In answer to the question about reeled versus spun silk, reeled will always be shinier. It's also very tough (having a higher tensile strength than steel). Doesn't mean it won't break if you pull hard enough. Reeled will never get "furry" since it's a continuous filament. As Brenda mentioned, reeled is more slippery and likes to slip out of a single hitch, but not as badly as rayon does :-).
It's also likely that you will not find spun silk quite as fine as reeled silk - the continuous filament allows a very fine yarn. For instance, a 2/20 reeled silk is finer than Egyptian cotton 140/2. The only source that I'm aware of for reeled silk is Pipers www.pipers-silks.com On their website, they state: "All our Fine Twisted Silks, High Gloss Floss Silks, Twisted Semi-Gloss Silks, Twisted Gloss Silks and Silk Gimps are made from Continuous Filament (Nett) yarn. Continuous Filament yarn is thread which is reeled off the cocoons and wound into skeins or hanks. Over 1,000 metres can be reeled off one cocoon.", in other words, these are reeled silks. I've worked with their 2/20 when making Polychrome lace. It's lovely and incredibly fine. They have excellent colors in silks as well - silk takes dyes beautifully. Usual disclaimer. Clare Milford, CT, USA From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Silk thread (was Re: [lace] Polyester thread) > I've seen posts expressing satisfaction with spun silk for making bobbin lace. Has anyone compared spun to reeled for this purpose? From: Brenda Paternoster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Spun silk is easier to work with - reeled silk being very smooth and shiny is slippery and doesn't stay on the bobbins so well. Really it's down to personal preference - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
