I received many wonderful responses from the list. Thank you all for taking the time to answer me!
Mostly I was given the advice to ask questions, so I will. Good thing I'm not shy, right? A little background info, first: About 4 years ago, I had the chance to learn pulled thread embroidery, with the idea that I would be able to continue on to learn reticello, punta in aria, and other needle laces. This was a lovely idea, unfortunately, it fell apart in the implementation. Right after I had the basics (preparing the cloth, pulling the threads, wrapping the warp and weft left in, doing some very basic embellishments like spiders) I moved from North Carolina to Colorado. From what I can tell, in my regional group, there are some very wonderful bobbin lacers around, but I was the first to work pulled thread embroidery and then to start teaching myself reticello. I have yet to move on to punta in aria. I have been reading websites, and what books I could find, and they are nice, but I learn best from seeing something done. All this is to say: I was having trouble with tension. My very first reticello-like design (taken from a pattern book from the 1500's) came out looking nothing at all like it was supposed to look. The second piece, I couched the brides down to the paper, and the lace came out ... well, not perfect, I have a long way to go, but looking like the design should look. So, in doing reticello or similar types of needle lace, is couching the brides "normal" or am I doing it wrong? Thank you so much for your patience in reading through this whole missive. Bronwen -- Per pale argent and purpure, two phoenixes counterchanged sable and argent each rising from flames proper. "It is sometimes the most fragile things that have the power to endure and become sources of strength." - May Sarton "Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living."- Albert Einstein "Out of clutter, find Simplicity. From discord, find Harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
