Everyone: This is a good suggestion from Agnes (trimmed, below).. It is OK for a lacemaker who keeps to her lace-making and frequently uses up her thread supplies. We have many people who put away their supplies and return to them quite some time later. This is an international list. Climate differences can have a substantial impact. Please use caution.
Make sure their is no acidic content in any paper/cardboard-based storage materials. Inexpensive paper products are usually made from wood pulp, which is not good. Conservation suppliers sell a pH Testing Pen. You make a mark on the paper product (even tissue paper) and watch to see if it changes from original blue to green. Or worse, to yellow. If it does change, there is wood pulp content, and it should not be used because it will cause white threads to turn beige and weaken over a period of time. (You may not see it, but colored and black threads will weaken.) My pen is quite old, was bought from Light Impressions in the U.S., their stock number 2396, and costs about $6.. Other companies use this stock number, so don't fall for expensive equipment. It looks like a felt-tipped pen. Scrapbookers use this pen, so if there is a retail supplier nearby, you could shop there. If you have precious heirloom garments, photo albums, antique books, this conservation knowledge can prevent devastating damage. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center ---------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 3/19/2013 5:05:46 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ag...@weatherwax.karoo.co.uk writes: Next time you start a new ball/bobbin of thread, have a piece of card tubing (e.g. from parcel wrapping or kitchen towel) and an elastic band handy: - cut a piece of tube the length of your thread bobbin - cut the card lengthwise open - roll tightly up into itself without creasing it - let unfurl, and put over the thread, tighten up if necessary - secure on the outside of the cardboard with an elastic band (this way the elastic does not touch the thread at all) - you can even note on the outside the make and size of the thread - 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://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
