[lace] Bedfordshire vs Early lace
When I first came across Bedfordshire I knew it as Beds-Maltese and I have never had a reason to consider it as anything other than a guipure lace with its origins in the 19th century. The extensive use of plaits does give it a superficial resemblance to the 16th century bobbin laces which mimicked early needlelace - cutwork and reticella (which came before punto in aria) - however there are considerable differences in working methods. Over more than a decade of active research into early bobbin lace I have yet to determine a satisfactory definition for 16th and early 17th century lace - it is often called plaited lace, but in reality long plaits are rare. It is an open lace with spaces crossed by twisted pairs and short plaits often consisting of no more than a lockstitch (ctc tc), there are more solid areas consisting of plaits of 3, 4 or more pairs, or of one group of threads working through another in cloth-stitch (ctc). Like Bedfordshire it is a continuous lace, but there is no half-stitch and pairs are not added or taken out in the course of the work (as they are in some of the more complex Beds patterns). Relatively few pins are used in working the early lace, and those that are used are usually placed below or to the side of a stitch to provide tension - this means there is never a pin-hole in the centre of a stitch - as there would be for example in the centre of a windmill crossing in Bedfordshire (or many 19th century reproduction of an early lace). Overall the working method is much more like Freehand lace where pins are used only on the outside edges and no pricked pattern is needed - this allows considerable freedom for the lacemakers. Great fun to do and almost certainly made in England in the 16th century. Gil Dye - 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/
[lace] bowing off
Most early bobbin lace is continuous, ie all threads are added at the start and remain in use until they run out and are replaced, with no pairs added or removed as the work progresses. However in the 1630s there was an abrupt change in style which involved working in sections, adding and removing pairs, and requiring bobbins to be wound in pairs. This slows down the working and potentially involves considerable waste of expensive linen thread. Honiton workers today 'bow off', ie cut and tie discarded pairs in a single movement - can anyone tell me if this or a similar technique is used in any other pieced lace? Also would lacemakers in the 1630s have been using scissors of the type we know today? (It is possible, but difficult, to bow off with the older type of spring snips). Any help will be gratefully received Gil, from a rainy Northumberland - 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/
[lace] Battle of Britain lace
I know many lacemakers are interested in the Battle of Britain Commemorative Lace Panels, despite their machine, rather than hand, origin, so I thought I should pass on the rather scanty details of a new book on the subject that I was shown this week. The book records the location of all the known surviving examples of the panels with press cuttings and other back-up information, together with copies of photos that were the inspiration for many of illustrations in the panels. The title is as the italics above, it was written by an Australian, Brian Farr, and self-published this year (2015). Part of the publication proceeds are going to The Aviation Heritage Museum, Bull Creek, Western Australia and I .am afraid this is the only contact given in the book. Gil In the North East of England, where the sun has finally found us. - 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/
[lace] Lace Gone Wild
Voluntary Arts Week is being celebrated across the UK and Ireland when those who enjoy participating in any form of art or craft are encouraged to get out and about and share their enthusiasm. Northumbria Lacemakers' contribution to this event is Lace Gone Wild, an outdoor exhibition in the grounds of Wallington Hall supported by eight days of demonstrating in the conservatory. See the website: https://lacegonwildatwallington.wordpress.com/ to see how the week is going. Gil - 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/
[lace] Lace Exhibition in Twickenham
There is an exhibition opening on 30th October and running until 25th January 2015 at the Stables Gallery, Twickenham near London (TW1 3DJ). The exhibition is titled 'Lacemakers', and the blurb says 'A contemporary open exhibition celebrating work made of or inspired by lace'. This is the first time the gallery (or its parent gallery, Orleans House) has had an exhibition devoted entirely to lace. I hope to visit later next week, but at the moment all I know about the content is that my submission called 'Framing the Face' (based on my work on early lace) should be on show. Gil Dye In a still summery Northumberland - 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/
[lace] Re: lace-digest V2014 #46
In a message dated 06/03/2014 14:04:49 GMT Standard Time, owner-lace-dig...@arachne.com writes: Why do European lace experts assume that people who speak and read English are not interested in the lace history of the countries where lace originated? Many people have raised valid points in response to this question from Jeri. Here are my 2 cents worth: If you need translation of technical terms for bobbin lace see the excellent section of the OIDFA website: http://www.oidfa.com/translate.html.en# Jeri specifically mentions lace history, rather than techniques, and this is rather less of a challenge to translate than technical instructions. I am one of those people who can read a diagram, but struggle with reading any language but my own, so do find it very frustrating that I miss out on what is often fascinating background. For most books a printed translation is not a viable option, but putting something on line might be a possibility, especially if lacemakers were prepared to collaborate in the project. The author would need to offer his/her work for translation, then an initial translation be made, possibly through a translation site (Arachne members can probably recommend the best options for different language-to-languages). That translation would need to be moderated by one or two native speaker of the 'new' language, preferably someone with lace knowledge. Once approved by the author, the translation, along with a front cover picture and full publication details of the original publication, would be transferred to a dedicated site where it could be stored and accessed - someone would be needed to host the site. This would not be appropriate for a full scale book or thesis, but could work for an article or the introductory chapter of a techniques or pattern book. Gil Dye (in Northumberland where the spring flowers are giving a wonderful splash of colour) - 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/
[lace] Bucks point for church lace
Hi Dot, Think twice before you use Bucks Point for church lace: one of the saddest pieces of lace I have ever seen was a Bucks point border on an altar cloth in a Suffolk church. So much work had gone into the lace, but it had absolutely no impact for anyone sitting or standing in the body of the church and close up it showed how much it had suffered from inexpert laundering. I would certainly endorse Antje's suggestion that you should look at Eve-Lisa Koretelahti's patterns Gil (Dye) In Northern England - 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/
[lace] Re: lace-digest V2012 #168
In a message dated 22/01/2013 11:32:48 GMT Standard Time, owner-lace-dig...@arachne.com writes: I have been taking my lace while traveling for a good decade I always have needlelace and tatting in my bag and often have a travel pillow if I am going to be away for any length of time. Over the years of making lace publicly there have probably been equal numbers of funny looks and interesting conversations! Somewhere in a recent posting there is a mention of the role of craft in dealing with pain. Anyone for whom this might be an issue might be interested in knowing that the Pain Clinic at the Royal Bath Hospital has set up a knitting and craft group which is having very positive results - see _http://www.stitchlinks.com/_ (http://www.stitchlinks.com/) Gil >From a snowy Northumberland - 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/
[lace] Lace Dealer's Pattern Book
Veronica Main has asked me to pass on the information that the new edition of The Lace Dealerâs Pattern book, with accompanying DVD, will be published on 12 November, and can be purchased from the Luton Culture website (price £19.99 plus p&p). In appreciation of their generous support of the original publication, Arachne members are invited to attend the Cattern Day launch at Wardown Park Museum, Luton, on Friday 30th November between midday and 4pm. Gil (Dye) - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
[lace] ruffs
Liz asks how many yards to make a ruff. When I was approached by the costume group at Buckland Abbey, (Devon, England) to make the lace for a reproduction of the costume worn by the second Lady Drake, they asked for 6 yards; this I did and the ruff looks very effective (at least it does in the pictures, I have not yet seen the real thing) See more about this lace in the January 2007 (no 125) issue of Lace. Gil (Dye) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
