This for Antje and any others who were wondering more about finger lace:
If you can find any references to "macrame" you will know what we are talking about. It is well described in the DMC book on needlework and in the Anchor Manual of Needlework. It was revived in the 70s, but the work done at that time was coarse and in my opinion quite ugly. This, with its Arab ancestry is lovely and very fine.
No needles, no bobbins, no hooks, nothing but one's own fingers. It consists of wrapping a "guide" thread with loops (or half hitches) something like making buttonholes stitches in needle lace, but without a needle. Using #8 perle cotton gives the scale we were working at. There are no prickings or written patterns: it is worked by knowing the basic procedure and following a picture, a piece of work, or using the imagination.
The work is made working down from a basic thread stretched across the pillow (which can be a board) and can be of any width. It is used to decorate fringes, tasselled edges, and other areas where fabric needs an interesting edge.
This is not at all Cretan bobbin lace, which is made the usual way with pillow and bobbins.
The book I mentioned, all in Greek, is not yet available outside of Greece, I don't think. We bought out every copy we could find!
I will be glad to send pictures of the Greek finger lace to anyone who can receive them via email.
I hope this helps. Tess ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
