Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
What an incredible amount of help this request has generated! I have learned so much. Thanks to everyone who responded, many of whom responded privately. Although I had been pursuing the thread before, I had stepped up my efforts this week because I am going to a contemporary lace class this weekend that invited people to bring thread to experiment with. Sifting through the information that I have received, I am planning to call a few stores and see if I can find the Aurifil, or failing that, the Mettler, although one source said the Mettler 60 sometimes untwisted and then shredded during sewings. Incredibly, the Aurifil website says explicitly under the heading lace, 50 weight is a wonder for both bobbin lace and machine lace. I was wondering about the threads that are 3 ply. I once did a piece of needle lace with a three ply thread and it didn't turn out well. It curled up. I have had sort of a prejudice against 3 ply threads since then, so the two ply threads that Brenda confirms squash down sound more appealing to me than the three ply ones, even though this isn't needle lace. According to the DMC website, DMC developed a left twist thread which is ideally suited on all makes of sewing machine. I was wondering if this was a claim that had any special significance for the makers of bobbin lace, since everyone confirms it to be a good thread for bobbin lace. Or perhaps all machine embroidery thread is left twist, whatever that means. The Aurifil claims to have 270 colors, whereas the DMC claims to have 132 according to my brochure. An undated internet article ominously entitled The Notorious DMC Machine Embroidery Thread Situation... http://www.vsccs.com/Hints-Info/MachineEmbroideryThread.htm reveals that DMC had eliminated about half of its 250 colors in the number 50 Cotton Machine Embroidery thread at some point. Many of my sources confided to me that they frequent garage sales trying to buy second hand partially used spools of DMC Machine Embroidery thread. Some report delight at buying a stash at a going out of business sale for a quilt store or finding some while on vacation in another country. Others report sorrow at the closure of a store that once carried the thread. I find this alarming on two fronts. One is that it looks like the thread is increasingly unavailable and unsupported by DMC, the other is that the thread is so desirable that people are scouring garage sales, going out of business sales, and diving into needlework stores while on vacation to find the thread. It must be some great thread. No one has a bad word to say about it. I have the complete set of Madiera Tanne, much of it never used, but some colors, notably a particularly useful green, run out. I really enjoy going to this stash and experimenting with the colors. But with likely downsizing in the future, I was hoping to find a thread that I could, while in the throws of creative excitement, visually inspect in a store, not via a printed or digital color card, and then buy the colors that I thought went together and buy only them. What a novel idea, but perhaps unrealistic. Thanks to all for your help in this line of inquiry! Devon In a message dated 3/17/2015 6:48:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, paternos...@appleshack.com writes: Hi Devon Madeira Tanne - 2Z-39 w/cm. DMC Broder Machine - 2Z-42 w/cm The only other current threads in the same sort of thickness and available in colours, that I know of, are: Aurifil Mako 50wt - 2Z-40w/cm http://www.aurifil.com/products/cotton-50 or Superior Threads Masterpiece - which I have listed as 2Z-38 w/cm, but according to their website only the pre-wound bobbins (sewing machine bobbins) are 50/2. The reels and cones are 50/3, I havenât yet seen any of that http://www.superiorthreads.com/product/brand/masterpiece/ Brenda I have been enjoying my complete set of Madiera Tanne 50 that I bought many years ago in order to have a huge palette of colors for creative work in bobbin lace. But unfortunately, some colors are becoming depleted and Madiera Tanne 50 is no longer being made. I asked Holly Van Sciver about a replacement that would serve the same purpose and she said that she thought that DMC Cotton Machine Embroidery Thread, size 50 weight, (Broder Machine) was what I was looking for, but that she did not carry it. Brenda in Allhallows _paternoster@appleshack.com_ (mailto:paternos...@appleshack.com) 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://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
Hi Devon According to the DMC website, DMC developed a left twist thread which is ideally suited on all makes of sewing machine. I was wondering if this was a claim that had any special significance for the makers of bobbin lace, since everyone confirms it to be a good thread for bobbin lace. Or perhaps all machine embroidery thread is left twist, whatever that means. Itâs not only DMC who produce Z-twist thread for sewing machines. Just about all threads intended for use with a domestic sewing machine - embroidery, quilting, sewing seams, overlocking/serging - will be Z-twist (left) because of the way sewing machines work, and I think thatâs true for industrial machines too. In almost all machines the needle goes into the fabric taking a loop of thread with it and the shuttle hook, or whatever, that forms the stitch with a second thread (bobbin or looper) enters the needle thread loop from the right. That tends to tighten a Z-twist or loosen an S-twist. Brenda in Allhallows paternos...@appleshack.com 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://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
Devon, I am sure all of this is really getting annoying. I recently went to a Joann's here in South Carolina and was surprised at the selection of threads they have in their store. I was surprised to find a huge selection of Gutterman's Silk, which I like a lot, as well as a lot of Mettler. When I asked the salesperson in the thread dept a question about the threads types of threads they carry, she had no idea what I was talking about, she only knew brand names. Thank goodness I knew what I wanted.. If you aren't too far from a Joann's or Hancock Fabrics try one of them. Forget Hobby Lobby -- they carry a very limited number of threads (of course they are the closest to where I live). Also you could try one of the smaller quilting fabric stores in your area, I find a great selection of usable metallics and cottons in one near here. Good Luck It feels great to be back on Arachne after a long absence and trouble subscribing. Thanks to Nancy Neff for the help in getting me re-subscribed. - 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/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
Thanks for all the many good ideas. I was not really thinking that this would be a grail like search. How amazing! Mind you, I live in a highly populated area where almost anything is available. On top of that, I live in an area that characterized as the Embroidery Capital of the World, and that refers to the machine embroidery industry of New Jersey. It is also home to the US headquarters of DMC in Kearny, NJ. Coats and Clark opened its first US plant in Newark in 1866. The thought that I would have to mail order DMC number 50 machine embroidery thread from the various sources, in Colorado, Maine, etc. is amazing. I just called the Paramus, NJ, Sewing Center, a business specializing in machine embroidery machines, where for the first time I encountered someone who actually knows of the thread. He claims it is an item that I would probably have to go into the city, meaning NY, for. He says it is very low volume and that it wouldn't pay for him to carry it. One truly wonders why it is worthwhile to DMC to publish a beautiful full color brochure with all 132 colors for the thread when it is so low volume as to be virtually unobtainable other than by mail order. It just seems so odd to have to pay shipping costs on a spool of thread that costs about 4 dollars and doesn't seem all that special. As Bev suggests, I should probably find some 100% cotton thread that is obtainable in a fabric store. Maybe I can find the Mettler that she refers to. A lot of stores here seem to carry Coats and Clark. Maybe they have a 100% cotton thread in a lot of colors. What are other people using now instead of Madiera Tanne 50 for colors? Devon - 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/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
Other threads to consider that have a range of colours are Gutterman 100% cotton Guetermann 100% cotton 50/3 - 3Z-40 w/cm Aurifil Mako Aurifil Mako 50 wt - 2Z-40 w/cm Presencia Algodón Thats Presencias sewing cotton. 50/3 is 29 w/cm so too thick. 60/3 (patchwork quilting thread) is 3Z-37 w/cm Although the Guetermann 50/3 and Presencia 60/3 are both in the right thickness range, they are three ply threads which makes them rounder and firmer than the two ply Madeira Tanne which Devon wants to replace. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with using 3 ply but it will work up different (firmer and crisper) to the way 2 ply threads works up. 2 ply is thread will squash down into itself more and is best suited to laces with a lot of twists such as point ground. 3ply threads keep their shape a little more and are better suited to laces like torchon or needlepoint where the individual threads are more noticeable. The 2-ply threads are usually marketed as machine embroidery - the squashiness of it means that satin stitch covers better. 3-ply threads (of similar thickness) are generally stronger and are intended for sewing seams. Brenda in Allhallows paternos...@appleshack.com 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://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
Other threads to consider that have a range of colours are Gutterman 100% cotton Aurifil Mako Presencia Algodon When I started using colour and needed a wide pallette I purchased about 50 shades of the Gutterman from an ebay store in the USA. Even with Postage this was a lot cheaper than buying in store. In Australia it is widely available in Spotlight Stores and now when I need to replace or fill in a gap this where I go. It does not have the lovely sheen that the Aurifil and Presencia have but is still OK to work with . Dawn Howell in beautiful Melbourne. -Original Message- From: dmt11h...@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 2:32 AM To: lace@arachne.com Subject: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors Fellow Spiders, I have been enjoying my complete set of Madiera Tanne 50 that I bought many years ago in order to have a huge palette of colors for creative work in bobbin lace. But unfortunately, some colors are becoming depleted and Madiera Tanne 50 is no longer being made. I asked Holly Van Sciver about a replacement that would serve the same purpose and she said that she thought that DMC Cotton Machine Embroidery Thread, size 50 weight, (Broder Machine) was what I was looking for, but that she did not carry it. This is a 100% cotton thread in many colors. My impression from speaking to her was that the thread was so generic and universally available that it wasn't something that a vendor who dealt in difficult to obtain specialty lace threads would want to carry, so I didn't think it would be too hard to find it. Devon - 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/ - 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/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
Hi Devon Madeira Tanne - 2Z-39 w/cm. DMC Broder Machine - 2Z-42 w/cm The only other current threads in the same sort of thickness and available in colours, that I know of, are: Aurifil Mako 50wt - 2Z-40w/cm http://www.aurifil.com/products/cotton-50 http://www.aurifil.com/products/cotton-50 or Superior Threads Masterpiece - which I have listed as 2Z-38 w/cm, but according to their website only the pre-wound bobbins (sewing machine bobbins) are 50/2. The reels and cones are 50/3, I havenât yet seen any of that http://www.superiorthreads.com/product/brand/masterpiece/ http://www.superiorthreads.com/product/brand/masterpiece/ Brenda I have been enjoying my complete set of Madiera Tanne 50 that I bought many years ago in order to have a huge palette of colors for creative work in bobbin lace. But unfortunately, some colors are becoming depleted and Madiera Tanne 50 is no longer being made. I asked Holly Van Sciver about a replacement that would serve the same purpose and she said that she thought that DMC Cotton Machine Embroidery Thread, size 50 weight, (Broder Machine) was what I was looking for, but that she did not carry it. Brenda in Allhallows paternos...@appleshack.com 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://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
My local sewing store has three different 100% cotton sewing threads from Mettler, so watch out which one you get. There is a quilting cotton, their “silk finish” sewing cotton, and a fine machine embroidery thread. All of these come in a range of colours. The fine machine embroidery thread is a 2-ply and from the other comments I’d expect it to be the most similar to the one you are replacing. Adele - 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/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
Hello Devon and everyone You could broaden the search to any long-staple 100% cotton thread for machine embroidery and machine quilting (incidentally good for bobbin lace). Have Brenda's thread book at hand to compare wraps of the brands. For the fine threads, there is leeway either side of your base thread to use comparable threads. DMC machine 50 is 42 wraps and I use Mettler 60/2, at 46 wraps, with the DMC brand, or instead of it, depending on the project. HTH On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 8:32 AM, dmt11h...@aol.com wrote: I called a quilting store that I know of, but they only have hand quilting thread. I asked the quilting store lady about whether she -- Bev in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada - 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/
Re: [lace] Searching for DMC Broder Machine in colors
PS - include stores that sell sewing./serger machines in your search. They often have threads that are good for bobbin lace. You could broaden the search to any long-staple 100% cotton thread for machine embroidery and machine quilting (incidentally good for bobbin lace). ... -- Bev in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada - 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/
