>From what I understand, Buratto Lace is done on a special woven mesh similar in texture to the mesh that rug-hookers use. This is in contrast to Filet Lace (supposedly the oldest lace) which is done on a knotted mesh. The knotted mesh is made in the same way that fisherman's nets are. The stitching of the design is the same though--use of Linen Stitch & a weaving stitch primarily.
As for great books and instructions as to how to learn Filet Lace, I would like to recommend "Filet Lace-Introduction to the Linen Stitch" by Marie-Jo Quinault, ISBN 1-4120-1549-9. For years I had wanted to learn this lace type. I even learned how to make the square, knotted net. However, making the net was NOT my thing!---too tedious. Then about 10 years ago, someone mentioned Marie-Jo's website (http://www.filetlace.net/) and so I called her and talked to her. She asked if I had any background in Filet Lace and I said 'No'. At that time, she was almost done with writing/publishing the above mentioned book. So she offered to copy her teaching materials so that I could learn the technique. Of course when her book came out, I was one of the first to buy it. The Linen Stitch is not hard to do. The real thing to learn is how to stitch a motif/design from start to finish in one continuous step. Since buying her book, I have been collecting and studying other Filet Lace technique books and know that this book/strategy is the only complete technique strategy. Every other Filet Lace book that I have studied only takes you so far. This book's technique teaches you a strategy to stitch every design in one step. It is so wonderful to be able to buy the knotted net from her and just do the fun part of stitching your designs. The lace works up quite fast. I like to make nameplates of family last names. I need to do a new one for myself since I recently got remarried. I have one already of my 'old' name which I plan to leave up as it is my children's last name. But I want to put up a second one with my 'new' name because my new husband and his kids are moving in. So now it will be the Bovard-Sayre Home. Karen Bovard Sayre The ShuttleSmith Omaha, Nebraska http://www.theshuttlesmith.com/ http://theshuttlesmith.blogspot.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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/