Need help with Rumpled thread

[Judy]

Has anyone encountered a problem with thread that is no longer smooth when you get about half the thread off the ball? In at least two instances it has occurred with balls of 20 Lizbeth.
The problem seems to be that when the thread was put on the ball that there were spaces between the rounds, that is, the rounds do not lie exactly next to the previous one. So, about 15 yards further on, the outside layers press down on the inner ones causing them to become wavy. I never noticed it with crochet cotton in size 10, and I'm such a newby with size 20 I haven't tatted to the bottom of any balls yet.
I hate the way it makes everything look irregular. Pulling it tight when tatting doesn't help since the picots end up with funny kinks in them and the ds are still uneven.
Anyone have suggestions on how to straighten it? What if I tat it when its wavy? When its washed and blocked will it be better, or become loose?

[carolivy]

Never had the problem with Thread before, but I have had it with Yarn. I made a frame from a Wire Coat Hanger (kind of squared it up), then wound the offending yarn on the hanger and steamed it with my steam iron...not letting my iron touch the yarn, just the steam. Then I let it dry.....all smooth and no wrinkles after that. Then I rewound the ball and knit away....

[Judy]

Thanks, I was kind of disparing about winding it on a small core. Steam iron is worth a try.

[BlueDode]

Also from the yarn world: usually when one has knitted a piece, and then unravelled it, the yarn is "wrinkled" and needs to be resmoothed before reknitting. To smooth the yarn:

Unravel the yarn (unwind the thread) into a pile. (Unwind it off the spool or skein)
Spray it lightly with water using a plant mister.
Set the yarn in a warm oven (200 I think, maybe warmer) and turn the oven off. Or, try it after using the oven for something else.
Leave it in the oven while it cools -- not sure how long.
Important: keep track of the ends so you can find the right end to wind it back on a shuttle.

I would NOT put a shuttle in the oven; not sure if you could mist the spool of thread and put it in the oven or not...

[HJ Hess]

Has anyone encountered a problem with thread that is no longer smooth when you get about half the thread off the ball? In at least two instances it has occurred with balls of 20 Lizbeth.
Do let Barbara Foster at Handy Hands (http://www.hhtatting.com/) know if you are having trouble with the Lizbeth thread. She is very caring and responsive.
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