Hi Brenda Thank you for that comprehensive answer it makes sense when I look at the different reels Sylko I've bought over the years for sewing. I think that the stuff I've been using for lace is almost certainly the size 40. It all has the three shells logo.
I think I've now got to go and get some different sorts of cotton and do some experimenting which is really exciting, all I need is some more time...! Alison in Essex UK where it's a very dull afternoon and not very warm -----Original Message----- From: owner-l...@arachne.com [mailto:owner-l...@arachne.com] On Behalf Of Brenda Paternoster Sent: 14 June 2010 18:24 To: Gray, Alison J Cc: 'lace@arachne.com' Subject: Re: [lace] Another thread question (or two) HI Alison Coats/Sylko has long been problematic to sort out just what is what! For a long time the regular cotton thread sold for machine sewing was Sylko 50, mercerised cotton made by J. Dewhurst & Sons / Dewhurst's, part of English Sewing Ltd. These reels had the three shells logo on the reels and was made in Great Britain. 28 w/cm. Then (I think!) they were taken over by Coats who made Tootal Sylko 50 mercerised cotton, again with the three shells logo and made in Great Britain. Size 50 - 34 w/cm and Size 40 - 28 w/cm. I also have some Tootle Sylko mercerised cotton, made in Great Britain but with no size stated. This measures 31 w/cm (so perhaps size 45????). Then came Sylko mercerised cotton thread with no size stated although the three shells logo was still used and the thread was made in the EU (European Union). 34 w/cm colours, 35 w/cm white (it's not unusual for white to be very slightly finer colours in the same thread). This was probably size 50. I *think* that Coats were at this time part of the Amann group. The sewing machine cotton currently advertised on the Coats website as "Coats Cotton Thread" http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/Products/Sewing/threads/Coats+Cotton.htm comes in four sizes; 30, 40, 50 and 80. The three shells logo doesn't appear to be on these new reels. (I haven't done much machine sewing lately and haven't bought any new cotton sewing thread, but I should make the effort to find all four sizes for Addendum 5). The answer to your question as to how similar Coats Cotton is to Sylko depends on which size of Coats Cotton you are referring to and what size the Sylko was! They are all three ply threads; those that I've seen are Z twisted and because the new stuff is made for lock stitch machine sewing machines they too will almost certainly be Z twisted - unless they are the same as the "new" lace threads (AKA Cometa) made by Coats to supposedly replace Filato. These are not mentioned on the Coats website but you can read all about them on my website: http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/lace/misc/misc.htm Sorry it's a long winded reply, but that's the way it is! On 14 Jun 2010, at 12:46, Gray, Alison J wrote: > I went to my local needlecraft store on Saturday to buy some Sylko sewing > cotton, the sort you use for dressmaking. I've been buying it in 1,000 m > reels and using it for lace. To my surprise they didn't have any, according > to the ladies in the shop it was withdrawn and replaced by Coats Cotton some > years ago. (Shows how quickly I make lace!) > > I have 2 questions, first how similar to Sylko is the Coats Cotton? Does > anyone know whether it would work up similarly to Sylko? And second, the > ladies in the shop told me that the company took all their supplies of Sylko > away and they understand that it was to be sent abroad. Does anyone know > whether this is true and if so where did it go and why? Brenda in Allhallows www.brendapaternoster.me.uk - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
