Re: [lace] Accidents
Dear David Yes I think we have all been there. The worst thing, I think, is to cut off a pair of bobbins that you thought were another pair, only to find that they are the workers. But then these are the jhoys of being a lacemaker. !!! Maureen E Yorks UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] purists, was accidents
The longer I make lace, and the more I study with people who know what they're doing, the more I realize that the reason we became hide bound with rules about how to make lace was that someone wrote a book or taught a group of people, and the rules they gave became the standard. The fact is, as Liz says, lace was originally made by people who did not work with diagrams, but from memory. They did what made their lace look good. Some lacemakers were better than others in this respect, of course. But today, when people reconstruct old laces, they see lots of variations in techniques. So, the fascination today is to use those new possibilities and discover how they can improve your lace. I find it quite liberating, and enjoy this process. Clay On 9/18/2010 11:06 PM, Elizabeth Ligeti wrote: . I think your way, David, - extra twists here or there, or omitting them gives me the look I want, which is the important thing. After all, that was the traditional way - make it work, and get it to look how it should. There were not any books to tell them how to make the lace, they just made it up themselves as they went along. I do all sorts of things that would make a Purist shudder, - but if it means I get the look I want, - then that is OK with me. I think we all get too bogged down with rules, etc. Regards from Liz in Melbourne lizl...@bigpond.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Fw: [lace] pattern re-sizing
Yes thank you for that line Caroline, need to understand better how it works but hope it will be of help in the future sometime. Mind you I do find the arachne mail easier to understand then charts, but thats just me:-) Sue T caroline Ingle cajin...@me.com wrote: I would like to suggest the following link might be helpful for resizing your pattern.www.q7design.demon.co.uk/lacenotes/sizes/index.html Thanks for that link, Caroline. The chart can be very useful. However, it only works for cotton-to-cotton or silk-to-silk. Robin P. Los Angeles, California, USA robinl...@socal.rr.com From: Sue hurwitz...@talktalk.net the pattern quotes madeira tanne 50 (which is 39 wraps and is 2Z) in Brenda's book. I want to use my gutterman silk which says it is 27 wraps and 3Z). Would it be sensible to print the pattern out slightly bigger for the silk and if so by how much.Time is a little short now for me to have time to make some samples to see which ones best, so I hope you lovely spiders will come to my aid here. Sue T Dorset UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] thread sizes and pricking
Dear Sue, I have just found a nice little motif pattern I want to make for my Mum and the pattern quotes madeira tanne 50 (which is 39 wraps and is 2Z) in Brenda's book. I want to use my gutterman silk which says it is 27 wraps and 3Z). Would it be sensible to print the pattern out slightly bigger for the silk and if so by how much. This is the situation where I use my maths to advantage. Simply convert the 2 wrap numbers to a fraction and then multiply by 100/1 to give you a percentage. As you know it's going to be bigger, put the bigger number on top. That gives 39/27 X 100/1 = 3900 divided by 27 = 144%. Sounds too much but it should be correct. In other words the pricking needs to be almost half as wide and high again as it is right now. Look forward to hearing the result. David in Ballarat - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] thread sizes and pricking
Thank you David, Have scanned and printed the pattern at 140 % which is much larger than I expected it to be but will certainly be easier to work than the original size, g. While I was there I copied it at several different sizes to see what they looked like. One of them I will pencil in some guide lines to help me see what I need to do. Now to decide what colour to use:-) I have a few silks but not too many colours, so far when I can see and choose thread they seem to have a limited number of pretty colours. If it turns out well I will post to arachne photos section. As a side issue I have just completed a bauble cover using the lace guild pattern (or part of it) 4 fingers of white lace with gold beads in over a blue bauble. I think our daughter will like it:-) When I get a decent photo of it I will upload it to my folder on arachne. Bobbins ready to begin Eves last year pattern from the Poole Lace Circle, of bauble cover for a friend. Green thread over a silver bauble. A few weeks ago I couldn't get lacing because I had no inspiration after so many weeks away from it, I went looking through my books and folders of patterns and now have several lined up, need to get going. Sue T Dear Sue, I have just found a nice little motif pattern I want to make for my Mum and the pattern quotes madeira tanne 50 (which is 39 wraps and is 2Z) in Brenda's book. I want to use my gutterman silk which says In other words the pricking needs to be almost half as wide and high again as it is right now. Look forward to hearing the result. David in Ballarat - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] Re: Unwritten Rules - Spangling
spangl(ing) ... I've tried wire (eventually breaks); fishing line (same); and double threading through one way and back the other: all of which took ages to do and I hated it ... (tried) beading thread from the embroidery shop: it's quite sturdy and has a slight waxy feel to it ... thread the beads in order on a single thickness of this thread; then the bobbin; finally I secure it with a reef knot and dab a tiny bit of Fray Stop (or Fray Check) on the knot. With constant use, none of these have broken yet. David in Ballarat Wondering if anyone has tried something similar to this: http://www.firemountaingems.com/search.asp?skw=beading+wire There are different vendors and you can get it in varying thicknesses, but this is a popular US vendor. It is designed to take quite a bit of abuse; used for heavier jewelry for instance (and fine), then is crimped with crimp beads (which may be very helpful when spangling) and tied, etc. to add findings (clasps, etc.). It is quite durable and malleable. I don't spangle, so this may be repetitive information (and I have not read all the posts yet, so may have already been suggested.) Sometimes people who do a variety of creative things find merging tools and techniques is helpful! smile Best, Susan Reishus - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] help starting a pattern
Hello, all - I am glad that I found this list. You all seem like such friendly, helpful lacemakers as I have read back through some posts. I have been doing bobbin lace for a number of years, but mostly in solitude since there are no lace groups or lacemakers that I know of near me. Each summer, I spend a week at a craft school with a wonderful lace teacher and a group of fellow lace enthusiasts. I realize how much I rely on the teacher to help me start a new piece, for I am feeling quite stuck in my lace work in recent weeks and thought I might reach out for some help here. This summer I began my second-ever Binche piece and, while I enjoy the challenge, have felt the need to set it aside for something a little simpler and needing less concentration. This is very odd for me because I am usually a one project at a time kind of person! I have a Torchon fan design that I wish to start - bobbins wound, pricking done, all ready to go. However, I am stuck! Where do I hang the bobbins? How many pairs where? If there are passives going around the edge of the whole thing (which I *think* there are), how did they get there? And, if those passives are there, then how the heck do I get the working threads in the middle of the design? I know that if I were with my teacher from the summer, I would be able to do this with guidance from her. Right now, however, I feel like a complete beginner. The pattern I wish to do comes from Jane Atkinson's Pattern Design for Torchon Lace. An ebook I have on CD. It is patterns 52, 55,and 56 and samples 57 and 58 for anyone who might have this. The pictures that go with this are not very good. The only lace pieces I have truly started myself have been ones where I had a very good photograph to study. Does anyone have any suggestions that might help me get started? thanks so much, arlene - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] Lace in the State of Maine USA
Dear Lace Lovers, Recently, a member wrote that she found no lace of consequence in Maine. Lacemakers of Maine have been active on Arachne since the beginning, 15 years ago. We continue to contribute a body of information that is available to lacemakers at no cost. The _Lacefairy.com_ (http://www.lacefairy.com/) site was the first place so much information could be found in the U.S. - before others knew how to build such computer sites, and even The Lace Museum (California) was not on line. The Lace Fairy lives in Maine. The archive of antique lace books at the University of Arizona site was all loaned to and scanned by Tess, in Maine _http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/lace.html_ (http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/lace.html) Laces and books supporting the above activities came from local collections. Books also came by mail and personal carriers from other states and overseas. Elise and Diane Z write to Arachne from Maine. (There are other, silent, members.) The Lacemakers of Maine have met twice this Summer. Once in the Portland area to discuss and share Romanian Point Lace with a new member. The second time in the Augusta area to look at laces from members' collections with a guest from the U.K. She shared antique laces from England with us. There was even a member who drove the very long distance from New Brunswick, Canada, to this meeting. Maine lacemakers are listed in the IOLI Handbook. We live throughout the state, and are very good at networking. Nearly all our communication is by computer. We have no need for a website. We pay no dues, take no minutes, and have no boring business meetings. We focus on lace. We meet in homes or public restaurants on an as-needed basis. Most of us belong to lace guilds in other places - stateside and overseas. No lace to be found? Lace has never been known to be a product of Maine, nor is there sufficient interest to publish a list of a piece here and a piece there. We know where private lace collections are located, and for security reasons do not publicize them. As with major museums that do not put laces on display, viewing arrangements have to be made in advance. And, as with a museum, the interest usually needs to be more than casual to justify laces being taken from storage. It is possible to buy lace in Maine. As examples, in the past few months I have acquired the following lace-related items in Maine: 1. Lovely white Honiton lace collar with bird/flowers/butterflies in the original Anne Swift (London dealer) packaging, priced 48 British pounds. I paid $50 U.S. 2. Assortment of machine-made and knitted laces to use when giving lace talks, and two handkerchiefs edged in crochet/tatting - not old, but in red/white/blue thread and useful when decorating or demonstrating on national holidays. 3. Ecru Bedfordshire lace collar. 4. Needlelace probably intended as an insert on linen -- delicate basket of fruit 7 1/4 x 5. 5. Filet (lacis) wire-framed box with hinged top. All 6 sides are filet, with a dog motif in the base and 5 intact bobbles at the top. 3 1/4 sq. by 1 1/2 high. 6. The Modern Crochet Book edited by Flora Klickmann. (Vintage) 7. Old Normandy lace (over pale blue fabric) heart-shaped mini-pillow 7 high x 6 wide. 8. Black net ground/ecru Princess lace shawl that matches a vintage blouse bought in Galway years ago. Shawl is 67 x 18. 9. Antique lacemaker's lamp from Europe. This is one large glass globe with water spout, attached to a glass raised stand (all handblown). Total height 14. There is a picture of a 19th Century Calvados Lacemaker using one similar in Gertrude Whiting's Old-time Tools Toys of Needlework (Dover reprint - page 254). Obviously, none of these (except the lamp) are very rare. They do, however, represent what is available in shops and antiques auctions in Maine. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center --- We are taking our usual vacation to Maine. (For those who are not in the northeast of the USA, from Lancaster, PA to Bar Harbor Maine is over 12 hours driving on motorways/interstates when possible. We go almost every year. One year we took the ferry to Swan's Island and went to their little museum and I found a piece of lace, I think on a pillowcase. Rather coarse, but not Torchon, either. Are there other little gems of lace on exhibit anywhere in Maine? I really think we need to collect these places. It's certainly not even worth a ferry ride to see the little piece of lace, but if you know something worthwhile is there, you're more likely to look for it. The lace appeared to be the sort of thing that was made at home. Certainly not Ipswich. Coarse. But handmade. But it would be
[lace] Bobbin Lace Group or Individual in the St Louis, MO Area
Is there someone in the St. Louis, MO area who would be willing to work with me. I am still learning and really need someone willing to work with me. I live near St. Louis. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace-chat] Fw: New product sweeping the nation!
I know we cannot advertise on Lace, but not sure about protocol on Chat, and I am not profiting from this post. My DD, Judy, has started a new business online selling a holder for your earbuds that you use with ipods, iphones, etc. You can see the information at: http://www.jbwidgets.com/Flip-Up.html Please pass on the info to anyone who might need them, or feel free to post to your Facebook and Twitter pages. Janice Janice Blair Crystal Lake, 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois, USA www.jblace.com http://www.lacemakersofillinois.org To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com.
