Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[N.A. Neff]

Lorri,

I'm surprised that the linen threads are fuzzy under magnification. I would
have thought fuzzy would mean cotton. Too late at night now but I will
examine some thread tomorrow. What say the experts? Is my ignorance showing
again?

In any case, what I really wanted to post is not to be shy about posting
questions like the one you did in this case. I, for one, learned from the
discussion, and I enjoyed the opportunity to work on a puzzle. I think
others did too. Arachne is great for good information exchange. Questions
like yours trigger a lot of that. Thank you!

Nancy
Connecticut, USA

On Tue, Sep 4, 2018, 19:57 Lorri Ferguson wrote:
... (10 power)- it is quite 'fuzzy' at that magnification, like a another
known linen. ...

>
> Thank you all so much for your help and next time I will do a more
> complete examination before I ask for help.
> ...

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[lace] Mystery thread

[Lorri Ferguson]

I have now now looked at the thread with a loop (10 power)- it is quite
'fuzzy' at that magnification, like a another known linen.  And it is 's'
twist, I also went thru my linen threads and found 2 that are 80/2 and it
compares in size with them.
So I think the mystery is solved.  I am going with 'Linen'.

Thank you all so much for your help and next time I will do a more complete
examination before I ask for help.
It has been a learning experience.

Lorri

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[Lorri Ferguson]

This thread is finer than the DMC Special Dentalies that I have.
I did a burn test with the MT and a known linen and they burned the same, as
did the cotton and MT.  But then all 3 are plant fibers.
I also noticed that in some areas there are small 'slubs'.  But I have seen
that on both cotton and linens.

I think next I will work it up in something and see how it works up.

Brenda,   if I had your address I could could send some to you if you would
like.

 Their 80/2
linen is comparable in size to tatting cotton #80. Bockens 80/2 would be a
bit finer, because Bockens tends to twist their threads more tightly, which
results in a thinner thread.
Lorelei

The cone is plastic and measures 4.5 in. or 11.5 mm. high.  Am I correct
that it is 80/2 cotton?
There is a sticker inside the bottom reading:

FFR Aalst
9052
80/2Wit Blanc
ca 2500M
Brillante

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[Brenda Paternoster]

FFR is a brand name - Filature et Filteries Reunies - based in Aalst,
Belgium.
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en=nl=http://www.ethesis.net/a
alst_textiel/deel_I/aalst_textiel_deel_I_2_g.htm=search


If the thread is fine (Bucks point weight) it will be cotton, if, weight wise,
it’s more like Special Dentelles (tatting cotton) it will be linen.  The
only FFR thread I have seen is linen 60/2.
Being on a plastic cone tells me that it’s a fairly modern thread, and
probably intended for use on overlock/serger sewing machines.

Brenda
>
> I have on an orange cone (true cone not cylinder) of slightly off white
thread
> that looks and feels like cotton.
> The cone is plastic and measures 4.5 in. or 11.5 mm. high.  Am I correct
that
> it is 80/2 cotton?
> There is a sticker inside the bottom reading:
>
> FFR Aalst
> 9052
> 80/2Wit Blanc
> ca 2500M
> Brillante
>
> Can you tell me any thing about it?

Brenda in Allhallows

paternos...@appleshack.com
www.brendapaternoster.co.uk

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RE: [lace] Mystery thread

[Lorelei Halley]

Lorri
I have used their thread and liked it very well. The thread of theirs that I
have used is linen. I am not aware that they made cotton threads. Their 80/2
linen is comparable in size to tatting cotton #80. Bockens 80/2 would be a
bit finer, because Bockens tends to twist their threads more tightly, which
results in a thinner thread.
Lorelei

The cone is plastic and measures 4.5 in. or 11.5 mm. high.  Am I correct
that it is 80/2 cotton?
There is a sticker inside the bottom reading:

FFR Aalst
9052
80/2Wit Blanc
ca 2500M
Brillante

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[N.A. Neff]

That would make sense of the thread being larger than the 80/2 Brok
cotton!  Lorri, when you looked at it under magnification, is the FFR
thread fuzzy or smooth? and is the twist the same direction as the Brok
cotton? S or Z?   Is the cone cool to the touch when you pick it up?

To the experts out there, how does one differentiate between linen and
mercerized cotton on the cone?

Nancy
Connecticut, USA

On Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 3:29 PM, Gabriele Patzner 
wrote:

> ... “Brillante” was their label for Bouc Linnen, if I am not mistaken.
It
> was originally produced by them and they sold 2500 m spools of 80/2, so it
> might well be you have got one of those.

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[N.A. Neff]

The postal codes for Aalst, in the SE of the Netherlands, are 5308 XX,
where XX are two varying uppercase letters, and nearby is 5305 XX and 5307
XX. The postcode 9052 XX (with two letters again) is in the Grouw region,
up in the NW. Also, postcodes were introduced into the Netherlands in 1976
-- any idea how old your thread is?

WRT the plastic cone: polyethylene, which the cone is likely to be, was
re-discovered in 1933, so  Lorri's thread might well predate the take-over
by Coats. I'd be surprised if they were still using "FFR" without adding a
"Coats" label somewhere if the cone was from after 1960 (another argument
against the postcode suggestion).

Oh I do love some good sleuthing! Thanks Lorri!!

Nancy
Connecticut, USA


On Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 3:24 PM, Adele Shaak  wrote:

> ...
> The number 9052 could be a stock number, as Nancy suggests, but since it
> comes directly after the place-name “Aalst”, I would not be surprised if
it
> was the European equivalent of a Zip code. ...
>

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[Lorri Ferguson]

I went to get some 'known' 80/0 cotton (Brok), did the burn test, they both
burned the same.
But I noticed the FFR is much larger the size than the Brok.  The 'pull to
break' test was good, it is very sturdy.

Thank you for the suggestions Nancy, I should have thought of them before I
even ask my questions.

Lorri

FFR is an acronym for the company ( Filature et Filteries Réunies), and I
think "Aalst" is the name of the town.  "9052" is probably their stock or
product number.

80/2 is surely the weight, "Wit" and "Blanc" = white

"ca 2500M" = about 2500 meters ("circa" = about)

and I would guess "Brillante" means optic white or bleached. If it's cream
now, I expect it's yellowed because of how it was stored or perhaps just age.


FFR Aalst
9052
80/2Wit Blanc
ca 2500M
Brillante

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[Adele Shaak]

I let Google translate this page and it turned out quite well:

https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en=nl=http://www.ethesis.net/aa
lst_textiel/deel_I/aalst_textiel_deel_I_2_g.htm=search


As you can see, the company was taken over by Coats in the 60s. Since your
cone is plastic, I assume the thread has been made under the Coats banner.
The number 9052 could be a stock number, as Nancy suggests, but since it comes
directly after the place-name “Aalst”, I would not be surprised if it was
the European equivalent of a Zip code.

Adele
West Vancouver, BC
(west coast of Canada)


> On Sep 3, 2018, at 11:59 AM, N.A. Neff  wrote:
>
> See
http://www.ethesis.net/aalst_textiel/deel_I/aalst_textiel_deel_I_2_g.htm
> .
>
> FFR is an acronym for the company ( Filature et Filteries Réunies), and I
> think "Aalst" is the name of the town.  "9052" is probably their stock or
> product number.
>
> 80/2 is surely the weight, "Wit" and "Blanc" = white
>
> "ca 2500M" = about 2500 meters ("circa" = about)
>
> and I would guess "Brillante" means optic white or bleached. If it's cream
> now, I expect it's yellowed because of how it was stored or perhaps just
> age.
>
> What do you think?  HTH

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[N.A. Neff]

And do a burn test. FFR started manufacturing synthetics and blends between
the world wars.

On Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 3:05 PM, N.A. Neff  wrote:

> PS: I don't see anything that says "cotton" ("katoen" in Dutch). You'll
> have to look at it under magnification.
>
>

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[N.A. Neff]

PS: I don't see anything that says "cotton" ("katoen" in Dutch). You'll
have to look at it under magnification.

Test strength before using: if it's yellowed, I'll bet that it's "rotten".

Nancy
Connecticut, USA


On Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 2:40 PM, Lorri Ferguson  wrote:

> ...Am I correct that it is 80/2 cotton?
>

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[N.A. Neff]

See http://www.ethesis.net/aalst_textiel/deel_I/aalst_textiel_deel_I_2_g.htm
.

FFR is an acronym for the company ( Filature et Filteries Réunies), and I
think "Aalst" is the name of the town.  "9052" is probably their stock or
product number.

80/2 is surely the weight, "Wit" and "Blanc" = white

"ca 2500M" = about 2500 meters ("circa" = about)

and I would guess "Brillante" means optic white or bleached. If it's cream
now, I expect it's yellowed because of how it was stored or perhaps just
age.

What do you think?  HTH

Nancy
Connecticut, USA


On Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 2:40 PM, Lorri Ferguson  wrote:

> ...
> There is a sticker inside the bottom reading:
>
> FFR Aalst
> 9052
> 80/2Wit Blanc
> ca 2500M
> Brillante
>
> Can you tell me any thing about it?
>

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[lace] Mystery thread

[Lorri Ferguson]

I have on an orange cone (true cone not cylinder) of slightly off white thread
that looks and feels like cotton.
The cone is plastic and measures 4.5 in. or 11.5 mm. high.  Am I correct that
it is 80/2 cotton?
There is a sticker inside the bottom reading:

FFR Aalst
9052
80/2Wit Blanc
ca 2500M
Brillante

Can you tell me any thing about it?

Lorri Ferguson,
in Western Washington/Seattle where we are having another lovely sunny day.
And the smoke in the air from the forest fires has mostly cleared away.

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[lace] mystery thread

[Lorelei Halley]

Hi
Anybody who has come upon a stash of FFR linen thread is RICH.  That is good
thread.  I have several spools.  I use it for bobbin lace and pulled thread
embroidery.
Lorelei

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Re: [lace] mystery thread

[Clay Blackwell]

It's my understanding that FFR was taken over by Fresia.  Is that linen 
a comparable quality?  Those cones are also color-coded.


Clay

On 6/12/2010 2:47 PM, Lorelei Halley wrote:

Hi
Anybody who has come upon a stash of FFR linen thread is RICH.  That is good
thread.  I have several spools.  I use it for bobbin lace and pulled thread
embroidery.
Lorelei

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[lace] Mystery thread

[Lorri Ferguson]

I have received some thread from an estate.  It is on 4.5 (12 cm) high
plastic cones.  There are 3 cones/3 sizes:  90/2,  80/2,  70/2.
It is labeled:
FFR Aalst
   9052
  (size #)
WIT Blanc
ca 2500M
Brillante

I believe it is linen, it is off white in color.
Does anyone know anything about it?  Is it still available today, where?

TIALorri

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[walker . bev2]

Aalst is in Belgium.

FFR = Filature  Filteries Reunies
This firm no longer exists. The production of FFR: Bouc was taken over by  
MEZ (quoted from Thread and Pricking: A Parnership, Martina  
Wolter-Kampmann).

I think you are right that it is linen.
HTH!

On May 25, 2010 12:15pm, Lorri Ferguson lorri...@msn.com wrote:
 I have received some thread from an estate. It is on 4.5 (12 cm) high

 plastic cones. There are 3 cones/3 sizes: 90/2, 80/2, 70/2.

 It is labeled:
 FFR Aalst
 9052 (size #)
 WIT Blanc
 ca 2500M
 Brillante

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Re: [lace] Mystery thread

[Barb ETx]

Well. Lorrie...this item came in several sizes., and stages of bleaching. 
If marked WIT it should be white, but I have some...exposed to the light for 
a long time that is a lovely eggshell...a tad lighter than the 'gebroken 
wit' ( off white) that they sold.  It is Linen,  and Belgian  a that.  About 
the early 70's I ordered quite a bit from the FFR factory (A spinning 
factory located in Aalst ), the Brilliant is the same as gassed... came in 
white off white,kreme,  ecru and unbleached and matte. I still have 
some,...(some sizes gone,) and still use it.   The bit that discolored..had 
been left on bobbins.  Used to come as fine as 140/2, down to 10/2.  I have 
not seen it on the market for years.The company first discontinued the 
70/2 as it was being purchased  by clothing manufacturers.I did not 
follow the progress of the company , as I had ordered so muchapparently 
a lifetime supply!  The only one I used up was the 40/2. on a couple of 
rather large projects and I gave some away...made  nice gifts for new 
lacers.  I even sold some.   Never thought I would not be able to replace it 
in kind.
In my experience it sizes quite well with other linensin case you want 
to know the size.



 I still have your magz. that I promised.. I have added another 1917 MENTOR 
that was about lace.  Really choicey! I hate that word. I keep 
finding things, as I do not teach or  lecture, anymore  I really do not need 
these.  Hang in the gal!
 Possible hint...if this  cone  is dry...place in plastic bag, blow some of 
your moist breath into the bag, quickly seal tightly and freeze...oh for 
about two weeks. It can stay indefinately.   This works for most any dried 
out thread.  Dry rot of threads is lack of moisture...or so an old 
quilter told me

 Smiles, BarbE
Texas..




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[lace] Mystery thread

[Elizabeth Ligeti]

Yes, the thread is linen.  

I still have small amounts on the cones I bought over 30 years ago, when I
started making lace.  We only used linen in those days!

Now I have had a look in the cupboard at them I find  I still have some 30,
50, 80, 100,  120 left.  White and ecru.
Goodness!! Some cones have quite a bit on them.. Hmmm! I better get back to
using some!!

Regards from Liz in Melbourne, Oz
lizl...@bigpond.com

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