It is not uncommon to read descriptions of handmade droschel mesh which mention that it is made in strips that are one and a half inches wide. We have some pieces in the museum that are like this, but very few. It was being done at about the beginning of the 19th century when machine mesh was becoming quite common. I think the droshel was a labor intensive alternative that was suitable for royal commissions. Can I picture a mantilla or scarf of Monica Ferris's description made with droschel strips? No, I cannot. But I suspect that she read that description somewhere and decided to incorporate it. I have read only one Monica Ferris book. I seem to recall that it involved a lacemaker putting a signature butterfly in all her pieces. This seemed to me that it would be technically much more difficult than was implied in the book. It was my conclusion that Monica Ferris is only superficially knowledgeable about lacemaking. I think Monica Ferris's field of expertise is mystery writing, not lacemaking. I don't think I would spend a lot of time trying to figure out what the lace looks like in her books, since I think that she doesn't really have the same depth of knowledge of lacemaking that the people on this list do. But, perhaps people who have read all of her books would disagree. Do you find that the lace details ring true in Monica Ferris's books? Devon In a message dated 1/1/2011 4:23:17 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, j...@nathan54.freeserve.co.uk writes:
I've just finished reading 'Blackwork' and will pass it on to Eve Morton to read. When she's finished with it, I've decided to send them all to Alex Stillwell, which will pass them on to her lace friends to read as well. I disagree with Lori and think they do need to be read in order because the characters develop from book to book. The lace content in 'Blackwork' refers to a mantilla or scarf for an older woman to wear at her wedding. Described as "a gossamer thing of pale ecru, fifteen inches wide and almost fifty inches long. It was made in inch-and-a-half-wide stripes, with tiny hearts in the central band that ran the length of the thing." It was made of ten lengths. I can't actually picture it in my mind, probably because, from that description, it could be any type of lace and would look totally different if made in say torchon than Bucks Point. Jean in Poole, Dorset, UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
