Strip of material with splices and products formed therefrom

A package of strip material comprising:

• a strip of a material wherein the strip has a first side edge, a second side edge, a first surface and a second surface;
• there is provided a plurality of stacks of the strip;
• in each stack the strip is repeatedly folded back and forth with the strip continuous through the stack between a bottom strip portion and a top strip portion so that the stack contains a plurality of folded overlying strip portions of the strip, with each strip portion being folded relative to one next adjacent strip portion about a first fold line transverse to the strip and relative to a second next adjacent strip portion about a second fold line transverse to the strip and spaced from the first fold line;
• the strip portions of each stack thus being arranged to form a plurality of first fold lines at one end of the stack and a plurality of second fold lines at an opposed end of the stack;
• the strip portions of each stack thus being arranged such that the first surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the first surface of one next adjacent portion and such that the second surface of each portion lies directly in contact with the second surface of the other next adjacent portion;
• the strip portions of each stack being arranged with the first side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the first side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack and with the second side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the second side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack;
• the strip portions of each stack being arranged with the first and second surfaces thereof generally parallel to a top surface and a bottom surface of the stack;
• the plurality of stacks being arranged side by side with the side edges of the strip portions of each stack effectively immediately alongside the side edges of a next adjacent stack so that the stacks are free from intervening rigid container walls;
• the package having a width greater than a width of the strip;
• the strip of material including at least one splice in the strip of material;
• the splice being defined by two ends of the strip of material;
• wherein the ends of the strip at the splice are arranged in butting relationship without overlap and wherein the ends are held in butting relationship by a plurality of yarn stitches passing through the strip of material and bridging the butting ends of the strip of material.