Dear Thread Users, There are many people - some on Arachne - who are proud to be self-taught. However, self-taught can mean some important information is not imagined when it comes to the most important ingredient of lace -- thread. For the past few months, Barbara Ballantyne (Australia) and I have been corresponding about her recent findings in connection with thread quality. The importance of consistently-manufactured quality threads cannot be denied. Nearly all of us assume we are getting what we always paid for, but that may not be the case in some instances..
Barbara has written and self-published a 16-page illustrated study of her findings, "The Structure of Threads for Lace", 2010, ISBN 978 0980850703. This would be useful for perfectionist lacemakers, lace teachers, lace judges, local lace guild libraries, and thread manufacturers. Though her first passion is Irish Crochet, what she has to say applies to the threads for all laces, and you can adapt her methods of testing to the thread options you are considering. For more information, go to _www.crochethistory.com_ (http://www.crochethistory.com/) Then, select "Books", go to the last one and click on "More information". The twist of thread comes up in various books. Pat Earnshaw discussed it in "Threads of Lace - From Source to Sink", 1989. Brenda Paternoster's "Threads for Lace" lists the number of plies and direction of twist of many threads. "Z" and "S" twist was mentioned in the January 2011 issue of "Lace", the quarterly magazine and newsletter of The Lace Guild (UK), pg. 12: "Z Twist or S Twist: Ladies Weaving with Bones". Without giving away all the details, Barbara's study gives a well-illustrated explanation of what happens when the thread is taken from the ball, reel or spool in three different ways -- from the side, from the top, from the bottom. This is only one of many movements that can change the amount of twist. What happens to the amount of twist during the process of lacemaking is crucial. S-finished thread will respond quite differently to Z-finished thread. If the process of lacemaking increases the twist, it will curl up and produce harsh or even curly lace. If it decreases the twist, the thread will unravel, weaken, and even break. Barbara's illustrations of all her studies are very helpful. Please do not skip over articles about threads. Please quality-check what you buy very carefully. The buying power of a great many lacemakers is much diminished now there are fewer of us, meaning quality can be compromised. We are beginning to suspect that some employees of thread manufacturers today do not know the importance of how thread is spun. Perhaps they are taking shortcuts so large discounters can undercut our traditional suppliers? Barbara actually found disturbing inconsistencies in thread, such as spools where one of several was spun in the opposite direction!!! One bad batch, or even one spool amongst a dozen, can really impact a 21st C. lacemaker's results. Program Chairmen: The above information gives you a subject for one of your lace guild meetings. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
