Glad so many had a look at my twined gimps. I'm feeling quite smug about the finished product, now if only I dont spoil it by botching the linen centre. My arthritic fingers just cannot cope with the tiny stitches needed for a hand rolled hem, I think I will fold the raw edges over, pull a thread for a crochet hook to go through, and crochet around it. Then clip off the excess fabric. Anyone got any other ideas?
Yes Alice, a double twist on change of direction does help tighten up the corners - I did this in the latter stages of the piece, when I had slowed down a bit (see my poem on UFO's about my habit of charging into projects then slowing down!). But the corner of the mat where I did this is also where the joins are (and the last corner fan, which is even untidier) and I automatically did not put *that* corner in the scanner (the long threads are still not finished off). And I think Christine is right in saying Fuhrman called them "twined" as they twine around each other. Otherwise I suppose it would be "twin" gimps. The technique is simple Helen - pass your pair of worker bobbins between the gimps, then twist the gimps once. No extra twists in the worker bobbins in this exercise, and I don't think they are necessary. No criticism taken Jean in saying the fans are not perfect!!! I think the only way to get perfect fans would be to support pin every single CTCT. I do put in a few glass headed pins in support around the corner fans, as the Moravia linen (22 threads per cm, thanks Brenda) needs a good Torchon Tug (Tamara's expression) to put the threads in place, but as far as my fans go these are quite OK for me. What I can't do is get a good sweep in cloth stitch fans, and usually avoid them. Thanks for the email on fans Ruth, I will keep it all in mind next project! And Carol (love your address, "NiddyNoddy"!), the discussion about twined gimps came up a few days ago, because I didn't have the right thread for the gimps for this piece and I figured a thinner gimp, used as a pair would do, and if I was using a pair, why not pass the workers through the pair. And I was so happy with the result, I just had to share it with everyone! Also, the pattern came from Sorenson's "75 Quick and Easy Bobbin Lace Patterns" but beware - as discussed several months ago, the pricking is distorted - one end is wider than the other and when you try to leapfrog your pieces of prickings, they don't match up in width. Ruth kindly redrew it for me on her computer. And of course, I had to enlarge the pattern to use the thicker Moravia thread. Diane, I'm going to use the leftover linen (I always wind too much) in bookmarks with different coloured gimps now. Good thing I've just sorted out my pricking box into a lever arch plastic pocket folder! This message has ended up sounding like a roll call for Arachne! Noelene in Cooma [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nlafferty/ - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
