[lace] making a Honiton Pillow
I must have made about a hundred Honiton pillows since I started teaching Honiton Lace in 1981. It used to take me 3 evenings to cut up half a bale of Barley straw with a pair of scissors and many sore fingers until I manage to find a chaffer. I still have it now but haven't used it lately. With the chaffer it would only take 20 mins to chop up a bale. I would make 7 pillows at a time for my students and to sell at a lace day We just had to chose a day with no wind. A 13/14 inch pillow should weigh 3 lbs ( oops I'm talking old money ) LOL. about one and a half ks. When our famous marvelous lacemaker Pat Perryman heard I was making pillows she rang me to say they should weigh 3 lbs I crossed my fingers and said I was sure they were about 3lbs. I immediately went to weigh them and they were all just over 3 lbs. Phew Cut out 2 14 inch circles and a 3 inch strip to go around the centre, of strong navy denim like material and sew together leaving a 6 inch gap. Stuff as much straw in the bag pushing it well down into the corners. Put it aside for a day or two, I used to put it in the airing cupboard to settle. Then take it out and although you think it is full, stuff in almost as much again. And I always used to put in a sprig of Lavender to make a nice aroma when the pins went in. An extra pair of hands are now useful to squash the gap edges together so that you can pin them ready to sew up with a strong thread. Then you use a mallet to flatten the top and bottom. I use to stand on them and step from side to side. I can't make them from scratch now with my achy hands but because I haven't yet found anyone who sells them, I buy them from charity shops or collect them from ex lacemakers , unstitch the gap and stuff more straw into the centre of the pillow. And I make a new cover as well. I'm still finding new lacemakers so on it goes. Such a lovely hobby, so therapeutic and brings fun and laughter at lace meetings and it chases loneliness away so good luck with your pillows and Happy Lacing Peggy - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Knot name
Hello Jacquie I have used this way of tying off wherever there are two or three holes to join or sew into. It is much neater than the bunching method that was shown in the early Lace books. I have taught this to my students for many years and we call it the Brussels Tie off. Happy Lacing - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] The Hill
I am so sorry to hear about the closure of the Hill in Abergavenny I have enjoyed several weekends there with my friends Mary Summers and Muriel Holmes. I started my first free style pattern a picture of the map of the Bobbin World there. with Glenys Painter I have taught lacemaking in Wellington and Taunton since 1984 (mostly Honiton,but Torchon and Beds now ) and have been told I am the only Tutor left on the Council's books in this area. I don't have a full class of 12 now but the paperwork is awful.We now have to bring Maths and English as in wordsearch puzzles into our teaching which all detracts from lacemaking. So how long I am going to stay I don't know but it is not so easy to go Private. Please let us know more about the Hill Happy Lacing Peggy Lovelace-Carr in Wellington Somerset - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Christening Gowns n Wellington Somerset
Hello Sue My Christening Gown started out as a wedding veil for my only daughter but as I was working with computers had tired eyes at night and although I had already done the large spray for the back of the veil I had only done 36 pieces for the edgings. I and my children had been born in Exmouth and Exeter and we moved to Wellington when the children were in their teens. So I chose the Exe edgings with several different fillings from Mrs Luxton's book and the Wellington Bell designed by Mrs Anna Bakker (a friend of 80 who was still making beautiful Honiton Lace at almost 100 yrs old.) So I turned it into a Christening Gown. I made the Gown in Cream silk completely hand sewn with Run and Fell seams. I alternated the edgings with different fillings and the bell around the hem, the sleeves, the yoke and the neck, and sewn onto a net overdress. I then sewed the big Spray on the front leaving room under the yoke to put on Stephanie's (No 2 son's new baby) initial. Two years later it was joined with V for Victoria (daughter who should have had the veil)'s baby) R for Richard (brother to Stephanie) SJ for SarahJane (No 1 son's baby) Sewing them either side down the front. That was 3 Grandchilren on the cusp of 1982/3 and they still say they didn't get together and give Mum and Dad a bumper delivery. Then 2 years later with P A for Paul and Adam. Adam wasn't actually Christened in my Gown but with my daughter having twins I knew I couldn't make another Gown in time. I had several friends who had made Gowns but asking to borrow a gown especially for a baby who might be sick is just not possible. But my lovely friend Elsie Speller of Taunton offered me one of hers. and Adam was photoed in the family Gown as well. Then J for Jessica (sister for SarahJane). That is all my Grandchildren, Victoria now has Emily who wore her Dad's family gown and then I added J for Joshua (Emily's brother) on our Gown. Stephanie was married 14 months ago in a Honiton Lace veil I had at last made and is longing for a baby. And so the circle will be round. Sue I know you will enjoy making your gown. Do let us know what lace you decide to make and use. and give us updates now and again . Happy Lacing Peggy - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Travel pillow stands
Hello all Lacemakers were asking about travel stands. They are so useful. With 3 legs and an adjustable pole up the middle, and made in different woods. There is a wooden circle at the top of the pole which fits into a ring that is stuck onto a Torchon Pillow and secured with little pegs. It folds down securely to 22 inches and can easily be carried in a shoulder bag. They cost £80 and I left a brand new Reg Beasant Mahogany stand in a pretty shoulder bag in Fort Lauderdale when visiting my son a year or so ago. My mobility is not good so I'm not sure if I can travel to America again. So I was going to suggest he put it with some other lacey things on e bay. But if anyone is interested perhaps they would like to email me privately this week. I'm due to go into hospital on Aug 13th for 2 weeks treatment, but I'll get my daughter in law to keep an eye on what comes in. Happy Lacing Peggy in Wellington Somerset UK on a sweltering evening - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
