Stefan's Florilegium

CMA-sew-supl-msg

CMA-sew-supl-msg - 12/7/99

Sources for modern sewing supplies. linen thread.

NOTE: See also the files: sewing-msg, sewng-machnes-msg, sergers-msg,
sewing-tools-msg, merch-fabrics-msg, fabric-ident-msg, fabric-SCA-msg.

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that
I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some
messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called StefanŐs Florilegium.
These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with
seperate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes
extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were
removed to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I
make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the
individual authors.

Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these
messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this
time. If information is published from these messages, please give
credit to the orignator(s).

Thank you,
Mark S. Harris AKA: Lord Stefan li Rous
RSVE60@email.sps.mot.com stefan@texas.net
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From: afn03234@afn.org (Ronald L. Charlotte)
Newsgroups: soc.history.living,rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Barbour's Linen Thread
Date: 6 Oct 1995 11:58:31 GMT

Rick Cavasin (cav@bnr.ca) wrote:
: Can anyone recommend a source for Barbour's #50 linen thread
: in assorted colours? I've been able to find browns, black, white,
: and even a dark green, but that's it. I'd be very keen to get
: my hands on any other colours.

: I understand that this thread used to be used as a buttonhole thread

: Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I've been buying Barbour linen thread from Mid-Continent Leather Sales,
PO Box 4691, Tulsa, OK 74159 (1-800-926-2061 or 1-918-747-2061). They
only carry the white, but I have always dyed my thread to colour myself.
They sell it in 1000 yd. spools.

al Thaalibi -- An Crosaire, Trimaris
Ron Charlotte -- Gainesville, FL
afn03234@freenet.ufl.edu

From: cav@bnr.ca (Rick Cavasin)
Newsgroups: soc.history.living,rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Barbour's Linen Thread
Date: 6 Oct 1995 13:52:12 GMT
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.

In article <4535l7$afm@huron.eel.ufl.edu>, afn03234@afn.org (Ronald L.
Charlotte) writes:
|>
|> I've been buying Barbour linen thread from Mid-Continent Leather Sales,
|> PO Box 4691, Tulsa, OK 74159 (1-800-926-2061 or 1-918-747-2061). They
|> only carry the white, but I have always dyed my thread to colour myself.
|> They sell it in 1000 yd. spools.
|>

Undyed thread is not a problem, as most bookbinder's supply houses carry
it in a variety of weights. I'm looking for the dyed thread for working
endbands in bookbinding. Endbands are often worked in silk, but for a
style of binding I'm working on right now, linen is more appropriate. Since
endbands are typically worked with 2 or more colours of thread, alternating,
it is important that the weight, texture, etc. match.

Linen is notoriously difficult to dye, even with modern dyestuffs. Although
many people dye linen thread with leather dye, and it seems to work to some
extent, I'm
personally uncomfortable with doing this, since the dyes are not formulated
for linen. I've had leather dye run and fade from the thread. In any case,
since I already have a number of colours in the barbour's #50, I would have
liked to acquire a few more to give me a more or less complete range. I
don't think I could match the depth of colour of the barbour's thread with
leather dye. Obviously, with something like bookbinding, there is some
concern regarding the permanence of the dye, especially with something as
visible as the endbands.

Now, one could argue that I should dye the linen thread using traditional
natural dyes. My dyer friends tell me that dyeing linen is difficult, and
so I'm trying to steer clear of that option. It's bad enough that I'm dressing
and dyeing skins by traditional means for my bindings! If I have to start
dabbling in textile dyeing as well, I'll never finish any books!

Cheers, Rick

From: Kel Rekuta <krekuta@tor.hookup.net>
Newsgroups: soc.history.living,rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Barbour's Linen Thread
Date: 7 Oct 1995 04:53:26 GMT
Organization: HookUp Communication Corporation, Oakville, Ontario, CANADA
> >
> >I've been buying Barbour linen thread from Mid-Continent Leather
> >Sales, PO Box 4691, Tulsa, OK 74159 (1-800-926-2061 or
> >1-918-747-2061). They only carry the white, but I have always dyed my
> >thread to colour myself. They sell it in 1000 yd. spools.
> >--
> > al Thaalibi -- An Crosaire, Trimaris
> > Ron Charlotte -- Gainesville, FL
> > afn03234@freenet.ufl.edu
> >
> Good my lords--
>
> Would it not be possible to contact Barbour's itself to obtain the name
> of the nearest retail outlet that carries all of its product line?
> Even companies that only market their goods wholesale usually provide
> interested potential retail customers this information.
>
> ciorstan
>
Sorry folks. I'm a leather and thread merchant in the mundane world.
I can absolutely guarantee you that Barbour's in Ireland doesn't keep
records of who sells their thread. They sell it to a big USA distributor
who in turn sells it all over including Canadian sources. They will all
hand you down the line to the next finder, wholesaler, notions store
along the line.

Cut to the chase. Look up thread in your local business Yellow pages.
Call the listings. Ask them who has old stock, especially linen. Home in
and call them. Sooner or later someone will have a bunch of old linen
thread they will be tickled pink to sell you. Nobody in the needle trade
uses linens when synthetics are superior in cost effectiveness and selection
of colour.

And don't ask me, Balderick already has the basic colours from me.
I can't get any bright colours at all. Two tones of drabs, white, black
and brown. Sorry.

Ceallach

Newsgroups: soc.history.living,rec.org.sca
From: shafer@ferhino.dfrc.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer)
Subject: Re: Barbour's Linen Thread
Organization: NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 1995 05:01:44 GMT

Try Beggar's Lace at lacelady@rmii.com--she has linen thread in the
finer sizes in a variety of colors. (Does it have to be Barbour's or
will any size 50 linen thread do?)

If she can't help, try Lacis, in Oakland.

Lacemakers use a lot of fine linen thread.
--
Mary Shafer DoD #362 KotFR
SR-71 Chief Engineer NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
shafer@ferhino.dfrc.nasa.gov Of course I don't speak for NASA
URL http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/People/Shafer/mary.html

Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 10:21:46 EST
From: Varju <Varju@aol.com>
To: sca-arts@raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: slightly off-topic questions

<< how is an embroidery needle different from a sharp?
is a chenille needle just a large needle with a large eye and sharp point?
>>

An embroidery needle has a longer eye than a sharp to accomidate emdroidery
floss and as far as i can tell a chenille needle is merely a large sharp
needle with a large eye. Also with needles and size: the larger the size
number, the smaller the needle.

Noemi

Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 23:19:22 EST
From: Jafath <Jafath@aol.com>
To: sca-arts@raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: slightly off-topic questions

<<
regarding hand sewing needles:
how is a quilting between different from a sharp?
how is an embroidery needle different from a sharp?
is a chenille needle just a large needle with a large eye and sharp point?
>>

A quilting needle has the same small round eye as a sharp but is shorter.

An "embroidery needle" is what used to be labelled as a "crewel" and has a
much longer eye than a sharp and is proportionately longer as well.

A chenille needle is better defined as "a tapestry needle with a point."
(it's fatter and has a bigger eye than others)

I got a neat little book at EGA national that illustrates all the sizes of all
the types and, facing each such list, has a page of wool felt to store your
own in.

Jo Anne

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