RE: [lace] polystyrene pillows
The other thing to remember if you are cutting your own blocks (and I think most bought pillows have them) is to have two half blocks. These are most useful to move your work - you don't always want to move a whole block and the half blocks make life s much easier. You never work on the half blocks they are just used to move the lace around. The pillow I'm using at the moment has extra wide blocks and I am able to do two strips of my curtain at the same time, but it doesn't come with half blocks and sometimes it is either quite a stretch to reach where I'm working or I have all the bobbins hanging off the bottom into my lap. Malvary in Ottawa, Canada where we are finally having some summer 30c today with humidity index of 35. After the wettest July ever recorded (in fact it was the wettest month ever recorded) this is welcome. Even hotter tomorrow and Monday. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] polystyrene pillows
When we made my new larger pillow we did just that, made two extra normal sized blocks which were 5 and half x 11 inches and one which is 11 inches square, so good for making a square as I can turn the square block as I work. We shaped the end closest to me so it fitted better into my lap and the chair and it is working very well. The cost of that polysterene was just under 4GBP both sides of the centre blocks useable and replacements a plenty if I needed them from about a mile away, (works for me). Shame we cant all be as lucky. It would be even better if it was the proper, tougher material but the felt tops do help and of course the cost of replacements not big. Sue T Dorset UK Was advised by Pat Milne once, if you are cutting blocks from a sheet of foam, think of the future and make an extra one or two while you are at it. Unfortunately, after I did that, I have had less time for lace than I would have liked. Mary - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
RE: [lace] polystyrene pillows
Hi All, If you are also a quilter, wool wadding goes nicely on both sides of one of those pieces of polystyrene blocks cut to size. Was advised by Pat Milne once, if you are cutting blocks from a sheet of foam, think of the future and make an extra one or two while you are at it. Unfortunately, after I did that, I have had less time for lace than I would have liked. Mary _ Need a new model in your life? Sell your car fast. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] polystyrene pillows
Jacquie wrote: And of course, if you get a block pillow, you have both sides of the blocks to wear out. Jacquie's comment about block pillows brought this idea to mind: If the center is relatively flat, could you cut it out, flip it, and reset with the bottom side up, thus giving you the opportunity to use the other side? Of course this wouldn't work if the top is overly domed. Vicki in Maryland - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] polystyrene pillows
Sue Babbs wrote > I have also used thin sheets of Foam (about 1/8 inch thick) in this way, > with considerable success. But if you have to buy it, in the UK anyway, then it's could well be another example of Brenda's comment. We don't have Michaels here, and Hobbycraft (our equivalent) is not so inexpensive. You will need to cost it out well, otherwise you will find that you are spending as much money (and a lot of time) on the cure, when it would be far more satisfactory to buy a new pillow. Depending on the size of the worn patch, you may find that you can use the pillow a couple more time to make an edging, where the pricking surrounds the soft area rather than crossing it. Or it may be alright for another piece or two if you choose one that uses thicker pins (and therefore heavier thread) than you usually use, or just push your pins in a little further than normal. What I would say though is to take measures to make your new pillow last longer. Buy and uncoverd one, and first of all use a couple of layers of the felt suggested previously as a cure to your problem, as a prevention instead. This will stop your pins penetrating so deeply while still giving a good grip. If you make a variety of lace, use it first of all for those that use fine pins. Avoid using thick divider pins on a polystyrene pillow, and although you should use heavier pins to pin your cover cloth so you can stretch it tightly, make sure that these pins are pushed in on the vertical face of the very edge, not on the top of the pillow at all. If you choose the shape of cookie pillow that has a bigger flat top rather than a domed one, and you make a lot of bookmarks and similar, you can often position the pricking slightly off centre to use as much of the area as possible. When it becomes softish for fine pin lace, use it for the heavier laces such as Torchon and Cluny where you use thicker pins, and also push them in a bit further. Sound familiar? Here we are around the full circle. And of course, if you get a block pillow, you have both sides of the blocks to wear out. Jacquie in Lincolnshire - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] polystyrene pillows
Jean Nathan wrote: As for dealing with the joins in block pillows, I have never noticed them because I've always found that the pricking card holds the pin securely enough if it happens to be at the join. If the blocks are pressed tightly enough together, the pins probably pierce something, even if it's only the block cover. Thank you, Jean. I assumed it would be something like that. I'm still new to all this and wasn't sure. Lesley Marple UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] polystyrene pillows
Hi, I think the consensus has been - it's broken and can't be mended. Thanks also to a couple of you that have said that you've got another polystyrene pillow that I could have, but I think I'm going to go with something a bit sturdier when I get one for me. If memory serves me right, I think the one I've got right now was bought for my cousin who had more interest in lace than I did when we were both about 10. So It won't be a big problem that it's broken. Helen, Somerset, UK Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [lace] polystyrene pillows
Hi Helen - So sorry to hear about the polystyrene. My "gut level" reaction is to advise you to toss the polystyrene AND the surgical tape, and keep the wooden base. You can probably find the better foam (and I can't remember the UK name for it...) fairly inexpensively, and simply make yourself "new and improved" blocks which won't break down or require sticky tape. Actually, I've put that in reverse... get the new foam and use the old for precise sizing, THEN toss the old stuff!! ; ) Clay Clay Blackwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
