Threads

Threads

Perlé cotton is a form of mercerised cotton thread that became available from the 1920's onwards. Perlé is a non-divisible thread, usually Z-plied and s-spun. It is regarded as a strong thread with a lustre. Perlé (also known as pearl or French perlé) was initially made by DMC, but was later copied by other companies.

Short shades are a nineteenth century term for a type of Berlin wool thread, in which the same colour changes from light to dark over a distance of less than a metre.

A sinew (tendon) is a tough, flexible band of connective tissue that connects muscles to bone, in animals and humans. A sinew is made of numerous long fibres. Animal sinews, especially from deer, have been used in various societies where the main fabric used for clothing is leather. It is applied as a short thread for sewing fabrics together and for applying decorative beads, quills etc.

Six-strand(ed) embroidery floss is the American term for a type of embroidery thread that is produced, among others, by the company of J. & P. Coats. The term six strand(ed) embroidery floss is known on the British market as 'six-stranded embroidery thread' (or occasionally as a 'six-stranded mercerised cotton thread'). The floss/thread is used for a wide range of embroidery forms.

Spun silk is a form of cheaper silk thread. Normally one or more silk filaments are reeled directly from a silk worm cocoon and then used either in the form of floss silk, whereby the (sometimes very long) filaments are not, or very slightly spun, or a number of silk filaments (often comparatively short) are spun in order to make a usable thread. A spun silk thread is normally much cheaper than the unspun (floss) version.

Stranded embroidery cotton threads are a form of mercerised yarn that became available from the late 1920's onwards. They are now widely used for various types of embroidery. Stranded cotton threads are very shiny and come in six strands that can easily be divided (Z-plied, s-spun). They were initially made by DMC, but were later copied by many other companies.

A thread is a continuous strand (with fibres or filaments spun together) or combination of strands, made from any fibre or filament by reeling, spinning, twisting or throwing. A thread formed of a single strand is called a ‘single’ or an ‘end.’ A thread formed of two or more singles twisted together is a ‘plied thread.’ A 'plied thread' is often, and especially in UK English, called a yarn, but both terms are generally used synonymously.

Woollen thread is a general term for any thread or yarn made from wool, but the specific term describes a thread made from carded rather than combed wool fibres. The term applies to single and plied forms.

Worsted thread is a smooth, fine thread spun from wool fibres, usually with a long staple, which have first been laid parallel by combing. The name is derived from the village of Worstead (Norfolk, England), where this type of thread and cloth was originally produced.

Yarn is a general term for a thread. It applies to single (often in US English) and (more generally) plied forms.

Zephyr yarn is an American brand name for Berlin wool or German wool, used from the nineteenth century onwards. The vivid colours and soft, light texture ('light as a breeze', hence the name zephyr) made the wool very popular in Europe and North America and aided in the popularity of Berlin wool work.

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