OK -- I'll give it a try. Detailed diagrams are in 'Motieven in Kleur' by Sebastiana van den Herik, but there's no English. See page 25. I'm sure it's in other books, also.
First -- General Russian technique. The fillings in Russian Lace are made with only two pair -- the worker pair and the edge pair -- and a given section of filling is done at the last point the filling touches the outline tape. At that point, the two pair leave the tape and do the filling. The challenge is figuring out the pathway those two pair have to travel to complete all the lines/features of the filling in one continuous set of actions, returning to the starting point so the tape outline can proceed. Note also that the plaits that make up the fillings often have to move from one point to another around the outside edge of the filling. The threads are attached to the edge with a sewing, plaited along the edge to the next point, and sewn in again. Then the plait can proceed on the next line. The patterns in your book are printed half size, so you need to enlarge them 200 percent. I suggest you also enlarge the picture of the head of the doll so you can perhaps see the thread pathways better. The two pair will make the basic plaits that form the grid. Note that they also make the two long pointed tallies that form part of the hair. The circles are made the second time the plait reaches each crossing. I'll start at that point. 1. Make a sewing to attach the second plait to the first. 2. Extend one pair along the line the plait should follow to leave the crossing, and pin the bobbin to the pillow to make a firm line. 3. Using the other pair, make a sewing around the single pair you just pinned down. (Put crochet hook under straight pair, pull up one thread of the worker pair to make a loop, put other bobbin through loop, pull tight around single pair and snug to the center crossing.). 4. Continue around the circle making a sewing on every spoke of the wheel. Go around as many times as needed to make the circle the size desired, ending with the single pair. 5. Release the pin from the single pair, and plait the two pair to the next destination. I'll refer you to the six-spoke circles in the sleeves of the doll. According to the Motieven book, you would plait from the starting point out to the center, and then back to the same side but at the next attachment point. Plait along the edge of the sleeve to the next point, then back to the center. You would zigzag around the sleeve until you approach the center point the third time. Then sew all three 'points' together. Proceed as above to make the center circle. Sorry, but I haven't studied the doll's head enough yet to have figured out the pathway for the whole filling. Let me know if you want me to do so. Alice in Oregon ----- Original Message ---- From: Nova P <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:36:09 PM Subject: Re: [lace] Russian Lace Reporting back: So far I have received three individual messages with suggestions for the *tallies* re: Russian Lace Korableva/Cook book (Vyatskii Doll pattern) -and since I receive the digested version there may be more of you writing to the arachne url and I haven't received a digest yet. I just mention this so you will not think I've overlooked any suggestions. Summarizing so far..... (1) Windmill crossing - and on further checking in the Alexandra Stillwell Illus. Dic of Lacemaking, I found a description (pg. 239) for two crossings - either/or would work I think, but the (b) option sounds best suited for my space needing to be filled. (2) Circles (or 'wheelies') - two plaits coming in as 'spokes' to make the circle. I checked out the references Alice - thank you - and I see on pg 106 (Camomile) a diagram for wheels made with three plaits. It will be a challenge for me, but I will try to adapt the method using two plaits. (3) Diagram (rec'd by attachment) showing two plaits coming in, one 'splits' and goes around the outside while the other makes a small weaved style of tally inside - that is the best I can do with 'words' to describe the procedure and I apologize if I haven't done justice. The diagram is very nicely done - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
