Help from LJ Hive Mind: Jap Gold Thread

[threadwalker]

Edit
Never mind. Caffeine rush overcame me and impatience won out. My ears were full of buzzing, my credit card was not far enough from the keyboard, and I feel the time crunch of being ready in time. I have several items on order. I am both elated and remorseful. I feel super irresponsible. But it feels sooooooo gooooooood..... On the other hand, I'll be able to make a sample card of Jap threads of various types and weights. Not that anyone else will care, but I'm shamefully elated over the whole thing.

Although I'm still interested in any feedback from anyone who's actually used B&J Jap Thread supplies....
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I need to order Japanese gold thread for my embroidery class at E/W Arts Salon and the best prices are from Benton and Johnson. But B&J has not responded to my email about thread size on their on-line catalog. Ugh! which thread is the best?

Okay, what I really mean is

What are the widths?
Any recommendations?

Link: Benton & Johnson.
Go to >>Embroidery Thread>> Imitation Jap T70

Silence will be met with a deep breath followed by kung fu speed internet purchases of mystery supplies that will hopefully work out. If they don't work out, I can teach with the passing thread I already own (and have lots of examples of worked pieces... which means I wouldn't need to do a sample... which would save me a lot of time... so this Plan B is viable. But it's not my "vision", so still striving for Plan A) Sometimes Journeys of Discovery suck. And cost too much.

(P.S. I have a double shot latte and a 20-oz diet coke on my desk. I'm alternating sips between the two of them and the power of caffeine fills me with impatience... please help before I pull out my credit card and buy one spool of everything. Whew... is it hot in here or is it me? Am I too young for menopause? I'm definitely hot and twitchy.)

Comments

[joycebre.livejournal.com]

I need instant gratification and I need it now. (no, can't help with the thread recommendation, but I feel your impatience.)

Sing it!

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

lol... me, too. I have a hard time buying stuff like this on line because every vendor has a different code and/or description, so I need to really see it or feel it to figure out if it's pliable enough or shiney enough or too thick or too thin. But I want to do this NOW so I the supplies arrive in time and I can work up a sample piece. So I have the B&J website up and I keep peaking at it and checking here every half hour, hoping someone has the one-true-answer. I also sent out email to a few of my fellow gold-work-junkies....

PULEEZ TELL ME NOW .... PULEEZ-DONT-LEAVE-ME-TO-MY-OWN-DEVICES....

(I should have had a single shot instead of a double shot of espresso half an hour ago... it's making my extra twitchy and impatient.)

B&J are really the only source I know of

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

Talk to Catherine Lorraine. She's bought from B&J several times over the last few years, usually making a combined buy for a number of embroidery folks.

If you don't have her new cell phone number, let me know.

Also broider baroness uses B&J for gold.

To the best of my memory, larger number means larger diameter. I have size 5 smooth passing in silver and gold, which I bought at the shop. B&J aren't used to people walking into the shop, which makes for an interesting, but not unpleasant, visit.

Re: B&J are really the only source I know of

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

size with relation to the number is totally dependent on the type of thread. THey have a thread chart that explains that. But they don't include the jap thread in the thread chart.

[duchessletitia.livejournal.com]

I would like to see some of it when you get it. I would like to see how it differs from the stuff I get from the Japanese Embroidery Center.

[broider-barones.livejournal.com]

Love B &J. Size 6 is good for newbees. Size5 is smaller ane my favorite. size 4 is toooooo small for new gold workers. IMHO. Call them if you want fast service.. The stuff from the Japanese Center is finer than most of the passing they carry. Hope this helps. Hmmmm. I probably have what you need at home and you could replace it or just pay me.

[aastg.livejournal.com]

Benton & Johnson's threads are wonderful. Another source for wonderful metal thread (and silk) is The Japanese Embroidery Center. (Look under Other Thread/Real Gold)

The main difference between them, besides possibly from metal content/color, is that the Japanese gold thread's gold strip is wider than than B&J's, so you get a gold thread that is extremely reflective, but doesn't handle sharp turns as well as B&J's does; conversely, B&J's thread tends to be a bit more "sparkly" since the gold strip is narrower.

Of course, all depends on the effect you're after. I think you should just acquire samples of everything so you can wallow in the subtleties more efficiently. Just saying.

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

yes, more is better.