I always wind my bobbins clockwise when looking down on the head, the
way Achim does for cotton. That's way I was taught to wind them, and I
used to think that it was just a regional thing; clockwise in England
and anti-clockwise on the continent (of Europe), much like English
lacemakers usually work the foot side on the right, most continentals
work it on the left. Because I have always wound clockwise I find it
very difficult to work on a pillow with bobbins wound anti-clockwise
because the gradual unwinding becomes an automatic part of moving the
bobbins around.
Until really quite recently it didn't occur to me that the direction of
the thread spin might make a difference to the way bobbins are wound.
I've never experienced a problem with winding/unwinding with S-twist or
Z-twist, though I do mostly use Midlands bobbins which don't roll as
much as continentals. As Bev has pointed out, if the bobbin is rolled
into the thread rather than the thread wound around the bobbin there
should be no extra twists introduced in either direction.
Robin, most linen threads are S-twist. I believe that is because linen
fibres have a natural tendency to twist in S direction. The majority
of cotton threads are Z-spun; that is because they are intended for use
on a sewing machine of some sort, and the mechanism of all sewing
machines is such that a Z-twist is tightened which is preferable to it
getting untwisted by the sewing action. The main exceptions to cotton
being Z-twist are those which are specifically made for lacemaking;
Egyptian gassed, Brok, and the old cotton slip threads. It may well be
that lacemakers of old who were used to Z-twist linen demanded Z-twist
cotton (back in the days when lacemaking was a significant part of
thread consumption!). Pearl cotton and coton a broder are usually
S-spun, and they are used for hand sewing. I am right handed and my
hand sewing tends to tighten an S-twist (the unstitched part of the
thread will naturally twist in the Z direction)
Crochet cottons which are plied twice are usually 2S/3Z, which means
that the 3Z is the more significant part. The crocheting movements
don't themselves twist the thread but the stitches (treble, double
treble etc) do lean slightly to the left when made by a right handed
crocheter, and that would be balanced by a Z twist.
Silk is spun in either direction - if it's primarily intended for
machine sewing it will be Z-spun, if for hand sewing it will be S-spun.
I would suggest that the most important thing is to roll the bobbin
into the thread (the way Achim does) to avoid tightening or loosening
the manufactured spin. Secondly, ensure that all the bobbins on the
pillow are wound in the same way to enable consistant working practices
Thirdly, if you do choose to vary the direction according to the
thread look at its construction rather than the fibre content.
Brenda
On 16 Oct 2007, at 04:30, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
From: bevw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
As others will probably mention, you can wind in either direction as
long as
you are consistent. i.e. all bobbins clockwise. or all bobbins
counterclockwise wound.
Personally, I only wind and hitch bobbins one way, because I have much
too much trouble keeping the movements straight. However, I was taught
that choosing clock/counter winding should be determined by the fiber
being wound. I'm sure Brenda will correct this if I got it wrong, but
I believe cotton thread is usually made with an S-twist and silk with a
Z-twist. [An S-twist thread spirals from upper-left to lower-right
when you hold the thread vertically and look closely; a Z-twist thread
goes from upper-right to lower-left. Doesn't matter which end of the
thread is up and which down.] I forget whether linen is like cotton (I
think so) or like silk.
Thanks, Achim, for publishing the video. I'm sure it will be a great
help to new lacemakers trying to learn to hitch their bobbins.
Robin P.
Los Angeles, California, USA
(formerly Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
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