RE: [lace] Holding bobbins by the spangle
Margot What is a surgeon's knot, please? Patricia in Wales scotl...@aol.com = A surgeon's knot is very much like a square knot (also known as a reef knot) A square knot ties and overhand knot with left over right, then follows with the opposite overhand knot of right over left. A surgeon's knot doubles the overhand knot with left over right, then follow with the opposite overhand knot of right over left. A surgeon's knot is more secure than a square knot. Patty - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Holding bobbins by the spangle
I think I know why picking up bobbins by the spangle is - from a conservation point of view - a no-no. Over the last couple of years I've had an ever increasing number of spangles break while working - at first I thought it was just on a few bobbins I'd spangled with finer than usual wire, but then other bobbins (including ones I'd bought ready spangled) started to shed their spangles. It really had me puzzled - the only common factor was that the bobbins had all been in fairly regular use since the 1980's - until I caught myself picking a bobbin up by the spangles! I realised that the problem started just after I'd changed from using crocheted elastic bobbin holders (slipped over the heads of the bobbins) to laces slipped through the spangles and tied up - the extra tension on the spangles had, over time, snapped some of the weaker wires and pulled apart the joins on others. Similarly, if a bobbin is regularly picked up by the spangle while working, eventually the tension on the wire could lead to it breaking, particularly if acids from sweaty hands trigger corrosion of the wire. I don't think it ought to stop those who can't comfortably handle bobbins by the shaft making lace - it takes a long time to break a spangle, and spangles can be replaced/rewired when they break - but it might be a good idea to watch out for damaged wires and respangle the bobbin before it breaks (I've had several go while working and its a real pain scrabbling around the floor trying to find the beads which have fallen off!, not to mention the difficulty of carrying on with one unspangled bobbin) Beth in a sunny, spring-like Cheshire, NW England with several spangles to repair before winding the bobbins for my next project. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Holding bobbins by the spangle
On 11 Apr 2009, at 10:14, Beth Marshall wrote: I don't think it ought to stop those who can't comfortably handle bobbins by the shaft making lace - it takes a long time to break a spangle, and spangles can be replaced/rewired when they break I don't hold my bobbins by the spangles. Nevertheless, I've had many wired spangles break over the years. Then I started using fishing line (with a surgeon's knot) instead of wire. I liked it so much that I re-spangled all my bobbins. After many years of use, I've only had 1 come unknotted. (I've had several go while working and its a real pain scrabbling around the floor trying to find the beads which have fallen off!, not to mention the difficulty of carrying on with one unspangled bobbin) That always happens when you're demonstrating somewhere or taking a class :D And you can never find one of the beads :D In case that happens to me, I keep a safety pin in my kit. You can put it through the spangle holes in the bobbin and it will keep the bobbin from rolling. Margot Walker in Halifax on the east coast of Canada Visit the Seaspray Guild of Lacemakers web site: http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/quinbot - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] Holding bobbins by the spangle
Being a newbie to this beautiful skill I'm always on the lookout for helpful hints and as soon as I post this I'm going to go get a nice size safty pin to put in my kit. Thanks! Norma http://normasneedlez.blogspot.com http://sistersstitching.blogspot.com NATA #847 The new Internet Explorer 8 optimised for Yahoo!7: Faster, Safer, Easier. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] Holding bobbins by the spangle
Margot What is a surgeon's knot, please? Patricia in Wales scotl...@aol.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
