and more like a spring when stretched out. As I mentioned yesterday (I think!), if you stretch the Lizardine, it doesn’t spring back. It’s a very stiff real metal thread.

Keep in mind, too, that the photo above is taken on macro mode, so it is a close-up photo. The fabric it’s sitting on, to give you a sense of size, is a dower quality linen with about 50 threads per inch (so, a fairly high count linen). That little bit of un-stretched Lizardine is about 1/8″ long – so it is a tiny, fine real metal thread.

When they’re put right next to each other, you can see the obvious difference between Lizardine and Pearl Purl. The coils on Pearl Purl are rounded, giving the effect of a string of tiny golden beads when the thread is un-stretched. Lizardine, on the other hand, is flat.

Both threads are beautiful, don’t you think? I like them. I especially like them used in combination, like they are on the roundel in yesterday’s post on Silk and Gold and Lizardine.

You can find Lizardine in shops that carry goldwork threads imported through Access Commodities. The two shops that I know of that carry it, or at least will quickly special order it for you, are Hedgehog Handworks and Threadneedle Street. If you don’t see it on their websites, just ask!

So, whatdyareckon? Is Lizardine a metal thread you’d add to your list of things to try?! Let me know your thoughts!