talkmagic.co.uk

Afternoon all,

Can anyone offer me some tips on the best way of transporting and storing short lengths of IT?

I'm learning a new effect that needs a short length of IT, and wanted to have a few spares to hand should I break a bit (and I'm sure I will!) Are there any better ways other than just wrapping the length required around a piece of card?

Rob

The best way is to wrap them around a piece of card.
anchor each end of it onto the card, with a tiny bit of celotape.


if you wrap them around something round, like a pen for example, they tend to slip down the barrel, and tangle.

a card keeps them all nice and neat. just snip a small recess into each end of the card, to keep things tidy.
( think of the letter H )

and if you think about it, this is how loops are delivered.

Thanks Dale,

I've never used loops. I was just loking for a recommended way of carrying a few spare pre-stripped, pre-cut lengths of thread ready for that -*snap*- moment.

Any tips for stripping the stuff? It's arrived today got some of that Vectra line as well as 'normal' IT, but I need to strip it all down.

R

Cut to length, tape one end to a wall, take the other end seperate a one strand at a time, hold one strand and push the rest back, just a few inches, it will bunch up, pinch on the other side of the bunched up portion and pull back (towards the wall a few more inches, again it will bunch up, repeat until you have one strand) Repeat with remaining strands. If you try to strip the IT all in one go you will end up with a knot in the rest of the strands and you will not be able to sort it all out. Takes some time to get the knack. But with time it gets easier, I can strip out about a dozen strands in just a few moments. But I've been doing such silly things for a very long time.

Brilliant, thanks. I wasn't sure if it's be easier to strip a strand and then cut to length, or get the length right first.

I'll give this a go tonight. I purchased some of this supposedly super strong Vectra thread.

Rob

Wow, that's a fiddly job.

I managed to strip three lengths of the Vectra Line, unfortunately I hadn't allowed for the length of thread that gets rolled into the wax, so after affixing the wax at each end the thread was too short on my first try.

The second two were ok though, and I now have then wrapped around a playing card. I just need to practice the effect now.

R

I have found after years of hard experience the best way to handle and transport IT is to strip the thread then wind it onto a flat white plastic sewing thread bobbin. You can get these on ebay and they are cheap as chips. Make sure it is plastic NOT cardboard. It is then a doddle to either wind on or unwind off.

These things were designed for the storing and use of thread! It took me years before I actually realised this! Hope this helps.
TGR

Would you store a single strand per bobbin, or multiple stripped strands?

R

those bobbins are available in shops that sell spairs for sewing machines.

Hobbycraft stores sell bobbins and other thread storage gizmos for all the needlecrafters out there.

Hi Rob,
One length of thread on one bobbin. I then store my flat plastic bobbins in an old glasses case.
TGR