Dear Hank,

I’ve never told anyone how much I love you!

You’re so handsome. You’re so substantial!

And your longevity is second to none.

You’re humble. You don’t put yourself forward.

Many people don’t even know you exist.

Compared to the little guys…

… you’re such a hunk, Hank!

You alone fulfill all my needs.

I love you, no matter what your mood.

When the trials of life loom large, I know I can always count on you, Hank!

You’re my one and only!

Next time you’re working on a large embroidery project – especially with more specialized threads (vs. standard stranded cottons) – check with the manufacturer to see if their threads come in hanks as opposed to skeins. Hanks are substantially larger than skeins. They can save you money, time, and worry. Money: the per-yard or per-meter price of thread in a hank usually works out to quite a bit less than the same per skein. Time: you’re not likely to run out of the color as quickly, if at all – saving you shopping time and waiting time. Worry: when you order a hank, all the thread in the hank comes from the same dye lot, so you don’t have to worry that there might be slight variations in shades, especially if the thread is hand-dyed.

Soie d’Alger, which is the silk I’m using for the ecclesiastical project I’ve been working on, comes in 5 meter pull skeins and 45 meter hanks. Retail, the 5-meter pull skein runs anywhere from $4.30 – $4.50. The special order hank, which has 9 times more thread to it, runs $28 – $30, which is a savings of of at least $10 for the same quantity of silk.

So the next time you’re working on a large project that will require a lot of the same color of thread, check with the manufacturer (or your local needlework shop owner) to see if the thread is available as a hank. You’ll probably have to special order it, but once you’ve got it, you’re set for a long time!

Then you’ll understand why I love Hank so.

But I don’t mind sharing him with you!