Re: [lace] Thread problem
Is there a size 40 Brok? If so I haven't seen it. I think that your problem is possibly a combination of the things already suggested; excessive wear on the thread from making lots of sewings and the bobbins rolling to loosen the twist. Use a magic thread and keep watching for any leash that looks as though it is untwisting. If it is only the worker threads which are suffering you could try running those threads through beeswax as you wind the bobbins - a bit tedious to do for all the pairs though. Brenda On 7 Jan 2012, at 05:14, Witchy Woman wrote: I was using Brok cotton...I think size 40. Brenda in Allhallows www.brendapaternoster.co.uk - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Thread problem
As Peg's teacher for the Milanese class I'd like to say a couple of things. I suspect the threads weren't 'wearing out', just untwisting. This was one of the things I told the class to watch out for (and if they saw it happening to retwist any affected threads), but I was giving out a lot of information at Ithaca and not all of it finds a permanent home in every brain. When doing the sewings I showed the class how to use the hook so the thread is pushed through the sewing, as distinct from pulled, so the 'stem' of the crochet hook rather than the hook itself is pushing on the thread. This minimises damage. I also showed them that that they shouldn't try to force the thread in any way as this probably means that they have either split the thread or caught the hook on part of the made lace. The loop should 'pop' through the sewing with minimum resistance. The other important technique I demonstrated was how, at least until they were proficient and confident doing sewings, to make the sewing onto a loop of the thread several inches from the finish of the lace. This has several advantages all of which stress the thread as little as possible. It allows you to hold the thread tight, balancing the pull against the hook. At the same time, once it has 'popped' through the sewing you have a loop of thread to pull through rather than needing to pull against the thread at the end of the lace as you drag enough through to make the loop for the other bobbin to pass through. If you fail to achieve the sewing first (or second, third) try, each try will almost certainly be on a different bit of thread. Finally, in the worst case scenario, if you do break the thread it will have broken several inches from the lace so the tail is long enough to knot onto and still do the sewing. Regarding magic threads. Yes, I do use them when I know the sewing is going to be difficult either because of its position or the thread being used, but in the lace Peg is talking about she was doing top sewings in every one of 14 to 16 adjacent bars along a previously made edge. While it is perfectly possible to put those magic threads in place as the work progresses it is just one more thing to remember to do every row, near the start of the design, and just as the first Milanese braid is being started. Having got the loops in place they are then making a bump under the cover cloth and bobbins as the homeward bound braid is worked. Even with the magic thread colour rotation as taught by Springett's, I have found that many students find that many magic threads, so close together, more difficult to deal with than learning how to do sewings. It sounds as if Peg's problem was definitely with the weak threads rather than having problems with getting the hook into place, so if this had occured while we were still in class together I would have firstly reminded her to twist all the threads, (apart from returning the thread to its proper strength, it means the hook is more likely to engage with all the plys) and if she was still having problems with the thread, suggested that she used a lazy susan to do the sewings. Best wishes Jacquie in Lincolnshire Sent from my iPhone On 7 Jan 2012, at 05:14, Witchy Woman wytchy...@sbcglobal.net wrote: When I finished the Isis Heart piece I started during my Milanese class in Ithaca I had a problem with the passive threads. By the time I got to the end of the piece they were seriously fraying. I was using Brok cotton...I think size 40. This made a smooth and invisible join pretty much impossible. 3 threads were so fragile they broke when I did the sewing...pulling it gently through the loop with a fine crochet hook was enough to make it break. And I made sure the thread was fully around the hook before I pulled. I've had problems before with threads fraying by the time I get to the end of a piece. On these pieces I had a combination of cotton passives and metallic passives and weavers. I had assumed the fraying was because the metallics are a bit abrasive and wore away the cotton threads as I tensioned them. But the Isis Heart piece was all one type of thread, and the thread was fairly new. Am I doing something wrong or is this a common problem? Peg in Fairview Park OH where it was a spring-like 50F today. The birds are so confused...they were singing like it's Spring. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Thread problem
Oops...sorry...I wrote that late last night. The size was Brok 30. It was a new spool and I keep them in a sealed polypropelyne container and wrapped in acid free tissue. There weren't any sewings on this piece, but the twist did loosen as I was working. I tried to re-twist when I saw them loosen. Just got Springett's MAGIC THREADS book at Ithaca...haven't read all the way through it yet. I've used the technique when I made one of the ornaments from her Christmas books. I didn't think to set up the threads for the class piece...wanted to jump right in and get started working. I like the beeswax idea for the passives. Since I do tape laces right now, it wouldn't be all that tedious. I've got a chunk around here somewhere. Thanks. Peg in sunny Fairview Park OH From: Brenda Paternoster paternos...@appleshack.com To: Witchy Woman wytchy...@sbcglobal.net Cc: lace@arachne.com Sent: Sat, January 7, 2012 3:53:44 AM Subject: Re: [lace] Thread problem Is there a size 40 Brok? If so I haven't seen it. I think that your problem is possibly a combination of the things already suggested; excessive wear on the thread from making lots of sewings and the bobbins rolling to loosen the twist. Use a magic thread and keep watching for any leash that looks as though it is untwisting. If it is only the worker threads which are suffering you could try running those threads through beeswax as you wind the bobbins - a bit tedious to do for all the pairs though. Brenda On 7 Jan 2012, at 05:14, Witchy Woman wrote: I was using Brok cotton...I think size 40. Brenda in Allhallows www.brendapaternoster.co.uk - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Thread problem
Your post is going to be printed out and put in my essential lace info folder. You're right about the information not finding a permanent home in my brain...there was so much to learn and remember. I think you're right about the threads untwisting as I worked. I tried to retwist...when I could remember. Problem was some had worn down to 1 ply by the time I got to the end. I did use your sewing technique, but the thread was just too fragile. As your Milanese student, I would like to say you are a great teacher and I hope you come back to Ithaca soon. I learned so much, but realize there is also so much more to learn. Peg who should really be getting dressed and going grocery shopping...but this is more fun. From: Jacquie Tinch laceandb...@aol.com To: Witchy Woman wytchy...@sbcglobal.net Cc: lace@arachne.com lace@arachne.com Sent: Sat, January 7, 2012 4:29:28 AM Subject: Re: [lace] Thread problem As Peg's teacher for the Milanese class I'd like to say a couple of things. I suspect the threads weren't 'wearing out', just untwisting. This was one of the things I told the class to watch out for (and if they saw it happening to retwist any affected threads), but I was giving out a lot of information at Ithaca and not all of it finds a permanent home in every brain. [snip] - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Thread problem
Hello Peg and everyone The fraying would seem to be the thread wearing out with use during the lace process, so you might want to examine how you move the respective bobbin and do something different...or... what I do, if I find that a strand is losing integrity, I replace with new thread asap. On Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 9:14 PM, Witchy Woman wytchy...@sbcglobal.net wrote: By the time I got to the end of the piece they were seriously fraying. . Am I doing something wrong or is this a common problem? -- Bev in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Thread problem
Dear Peg, I have found that threads do fray more in sewings when using a crochet hook or needlepin. A *magic thread* will work wonders and not only preserve your thread but your sanity as well. You can goodle Magic Thread and probably get lots of information about using that technique. Happy Lacemaking, Betty Ann in Roanoke, Virginia USA On 01/07/12, Witchy Woman wrote: (snip). 3 threads were so fragile they broke when I did the sewing...pulling it gently through the loop with a fine crochet hook was enough to make it break. And I made sure the thread was fully around the hook before I pulled. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
