The fine threads used for 18th & 19th century bobbin lace is rope compared to the finest knitting yarns. Around 80 wraps/cm = 200 wraps/inch, maybe even finer. The finest knitting yarn such as singles from Jamison & Smith is about 15 wraps/cm = 38 wraps/inch.
Brenda On 9 Feb 2011, at 14:53, Nathalie wrote: > Ah, I am sorry. I didn't take that into account. With lace knitting > there are different thicknesses (sp?) but not as much as with lace. I > am not that familiar with the threads in lace. I more or less evolved > from "rope" - I kid, worsted yarn - to fingering and then lace yarn. > > Would anyone know how fine the thread for 19th century Point de Rose > or Point de Gaz is? > > > > Nathalie - who one day hope to knit a shawl in cobweb thread, but > fears that won't ever happen. > > > On Wed, Feb 9, 2011 at 10:30 AM, Brenda Paternoster > <paternos...@appleshack.com> wrote: >> Without a very very close magnified photograph of the lace *and* a scale >> with it there is no way that anyone could tell you the thickness of the >> thread used to make a piece of lace from just a picture. There isn't even >> an indication as to how wide that lace edging is. Even with the actual lace >> in your hand it would be very difficult to determine. >> >> The photo isn't detailed enough to say whether it's a point ground or a >> Flemish pattern though I think it probably is a bobbin lace rather than a >> needle lace. Dating lace isn't my strong point, but I'd guess that it's >> late 18th or early 19th century which means that the thread used was very >> fine - comparable to, or finer than, the finest cotton thread available >> today (Brok 180/2 or Bart & Francis unbleached 240/2) if you can get it. >> The very fine linens are no longer available. >> >> Brenda > 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
