Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
Information overload ;) It is barley straw used for pond work (I suppose oat straw could be as well? but barley is preferred). I would love to know how a pillow stuffed with barley straw compares to that of oat or wheat (is it lighter? heavier even? does it compress better? or was it just what was available to the Devon pillowmakers) Donna in your area you should have no difficulty finding oat straw. There should be a farmer somewhere who has a field of barley planted (my ignorance is showing as I"m not sure what barley is used for, if oat or wheat will do. I do know barley was grown at one time 'in the past' in the Delta, but that's a long ago past for me) > - Someone made a side comment somewhere along the line that oat straw is > currently in vogue for use in keeping algae down in back yard fish ponds. Yes, please, keep us posted ;) > I'll let you all know how I get along. If I get really ambitious, I may > even photo-document the process! -- bye for now Bev in Sooke BC (on Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) Cdn. floral bobbins www.woodhavenbobbins.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
Thank-you all for your great comments re: straw-filled pillows. I got some significant new information that will help a great deal in my project. - Oat straw was traditional/recommended. Also sea grass. And I very much like the suggestion to add fragrant herbs. - Chop the straw. A "duh!" moment for me. I had envisioned stuffing whole straw into the pillow, but chopping it makes ever so much more sense. - Someone made a side comment somewhere along the line that oat straw is currently in vogue for use in keeping algae down in back yard fish ponds. Although I live in a community known for its high horse population (Fraser Valley, just east of Vancouver B.C. Canada), I had been a bit anxious about the availability of oat straw until this came up. We have a lot of high-end landscaping places too, so I have high hopes of being able to find oat straw easily - The weight of a straw-stuffed pillow. Another "duh!" moment. Yeah -- this pillow is going to be a LOT heavier than my two pillows. So I've added "sturdy new carrying bag" to my list of tasks for this project. I'll let you all know how I get along. If I get really ambitious, I may even photo-document the process! Thank-you again, Donna in Surrey B.C. Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED] Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows tale
> when I had opened the bale outside, it was packed in neat 'books' and > it didn't explode. In Australia we call them biscuits but I get the vibe of it...*g* Cheers, Yvonne. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows tale
On 2/10/06, Carol Adkinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > the huge straw bale in her shed - she described it as similar to an > explosion of straw, as of course when the straw is baled, it is tightly > packed, and the release is similar to a bomb going off!I could > sympathise Of course I wouldn't have been there, but I have sort of 'done that' - when I had opened the bale outside, it was packed in neat 'books' and it didn't explode. I could pick out a book (a pressed unit made by the baler machine) and deal with it, then another as required, for the straw-chopping-filling purpose. Time passed, I had a new pillow and abandoned the remaining bale of straw, and quite a lot of the bale too, still neatly in itspackaged bale shape. I would deal with it 'later' - well, when I went outside the next day, I was greeted with a stunning sight - the entire front lawn and garden was golden. A helpful wind had come up and rearranged the books, so to speak. It made me laugh out loud! I raked up what I could and most of it went into the compost, but I got sproutings of green oat grass in unusual places for a long time after that. The smell of a new straw-filled pillow is lovely. -- bye for now Bev in Sooke BC (on Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) Cdn. floral bobbins www.woodhavenbobbins.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
Hi Brenda, Bev et al, I wonder how many of the Arachne sisterhood are Essex Lace Makers members. I ask because many years ago - far more than I really care to remember, I suppose - we at one of the October Open Lace Days all enjoyed a talk by Elsie Johnson, on making her straw pillows when she first started making lace. We all ended up hurting as we had laughed so much!The funniest thing was her description of what happened when she cut the binding round the huge straw bale in her shed - she described it as similar to an explosion of straw, as of course when the straw is baled, it is tightly packed, and the release is similar to a bomb going off!I could sympathise, as I had also done that - but couldn't describe it as humorously as she did! I wonder how many remember that - but I am sure all those who were there wouldn't ever forget it. Carol - in Suffolk UK, where it is a bright and very sunny morning, albeit jolly cold outside! - Original Message - From: "Brenda Paternoster" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "bevw" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "lace Arachne" Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 6:25 PM Subject: Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows > On 9 Feb 2006, at 02:24, bevw wrote: > However, we have machines that can do the trick - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
> When I started learning BL the first task was to make a pillow, and we > used hay - dried grass - and I still prefer hay to straw for a BL > pillow, Doesn't need the initial chopping and doesn't corrode the pins > as much. Hay is available from pet supply shops. hmm, 'hay' here, at a pet supply, as far as I know (which is open to correction) is alfalfa, and has the head of the plant in it. I prefer what we call clean straw, harvested early and dried - will have less, if any grains/kernels. The end of the season straw will have the kernels in it, which I'd prefer not to use on the off-chance that some might sprout inside the pillow. Overly obsessive, maybe~ > stuff in the filling using a stout stick (half a broom handle) to ram > it in as hard as possible, bash it with a mallet, turn it over and jump > up and down on it, I am picturing it ;) but yes, that's about the effort you have to make to stuff the pillow firmly! -- bye for now Bev in Sooke BC (on Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) Cdn. floral bobbins www.woodhavenbobbins.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
On 9 Feb 2006, at 02:24, bevw wrote: Barley straw is recommended for honiton pillows (and others, I suppose) because it wasn't as 'hard' to break down into bits as wheat or oat straw. However, we have machines that can do the trick - like if you have access to a garden shredder - works a treat. Or run the lawnmower over the straw a few times, on a clear bit of the lawn (certainly not at this time of year maybe, not on damp grass?!) When I started learning BL the first task was to make a pillow, and we used hay - dried grass - and I still prefer hay to straw for a BL pillow, Doesn't need the initial chopping and doesn't corrode the pins as much. Hay is available from pet supply shops. The first pillows had a circular MDF base and a large circle of fabric stapled over it with the hay pushed in between, but I found that quite a difficult way of making pillows (and I've made dozens over the years for various people). Instead I use a square of MDF and make up a cover rather like a pillow case that the base will only just fit into, then stuff in the filling using a stout stick (half a broom handle) to ram it in as hard as possible, bash it with a mallet, turn it over and jump up and down on it, take out all your frustrations then when you've got in twice as much filling as you thought possible pull the ends of the cover over to the back and staple down, or you could use drawing pins (thumb tacks). The surface of the pillow should be flat, even and hard enough to support pins without them wobbling. The cover fabric an be any colour so long as it's a firm weave and strong and preferably cotton. Once you've got the basic pillow made you can add a top cover in navy or bottle green or whatever you fancy, trim with braid if you wish Barley straw can be obtained, apparently, from aqua supply places (how's that - um, such as for oil spill cleanup, or pond work). Barley straw is supposed to suppress algae growth in fish ponds. Terry's tried it a couple of times but it doesn't work that well. Lots of filtration and UV light works best, a couple of overcast days in the summer and the water gets really green. Brenda http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/ - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Straw-filled pillows
I made four pillows stuffed with barley straw several years ago and gave them away 18 months ago because they were just too heavy (especially the 24 inch circular one), although excellent to work on. One suggestion for packing the straw is to fill the pillow as much as you can, put it on your driveway covered with a cloth and drive the wheels if your car over it. Pack it some more and do it again until there's no more space to fill. Jean in Poole Dorset, UK - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
you can allso use gras if you have a lawn, just leave on the lawn after ´cutting to dry, collect and stuff your pillow. Dorte - Original Message - From: "Donna Hrynkiw" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 1:38 AM Subject: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows For years I've been reading about how early lace pillows were stuffed with straw and have been curious about how they would differ from our modern pillows. I've decided that I want to make a reproduction 17th century bobbin lace pillow. Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or thoughts to share on making a straw-filled pillow? Does anyone have any idea what KIND of straw? I know there is a big difference between wheat straw and barley straw and oat straw. Donna in Surrey B.C. Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED] Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.2/253 - Release Date: 07-02-2006 - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
- Original Message - From: "Allan and Yvonne Farrell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Donna Hrynkiw" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 12:32 PM Subject: Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows > My first pillow is a straw pillow. I used lucerne chaff (a type of chopped > straw used for animal food). The base was chip board and the covering was an > upholstery fabric as modern calico is to weak and stretchy for making lace > pillow. The fabric for the covering has to be as resistant to stretch as > possible so that the pillow doesn't end up being a big hill. You have to > pack it and pack it then bash it down and pack it some more. Pack it really > tightly and thread the opening closed and pull it up as tightly as possible > so that the pillow is rock hard. The pillow will last for years and years > before the chaff breaks down and then you can open it and repack the > stuffing with more chaff you can then use a layer of something like horse > blanket to smooth and soften the working surface before adding a final cover > which I made like a fitted sheet so that I can take it off and launder it. > > They are fantastic to work on even though they are heavy to carry. Don't use > a straw pillow as a travel pillow. You also may need to have a couple of > goes at paking it as often you don't realise how hard you need to pack it. I > topped mine up after my first piece because it needed packing just a little > more. > > I love my straw pillow and it was a fun experience making it. I find it very > stable to work on especially if you a phsical tensioner...LOL The pillow > doesn't drift across the table. I prop it up wwth a copy of James Clavell's > Shogun which I have never read, It is just the perfect tilt for the pillow > and lives with all my lace making gear. > > > Good luck with your pillow, Cheers, Yvonne. > - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
> Does anyone have any idea what KIND of straw? I know there is a big > difference between wheat straw and barley straw and oat straw. I have made many straw-filled pillows. The biggest was a Midlands square and it consumed more straw than I had available, and I ended up stuffing the rest of with polyester batting. It was ridiculously heavy, and I only used it once. I think I upended it last year, when I needed a layer of straw for the composter :~] (the straw I used was probably oat straw, what I could buy in a bale cheaply from the feed store - one bale will fill a lot of pillows!) ok - to the topic of a 17th century pillow - if you know the country, then find out the commonly grown grain (or - 'most readily available stuffing thing' - if it was sheep's fleece, then you'll have a very nice pillow indeed. One of my bolsters is stuffed with washed, compressed (but not felted) fleece)) in the area and take that as a starting point. Barley straw is recommended for honiton pillows (and others, I suppose) because it wasn't as 'hard' to break down into bits as wheat or oat straw. However, we have machines that can do the trick - like if you have access to a garden shredder - works a treat. Or run the lawnmower over the straw a few times, on a clear bit of the lawn (certainly not at this time of year maybe, not on damp grass?!) If not, you will have to break the straw down by hand, by cutting, and that's really hard on the wrists. The bits are supposed to be one or two inches long, and most bales we can buy are cut longer, for of course they're meant for other purposes than pillow stuffing Barley straw can be obtained, apparently, from aqua supply places (how's that - um, such as for oil spill cleanup, or pond work). I haven't had much success in finding someone who grows barley; it seems to be exclusively wheat or oats around where I am, but you might have better luck where you are, if barley straw is the choice. I'd love to barley straw in a pillow, and await the opportunity... When you have the straw, cut fine (into one to two-inch long bits - not very fine or the dust is bad, and not very long, or it doesn't compress), and your casing ready, be prepared to stuff and stuff; press or pound the matter into the pillow casing, keep stuffing until you can just barely draw the casing shut - however way you're doing to do that - a bolster is easier to stuff than a cookie pillow and I'm presuming the 17th century pillow is a bolster form? The stuffed pillow will be so firm that you can't make an impression in it. It doesn't need to be rock hard or you might tear the fabric. Then put the covering cloth on, then a pricking, and test with pins - they should stay upright and not wobble. hope this helps! Lace pillow-making is sooo satisfying ;) -- bye for now Bev in Sooke BC (on Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) Cdn. floral bobbins www.woodhavenbobbins.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Straw-Filled Pillows
For years I've been reading about how early lace pillows were stuffed with straw and have been curious about how they would differ from our modern pillows. I've decided that I want to make a reproduction 17th century bobbin lace pillow. Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or thoughts to share on making a straw-filled pillow? Does anyone have any idea what KIND of straw? I know there is a big difference between wheat straw and barley straw and oat straw. Donna in Surrey B.C. Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED] Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
