I looked in the archives for "slip" and came up with these messages
from Brenda Paternoster:
[lace] Slip threads
Brenda Paternoster Sat, 31 Mar 2007 15:18:22 -0800
Dear Spiders
I have recently acquired some old slip threads - thank you Lynne - and
my quandry is whether or not I should break the packaging in order to
measure the threads.
Slip thread, is gassed cotton in skeins as traditionally used by
lacemakers in England. According to Thomas Wright, 'Romance of the Lace
Pillow' the thread came in 2 ounce packets; each packet containing 4
parcels and each parcel divided into several slips - (hence the name
slip-thread). The slips are separated from each other by a red thread
twisted between each slip. I *think* that the slips are joined together,
ie one long length of thread.
What I have is two packets plus one parcel of 12-slip, two packets plus
one parcel of 10 slip and one parcel of 6-slip, plus a couple of
individual slips that I don't know the size of - once a parcel has been
opened and the red thread cut the "size" information is destroyed!!
When I weighed the four parcels they only weighed 4 ounces - I think
that could be an error by Thomas Wright (I know his book is not now
considered 100% accurate), and I think the thread was manufactured by E
Peat, Son & Co of Nottingham as there's a blue paper wrapper bearing
their label in the bag that the threads came in. Wolter-Kampmann's book
(German edition page 26) shows a parcel, a packet, a wrapped packet and
a larger wrapped packet (2 ounce) of this thread.
My question is; should I break the wrapping threads to measure the
thread or should I keep it intact?
Brenda in Allhallows, Kent
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/index.html
Re: [lace] thread on eBay
Brenda Paternoster Thu, 27 Apr 2006 16:17:57 -0700
Hello Clay
Today some thread sold on eBay, and it raised a couple of questions that
I thought you might be able to answer. The thread was described as "12
slip 230 , so very, very fine".
The first question is, what does this term (12 slip 230)mean? Is it
related to the old "band" descriptor, as in "12 band"?
I've not heard the expression 12 band before - is that an American term?
Probably does mean the same as slip.
12 slip means that there are (were originally) 12 little skeins joined
together as a continuous length in one 'parcel'. Each 'slip' is
separated from the others by a coloured thread inserted between the
slips in a multiple figure of eight. The more slips in the parcel the
finer the thread - I think 14 or 15 was the finest and about 3 or 4 the
"thickest".
To quote from Miss Channer's little book (revised 1972) "For point
ground a fine cotton thread was used. The most usual size was known as
10 slip. The skein was divided up by red cotton into the number denoting
the size, eg 6 slip was divided into 6 groups, 10 slip into 10 and so
on. A 200 linen thread would be the equivalent to a 10 slip cotton but
unfortunately neither is being manufactured at the present time. DMC
thread No 80, although highly mercerised, seems to be a good
substitute."
The 12 slip would be finer than that. I *think* 230 means cotton count
230 - so very much finer than anything currently available (and horribly
fine to try and do a wrapping!!).
The second question is that there were what appeared to be four hanks of
thread in the lot, and each hank was in a small sealed plastic bag,
where it had been placed by the Honiton Lace Show "many years ago",
since that is when the seller says she bought them. So the question is,
do you think that the plastic was harmful to the thread over time,
especially considering how fine it is said to be?
I was at a lace day on Saturday; Tim Parker was speaking about threads
and he recommended storing lace threads in polythene bags. Certainly
light, acid and atmospheric pollution will cause more damage than
polythene, but I'm not expert on that. Jeri, do you have any comments
about storage in plastic?
Brenda
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/
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