I hope not too late for a 2003 thread, but here's the method I've ended up using for the couching in needle lace. Following the Zele method (modern Flemish descendant of Alencon/point de gaz). They use a very fine thread - 100/2 Brok or Egyptian Cotton - in a fine (say no.10) needle, and bring the needle through on the design line, over the cordonnet or "trace" threads, and back in the same hole. Couching stitches, as in all versions, about 1/12th of an inch or 2mm apart, and trace threads taut and couching firm. This does work, and doesn't give a loose outline; in fact the couching threads get less in the way in the filling than a thicker thread would. At the end, any stitching holding the sandwich of pattern and double piece of calico/muslin is removed (I zig-zag round the outside to keep things fairly neat) and then the two pieces of calico are just pulled apart, ripping the couching thread. A bit worrying the first time, but it does work! Rather like unpinning one's very first piece of bobbin lace thinking it's all going to fall to bits. It doesn't, honest. What does happen is that the couching thread ends up in longish bits which are very easy to pull out, and being fine there's no problem with this.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] - sort of meeting New Year's resolution to post a little more often! __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/signingbonus - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
