Thread Size chart

[Vonnie]

I am finding that some brands have their own sizing scale for thread...DMC vs. Lizbeth. Is there a chart anywhere that shows what is what? I'm getting quite confused

[Lynn]

Hi, Vonnie. I think this is just part of the tatting experience. Some tatters make up a booklet or cards or something else to help them keep track of the threads they use. Some will tat a sample (like a swatch in knitting or crochet) - just a simple little thing like a 4 ring butterfly, that shows how the threads work up. Be sure to keep the swatch with the ball band or write out information on the thread, so you will know exactly what it is and where it came from. I believe most make exactly the same swatch with every thread so the comparison is obvious at a glance. Other than making your own chart, which basically amounts to your entire tatting experience, I do not know of a chart for all the threads. Part of the problem is that people all over the world tat with all kinds of different threads and yarns, and there is no international tatting threads chart as far as I know. With your own chart, you can see at a glance how DMC compares to Lizbeth or Egyptian cotton, or Coats and Clark, or any of the other choices out there. And best of all, you won't have to make allowances for different tensions, because your chart will be worked to your tension.

[crazytatter]

Thank you for the question and answer, I just get really frustrated everytime I go to check out the threads. There are so much different kinds to choose from and all that beautiful color. Since I cannot purchase everything I see, I end up not buying anything because I don't want to get the wrong thing.

[Vonnie]

exactly! The pattern will call for one size/guage, but often it won't say which brand. So what do you get? I've just started getting a guage that looks like I can manage it and go from there:) I'm still too new at this to go for the really fine threads yet...whatever guage they may be:)

btw...how do you spell guage/gauge....lol

[Vonnie]

Whoo Hoo! I found something:) The Handy Hands Tatting webiste has a great comparison chart! Here it is...

http://www.hhtatting.com/category_re...cfm?Category=5

Now I can figure out what thread to use!!

[Lynn]

Now that chart is handy - for those particular threads. LOL Be aware that just because a pattern specifies that a motif worked with this thread comes to this size does not mean you will get the same results at your tension. You may come close - or not.

Crazytatter, don't worry about getting the "right" thread. Get what appeals to you. As long as the thread will allow you to close rings without breaking, and you get results that you like, that's all that really matters. Eventually, you will discover that you have managed to accumulate a lot of those pretty colors without really trying or even realizing that you have done so.

Vonnie, it is gauge. If in really serious doubt about the size thread, you might try to contact the designer. They are usually very gracious about sharing information. If it's an old pattern and the designer cannot be contacted, take a look at other patterns of the same era to see what kinds of threads were most used at the time. Or, you could post here for info from anyone who has already tatted the pattern. You can also tat a swatch with threads on hand and compare. This will give you an idea of which direction to go when purchasing threads for a project. For instance, if the pattern tells you what size the medallion should be, and you tat it with a size 20 Flora only to discover that the medallion is way bigger than expected, then you know you'll need to go to a size 30 or 40 for the correct size, depending on how much you need to reduce the finished size. Don't be afraid to experiment. You'll make some interesting discoveries, and come up with some of your own design decisions. Don't feel like you are required to go with exactly what the pattern specifies. If you want a different look or size, experiment. You are the boss of the thread, not the other way around.

[Judy]

Thank you for the question and answer, I just get really frustrated everytime I go to check out the threads. There are so much different kinds to choose from and all that beautiful color. Since I cannot purchase everything I see, I end up not buying anything because I don't want to get the wrong thing.

Silly tatter, don't you know that that's how we accumulate our thread stashes? I've made lots of purchases that don't turn out to be quite right. It then becomes a pleasant task to figure out how to use it while you wait for the re-order to arrive.

[carolivy]

From my experience crocheting, I know that my gauge is much different than those published, so I work with whatever thread strikes my fancy for the project I am working on, depending on the intended use.

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

exactly! The pattern will call for one size/guage, but often it won't say which brand. So what do you get? I've just started getting a guage that looks like I can manage it and go from there:) I'm still too new at this to go for the really fine threads yet...whatever guage they may be:)

btw...how do you spell guage/gauge....lol

That's okay, we all have spelling issues at times. About those fine threads. This is how I rationalized buying better threads. I only had a girl so I don't know about little boys. But, remember those heavy cotton training pants? Didn't work for my baby. She hated those things. So, we bought her beautiful double seaters in pretty colors with ruffles on the legs and little bows. She potty trained herself because she liked them so much. That's my idea about Lizbeth thread. It might not be perfect but it comes in beautiful colors and I love working with them.

[Susan B T]

Check out these sites n TONS of information.,.... bookmark them to keep them handy...

Thread charts and information by Joan Kiplinger. There is a lot of other information on her site.

http://www.fabrics.net/joanthreadchart.asp

This is another wonderful site to book mark for reference information.

http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/threads/add1.html

This is the home page for the above site just full of information.
These ladies and others have put time and effort into the site. I do not know either on but, thank them any way for all the information they share.

Under lacemaking click on Addendum

http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/index.html

This site gets detailed on how to figure it out for your self.

http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/...hreadsize.html