"A large fully-dressed pillow with many bobbins and dense pattern is
discouraging and elicits the usual "I don't have the patience!"."
Oh how I agree with Jeri on this one. Â And it can be a real act of diplomacy
to try to tell potential volunteers that their 'boasting' pillow with 200+
expensive bobbins and fine Point Ground lace completely hidden by pins is not
going to be an inspiration to new lacemakers. Â On the contrary, Â it will
frighten them away.Â
One of the best show pillows I have seen is Arachne Leonard Bazaar's. Â From
memory it is a largish circular cloth (maybe a metre or so across, but I'm sure
he'll let us know), worked in a 5 pair braid lace, all cloth stitch (is that
right?) with minimal plated fillings, Bruges style. Â I seem to remember the
design is made in thirds, and when i saw it last, at least one third was
finished and hung impressively at the front of the pillow. Â The work in
progress is so basic that I have seen Leonard invite people to do some for him
when there is a queue for the have-a-go pillow. Â They can immediately
understand how this simple stitch and braid can make a beautiful and even
complex design.
Jacquie in Lincolnshire
Sent from Samsung tablet
-------- Original message --------
>From jeria...@aol.com
Date: 03/12/2013 17:04 (GMT+00:00)
To hottl...@neo.rr.com,lace@arachne.com
Subject Re: [lace] Freehand Lace with 6 pairs or less
Dear Susan,Â
If you have access to Gil Dye's "The Isham Samples and Other Linen Edgings"
there are several patterns that would suit you from the Elizabethan era. Â
Some use 2 colors of thread, which I have found makes it easier for people
new to viewing a lace demonstration to see the thread paths. Adding a bit
of history at a library location, would be appropriate and you might find a
costume book that shows the narrow laces used on coifs and clothing edges.
Because of the Isham connection, there was a long article (with pictures)Â
by Rosemary Shepherd in the Fall 2012 IOLI lace bulletin. You might even
find an article by Gil - she writes for both IOLI and The Lace Guild (UK)Â
bulletins.
Or, you can make a simple Torchon ground of any width. See Rosemary'sÂ
"Introduction to Bobbin Lacemaking", page 32. People can relate to stitches
which resemble machine-made net (tulle) yardage.Â
I used this idea and set up a basic pillow with tatting threads (they don't
break at demos, and there is enough space to see the threads and show the
route an individual thread takes using a corsage pin as pointer). I woundÂ
bone bobbins with white, and black hand-painted bobbins with blueÂ
variegated. The effect is pretty, and the bobbins are set up in a sequence
to
create a diamond shape of blue down the middle.  Not for your limited pillow
space, Susan, but an idea for anyone who wants to talk with the public while
demonstrating. A large fully-dressed pillow with many bobbins and dense
pattern is discouraging and elicits the usual "I don't have the patience!".Â
Jeri Ames in Maine USA
Lace and Embroidery Resource CenterÂ
In a message dated 12/2/2013 10:55:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,Â
hottl...@neo.rr.com writes:
My plan for making Skansk hit a major snag when I realized all of my
patterns require more than six pair. Google brought up Jean Leader's
articles,
Lorelei's test strips & Jo Edkin's ribbons. With such a tiny pillow, I'mÂ
reluctant to add my beaded Mechlin bobbins to the mix, but six pair laceÂ
options are less appealing. The pillow needs something cute & petite!Â
Have
I missed any attractive six pair resources that may be worked freehand?Â
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