Amanda "Top sewings" and "edge sewings" don't necessarily have to do with tape lace: they are more important in Duchesse, Honiton and Bruges Bloomwork.
1. In the most common type of tape lace, your tape has a "winkiepin edge", also called "pin after 2 threads". After you set the edge pin, you twist the weaver 1-3 extra times, then close the pin. Those extra twists make a loop at the pin. In most tape laces the sewing is made into that weaver loop. You twist the pair that gets sewn depending on how much space there is between its own tape and the part you are sewing into. There is no rule, just do what makes sense, remembering that extra twists take up space if the distance is large, and the twists also strengthen the threads. 2. When your tape has a "sewing edge" also called "Pin after 4 threads", then the language of edge sewings and top sewings makes sense. When you are making a sewing edge, you stitch the weaver and edge pair, and then set the pin so that both pairs go around the outside of the pin (pin after 4 threads), and then return to make your next row with the pair nearer the pin. The result of this is that you change weavers at every row. The sewing would normally be done into the space where the pin was, straight in from the edge, so that the crochet hook reaches under the 4 threads that are stitched together at that place. This would be called "the edge sewing". A "top sewing" would be made so that the hook grabs just the weaver. It bypasses the pin area, goes under the weaver and grabs the thread. The net result of this type of sewing is that the edge of the tape gets forced upwards slightly (downwards as the right side of the lace faces the pillow). When you take the piece off the pillow you have a slight relief effect, which can be very nice. Another use of "top and bottom sewings" (first pass the top weaver, 2nd pass the lower) is to gain on a pin when you need 2 sewings into the same area. You can find diagrams on page 54 of Cooks PRACTICAL SKILLS. 4a & 4b is an edge sewing, 5a and 5c are top and bottom sewings. Lorelei Halley - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
