My Nostalgic Choice of Thread.

My preference for the Empress Mills thread is based on a nostalgic fondness for the part of England where I was raised and where this thread is made.  

There are probably many threads better suited to fine lace making, something to do with the direction of the twists and the number of cores.

 

White 4,000m reel

I buy 4,000m reels because I am continuously refining new designs on the pillow.  Using a plentiful supply of matching thread is one less thing to think about when I am elbow deep in a pillow full of bobbins!   Any yarn left on the bobbins will always match up and I only need to de-thread the bobbins when I change to a new reel.  

One day I hope I will use some of the beautiful threads I am hoarding!

This thread is not as widely available as others (although it is online) so here a list of a few comparable threads about the same wpc (wraps per centimetre)  as listed in Brenda Paternoster’s ‘Threads for Lace’ book (sadly now out of print)  the twists and the finishes will vary, as will the handling. 

Wraps per Centimeter

I am using Empress Mills long staple Egyptian Cotton Machine Quilting 50s - 3Z - 27 wpc.

Comparables are:-

Gutermann Quilting 3Z - 28 wpc

Presencia Finca Bolillos  30 - 3Z - 27 wpc 

Presencia Finca Bolillos  40 - 3Z - 29 wpc

Sulky
Premium All Purpose Mercerized Cotton 30wt - 2Z - 27 wpc

Valdani All Purpose mercerised cotton 35wt -  2Z - 28 wpc

Madeira Tanne / Cotona 30 - 2Z -  29 wpc

Mettler Quilting  Art no 136 - 40/3 - 3Z - 28 wpc

This is by no means an exhaustive list, many threads have become discontinued, new threads are constantly being released and, of course, it varies so much from country to country.

This is how I keep the thread clean. A hole in the top dispenses the thread and the reel stays still. The larger reels like this are designed to have the thread taken from the top of the reel, not from spinning around like the smaller ones.

Thread dispenser