In a message dated 2/21/2019 1:33:07 PM Eastern Standard Time, linhud...@gmail.com writes:
As a kid, i knew this as a God's eye.  Lin and the Mali A 1972 book, Ojo de Dios - Eye of God, was written by Charlet Albaum. Available on Amazon as a used book. Please search to see a photo. Considered old Indian folk art, colorful yarns are woven diagonally on 2 crossed wooden sticks held in the diamond shape so the finished Eye reminds us of religious crosses. These represent an authentic, ancient, Indian prayer for the protection and benevolence of God.  Small ones are attached to North American Indian children's clothing. Not a lace or embroidery. In 1977, I adapted this idea and developed an embroidery class which used even-weave interlock canvas 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" finished size as the foundation. In canvas stitching books the center is diagrammed as a giant Waffle stitch. This is surrounded by Rice stitch over 4 threads, which holds the raw edge under and gives some stability. Most of the yarn sits on top. Use left-over yarns. Experiment with how many to thread into a tapestry needle - my preference is 2. Yarn should lay side-by-side with no twisting. You will end up with a holiday ornament or an applique for clothing. If this appeals to you, you will need a book of diagrammed stitches from your local public library. Lace Finishing Option: The outer edge (folded under, leaving one canvas thread bare) needs to be overcast with yarn, with perhaps 3 stitches to cover corners. To qualify as lacy, you could tat over this edge. If so, tatting thread should be used in some of the Waffle and/or Rice stitches. Cover back with felt. Even-weave interlock canvas is not truly square. You must count in both directions the number of canvas threads - leaving the one exposed thread at the folded under edges. Count in increments of 4 threads for 2 outer Rice borders (8), and the Waffle is worked over 32 threads in each direction (2 plus 8 plus 32). There will be 10 Rice stitches per side when worked up. You could make these smaller, remembering the increments of 4 canvas threads. Suggest working out on graph paper.   Unusual gift when Indian history is included. Jeri Ames in Maine USALace and Embroidery Resource Center - 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/
