[lace] RE Bookmark tails
My favorite way to deal with bookmark tails is with a macrame knot. A little hard to describe without diagrams but I'll try. Use one pair of threads from each side of the tassel - hereafter referred to as passives - to make knots around the passives. Lay the knotting pair from the left side to the right over all the passives leaving a sizeable loop at the left. Now bring the knotting pair on the right down over the knotting pair that came from the left., then bring it under all the passive pairs and up through the loop you left at the beginning. Pull both knotting pairs to make a smooth knot around the passives. Now starting from the right side, lay the right-hand knotting pair over the passives to the left leaving a loop at the right. Lay the left-hand knotting pair down over the pair that came from the right, then down under the passives and up thru the loop left at the right side. Again pull up and tension to make a smooth knot . Continue alternatng left and right knots for as long as you want. Usually only a quarter inch or a bit more is necessary. And that's it. No other knot or fastening is needed. It is smooth and good-looking and secure. Doris in Iowa - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Re bookmark tails.
In a message dated 18/03/2005 20:07:23 GMT Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: When I make tassels on the end of bookmarks I simply tension all but the two outside pairs down into the center, then take the two outside pairs under the others from left to right and right to left ( they are now on opposite sides to where they started ).Now all you need to do is cross them at the front take them around underneath again, bring them to the top and tie in a reef knot. Works every time for me. Shirley in Corio Oz. This is how I've always finished off a bookmark - I first learnt this method from one of Christine Springett's books and she has always promoted this method - it's worked for me Regards Liz in London I'm back blogging my latest lace piece - have a look by clicking on the link or going to http://journals.aol.com/thelacebee/thelacebee - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] RE Bookmark tails
There are a couple methods I frequently use with bookmarks. Bookmarks ending square -- not pointed. I fringe a bookmark that has a flat end. Take two adjacent pairs together. Put a large pin (I like glass headed quilting pins) at the bottom of the lace where the fringe knot should be. Lenghen the threads so there's 6-8 inches. Cut off the bobbins. Make a large overhand knot with the four threads and slide the open loop of the knot over the head of the large pin. Carefully pull the knot tight around the pin. (If you are letting the bobbins hang to straighten the threads, wait till the next day to cut and tie.) Using the pin to control the location of the knot makes a neat, even finish. If you have an odd number of pairs, knot three pairs together around one pin. Bookmarks with points Make the bookmark up to the final row of stitches going down the sides of the point. Make the outside corner stitch as normal. On second stitch, CTCt with the correct pairs, then tuck the leftover pair from the first stitch like a gimp between the two stitch pairs. Put ini the pin and complete the stitch CTCT. On the third stitch, CTC the correct pairs, then tuck in both leftover pairs, put in the pin, and complete the stitch with CTCT. Do the same on the fourth stitch, tucking in three leftover pairs. At this point you have a choice. If you have lots of pairs, and want to reduce the amount of threads in the tassel, you can start throwing out the oldest of the leftover pairs -- in other words, discard the pair from the first stitch. It has gone through three stitches as a gimp and is now secure. I often throw out up to half of the pairs, leaving half to make a smaller tassel. While doing this, I like to keep the pairs in order so the oldest pair is on the inside edge of the 'gimp'. OR -- You can continue tucking all leftover pairs in each stitch until you reach the point, then use all the pairs in the tassel. Point stitch Take the worker pair from each side of the point stitch. Pass all the leftover tassel threads between the two worker threads like a normal gimp, twist once, then make the point stitch CTCT pin CTCT. Return to the outside of the tassel pairs as before -- passing them like a gimp. Twist. Then wrap each worker pair around the tassel pairs-- lift tassel pairs, pass one thread over and then under, the second thread under and then over. Pull snuggly and knot. Do the same with the worker pair on the other side. Now finish your tassel as you like. Tassels: 1. Plain. Do a second wrap or knot at the point (see methods below). Let hang. Trim to desired length. 2. Braided Divide the tassel threads into four bundles and plait them for an inch or so. Or divide them in three bundles and do a traditional braid. Fasten the braid. Let hang. Trim to desired length. Fastening methods -Fasten with a pair wrapped around and knotted. OR -Fasten with a large overhand knot. OR -Fasten with a row of half hitches.OR -your favorite knotting method. (Thanks, Doris, for the macrame knot method. I'll have to try it.) And thanks also to the person who suggested letting the bobbins hang over the edge of the pillow over night to straighten the tassel threads before finishing. I was usually too eager to get it finished to think about the thread kinks. I'll try this on my next bookmarks. Happy lacing, Alice in Oregon -- where we have our second day of rain in over a month. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Re: Bookmark tails - half hitching
On Mar 18, 2005, at 16:16, Viv Dewar wrote: b) take one of the weaver pairs and use it to make buttonhole stitches (or half hitches) round the rest of the threads for as long as makes a decent tassle or you get totally fed up! I use a fine crochet hook for this I have no aversion to the crochet hook (if I had, I wouldn't be making so much Milanese g) but, like Janice (Blair), I'm always happy to bypass it where possible. And it's definitely possible here. Split your weaver into two individual threads, and place one each side of the rest. Lengthen those two threads slightly. Make a bundle of all the passives - doesn't matter if they're messy, so you can just put a rubber band around them all; antything to be able to lift them as a single bunch. That bundle, *plus* the other weaver thread is your core, around which you'll be doing your hitching. With the weaver on the right-hand side, slide the bobbin - tail first - under all threads (including the other weaver), but hold onto the excess thread, creating a loop. Return the bobbin - tail first - and put it through that loop. Leave. Repeat on the left-hand side. Repeat on the right-hand side. Etc. Obviously, it's easier to do with unspangled bobbins than with spangled ones, but half hitching with a spangled bobbin is still easier than making a hook-sewing - you just lengthen your hitching thread more, so the loop you're holding onto is larger. But there's no fuss, no extra tool to keep track of, no possibility of splitting the thread with the hook. Try it :) PS. Cathy Belleville, in her Rosalibre lace, uses the other half of the full-hitch - you pass the bobbin *over* the bundle *first*. I've had indiffferent luck (to be charitable of my efforts g) with doing it that way, so stick with my own method, but you might want to try both, to see which suits your better. -- Tamara P Duvallhttp://t-n-lace.net/ Lexington, Virginia, USA (Formerly of Warsaw, Poland) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Re bookmark tails.
On Mar 17, 2005, at 8:53, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Christina) wrote: My favorite project is bookmarks..but I have problems with the ends. My braids just don't come out right! Any suggestions on books that give directions on making nice braids and tassels. When I make tassels on the end of bookmarks I simply tension all but the two outside pairs down into the center, then take the two outside pairs under the others from left to right and right to left ( they are now on opposite sides to where they started ).Now all you need to do is cross them at the front take them around underneath again, bring them to the top and tie in a reef knot. Works every time for me. Shirley in Corio Oz. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Re: Bookmark tails
The way I end bookmarks: I do patterns that come to a central point at the bottom, leaving pairs out along the two slanted edges. I take the outermost pair from one edge and CTC through all the other pairs on that side. Place a support pin just below the point of the lace, unwind enough of the remaining thread on that bobbin so it hangs of the end of the pillow/table, and leave it. Take what's now the outermost pair on that side and CTC through everybody but the pair you just worked (was outermost, now is hanging at the center), lay it over the support pin and unwind enought thread for it to hang. Do this to all the pairs on that side. Then do the same thing on the other side, with another support pin for those pairs at they arrive in the center. Now designate two bobbins from that hanging bundle to be the wrappers. Lift them and cross above the others, then lay them outside the bundle. Pick up the bundle in one hand, cross the wrappers underneath. Continue crossing the wrappers above and below the bundle, pulling the wraps reasonably snug (you're not trying to imprison a person, but you want it smoothe) each time. When I have enough wraps for my taste, I tie the wrappers together in a square knot and half (right over left, then left over right, then right over left) and let the wrappers hang with the rest of the bundle. After at least 24 hours (to get the kinks out of the thread so it'll hang straight), I cut off the bobbins. If (as often the case) there was a different-color edge pair or edge gimp, I use those to wrap. Otherwise, it doesn't matter which two bobbins you use, as long as you continue using only those two for the whole wrapping. You can be fancier about the final knot. Before wrapping, take a third bobbin from the bundle and lay it atop the lace, so there's a loop from the bottom of the bookmark, down along the bundle of threads a little ways, and then back up. When you're done wrapping, the loop should be below the wraps and the bobbin attached to that thread is above the wraps. Drop each wrapper (in its appropriate direction) through that loop and lay the wrappers with the rest of the bundled bobbins. Now gently pull on the bobbin that's sitting on the lace, to pull the loop up inside the wrapping. The wrapper threads will be pulled inside there, too, securing them. Cut off the bobbin you just pulled up (the one that made the loop) close to the top of the wrapping and there will be no knot in the tassle. Robin P. Los Angeles, California, USA (formerly Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Re: Bookmark tails
On Mar 17, 2005, at 8:53, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Christina) wrote: My favorite project is bookmarks..but I have problems with the ends. My braids just don't come out right! Any suggestions on books that give directions on making nice braids and tassels. If, by braids you mean what's also known as plaits (a concoction made by two pairs of bobbins), then you don't really need a book on the subject :) Start with a cloth stitch (CTC). Stop, tension gently (don't want to scrunch it up) but firmly - down and outwards. Now, forget all you've learnt about starting a stitch with a C... *T both pairs, and make a C. Tension (gently, but firmly)*. Repeat *to* as many times as necessary. The trick is in tensioning the pairs *untwisted* (aka open method), after the C, not after the T. Can't help with tassels; on the few occasions I used that method of finishing, I just left the threads (no longer wound on bobbins) long, then used an overhand knot, hoping for luck :) Except for WIndrose #1 (IOLI Bulletin 24/; Summer '04), where I'd done something a bit different, and not entirely satisfactory. I did buy a book on tassels, but it's a whole new ball-game, and one could spend a lot of time learning how to make pretty ones; I'd rather make lace, and am keeping the book for its drool factor... :) -- Tamara P Duvallhttp://t-n-lace.net/ Lexington, Virginia, USA (Formerly of Warsaw, Poland) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
