Thread

Thread Questions and Answers -collected from Arachne
> I would like the lace to be relatively fine, and am looking for
>something equivalent to a size 80 DMC in a silk thread -- I have hooks
>as small as 16, so I guess I could go a little smaller if the
>right thread came along. (Also, I know that some of the finer threads
>only come in white and natural, but this must be blue.)
>
>I considered one of the YLI threads, as I know that they make very nice
>embroidery thread, but have no idea what "den" means! I was also
>looking at the Guterman thread, but what does 100/3 mean?!
Hello Deborah
I presume that by *size 80 DMC* you mean the little balls of Special Dentelles
80 (and not an old reel of DMC Retors 80!). Similar thicknesses in silk
threads are:
The De Vere silks which correspond with DMC Special Dentelles 80 are:
12xx - 240 denier
9xx - 180 denier
6xx - 120 denier
18xx - 360 denier is a little finer
60xx - 1200 denier and 72xx - 1440 denier are both a lot thicker.
Gutermann spun silk 100/3 is a tiny little bit thicker than the above.
"den" means denier and nearly all silk (and rayon) threads are measured in
deniers. It's the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of thread - so 9,000 metres
of 100 denier thread weighs 100 gramms whilst 9,000 metres of 30 denier thread
weighs 30 grams. The higher the number the thicker the thread. (think of nylon
stockings/tights(pantyhose). 100/3 means it's 3 plies, each of 100 deniers
spun together - the equivalent of a 300 denier single.
The only YLI silk thread I've come across in UK is size 100 which is a lot
finer than any of the above. It's a 2 ply thread; and although I'm not sure
about it I'd guess that it's actually a 50/2 (=100).
If you want a slightly finer silk thread look for Piper spun silk 100/3 or
130/3, Clover Silk #50, Carey Co silk, Gutermann 130/3 or De Vere Yarns 360
denier.
Brenda in Kent UK

>Which cotton thread can I use instead of Freisia 120\2 or 140/2.
>
Hello Miriam
Fresia 120/2 compares to Filato per Tombolo di Cantu 50 or Presencia Finca
Bolillos 50. Very slightly thicker; DMC Broder Machine 30, Colcoton 70/2,
Molnlycke cotton (sewing machine thread) or Brok 32/2
Fresia 140/2 compares to Brok 120/2 or Egyptian Gassed cotton 50/2. Very
slightly finer than this; Presencia Finca Bolillos 60 and Madeira Tanne/Cotona
50.
Don't know what you can get in Israel - I think these are all still currently
available, (except perhaps the Filato) in UK.
Brenda in Kent

magic thread. Here are the instructions that I
                      use with my students. Sorry, but this e-version is sans pictures.
                      1. Superpose the required number of pairs on a pivoting pin.
                      2. With a piece of thread about 12" long, make a loop by tieing the ends of
                      the thread together.
                      3. Put this loop round one half of the threads on the pivoting pin.
                      4. Fix the loop with another pin away from your work with the knot on the
                      top. This is very important.
                      5. Work the scroll.
                      6. At the end of the scroll, take the loop and put one thread of the
                      pivoting pair through the part without the knot.
                      7. Pull the loop by the knot end until you have the thread of the pivoting
                      pair through.
                      8. Put the remaining thread of the pivoting pair through the resulting
                      loop.
                      9. Cut off the magic loop. Tension all bobbins. Continue with the work

                      Carole
                      Dublin, Ohio USA

QUESTION:
>I was wondering if anyone out there could tell me exactly what the
>difference would be between a size 20 DMC Cordonnet Special and
>a size 20 DMC Cebelia? And what the effect would be of
>substituting one for the the other in the crocheted lace insertion &
>edging I need to make?
They are both cotton threads of a very similar thickness. Cebilia is Z-spun
3ply and Cordonnet is also a Z-spun 3ply, but each of the plies is an S-spun
2ply. Overall result is that the lace made from the Cordonet will feel harder
than the lace made from Cebilia because the fibres are spun twice and more
tightly packed together.
Brenda in Kent UK
The DMC Cordonnets are 6 ply threads, tightly twisted and keep their
very round shape well. If you experiment with a Cordonnet thread and untwist
it, it will seem like there are only 3 plies, but each of these three are
themselves made up of 2 plies.
Cebelia is a 3 ply threads, less tightly twisted, so it's softer, more
like perl cotton and with a higher luster than Cordonnets. Cebelia of
the right size should work up quite successfully. It's mostly a matter of what you like.
Patty Dowden

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