----- Original Message ----- From: "ann DURANT" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "A Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2003 11:32 PM Subject: Re: [lace] Leaves in machine lace
> Does this maypole machine have anything in common with French knitting? > Only more complicated, of course, but could the idea have come from that? > > Ann in Manchester, UK The Barmen lace machine was developed from the simple braid making machines common in Central and Eastern Europe during the past. I remember visiting an open-air museum in Bulgaria where a stream gave water-power to a variety of industries including a saw-mill, corn-grinding, fulling stocks and the braid making machine. The resulting cord was like the ones we used to have on blinds and heavy sash-windows. Later I saw a mechanical braid machine working on similar principle in a museum in the same country. I am sure that similar braid making devices could be found in other parts of the World. I would be interested to know. The only similarity to French knitting is that the finished product goes down through a cylindrical hole at the top. The French knitting structure is looped. However, that led to the invention of the circular knitting frame and eventually the circular stocking machine and then the stocking frame machine which in its turn led to the lace knitting machines .... there is no end to it! I forgot to say yesterday that imitation leaves are made on the Leavers lace machine, especially when copying Le Puy type laces. These machines imitate weaving rather than plaiting. Angela Thompson, Worcestershire UK [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED]
