Thanks for the pinning off description. And for the accidental pickot description, too <g> - I didn't know you could do them by twisting the pin instead of twisting the threads around.
A big part of my problem with using lace is that I dress exclusively in T-shirts and shorts (I do own one dress for when I really need to dress up, but that's it), and my ears aren't even pierced... I also can't sew at all - I could probably put an edging on a hanky, but forget about adding lace to anything as complicated as clothing... I guess doilies and random ornaments are my best bet. And jewelry for other people <g>. Also, it'll hopefuly be 30 or so years until I'm a grandma... <g> What are the different uses of different types of lace and thread? Weronika (Caltech, Pasadena, California) On Fri, Apr 23, 2004 at 11:06:10PM -0400, Tamara P. Duvall wrote: > On Apr 23, 2004, at 19:30, Weronika Patena wrote: > > >I can see how cross-and-pin helps, but what if you're for example > >making > >tape, or just a piece in a Torchon pattern that doesn't have pins > >wherever two pairs meet? It seems like in this case if you let the > >workers go off the sides, all of the correct tensioning will be lost... > > Nope. Traditionally, you work the open method (ending your stitch with > a cross, bobbins untwisted) on pillows like the bolsters, or the > Spanish uprights, where the bobbins fall off (or down) the pillow and > are likely to get mixed up. The same gravity which makes them fall off, > keeps them tensioned. But, if you're really worried about getting them > mixed up (and, at the beginning, it *is* a worry <g>), pin off like Bev > said. > > You pin off whole batches of pairs -- preferably "logical sections". > I.e., say, 6prs which make a trail on one pin, the workers and passives > of the footside on another pin, etc (in Russian Tape pinning off is not > only un-necessary, it's cumbersome, because it happens too frequently). > > Pinning off > > Use long, but reasonably thin (less damage to the pillow and the > covering fabric) pins (until you get yourself some divider pins, the > so-called "corsage" pins, available from places like WalMart, Michaels, > etc are fine). When you've finished a "logical section", and while all > the bobbins are still spread flat in front of you... Um... I'm > right-handed and pinning off is much easier for me to do on the right > than it is on the left, so that's what I'll describe, OK? Pinning off > on the left is a mirrored action (I'm not so good with mirrors, > including driving backwards, but maybe you are) > > Slide the pin, horizontally, under all the threads of your section, > right-to-left. Twist the pin down, then up over the threads forming a > loop. Carry the whole bunch you've "captured" off to the side, out of > the way, and stick the pin in. When your copy of Cook's Practical > Skills in BL arrives, you can see an illustration of the process; it is > the same movement as the first part of a double picot, but you're > picking up many threads instead of one, and pinning farther away from > your work. > > When that bunch of pairs needs to come into play again, unpin, carry > the whole bunch to where they need to be, withdraw the pin and the > bobbins will fan out, ready to work. Miraculously, if you withdraw the > pin horizontally, after the bobbins themselves are where they're > supposed to be, they're likely to arrange themselves "just so", without > losing/acquiring twists, *even if* they got tangled while hanging off. > > I use that method almost all the time when working on a roller pillow. > There isn't a whole lot of room on the "apron", the finer edgings are > likely to have in excess of 30 pairs, and I like to have my "pairs in > use" well fanned out... That's also one of those situations where a 6" > leash is better than a 4" one; you need longer threads if you're going > to "scoop up" a whole bunch of bobbins and pin them well out of your > way. Unless... you're willing to lengthen and shorten them constantly, > which I'm too lazy to do :) > > >I think I'll enjoy trying to change patterns from CT to TC or back > > I had a lot of trouble at first, switching to the open method (first > learnt from books which used the "closed" method -- end your stitch > with all the twists needed). In the end, like it better, though don't > use it all the time. If you're working with fine threads, it's easier > to see that a pair has suddenly acquired a twist where there shouldn't > have been any, then to notice that it has acquired one extra, and now > has two instead of one. But it has a downside, also: even in the open > method, you still start your cloth/linen stitch with a C, so you're > constantly shifting between the two starts. > > What helped me... I was, at that time, counting the movements (still > do, sometimes). Since I'd always started with a C, it became "one", and > so firmly embedded in my mind, that I couldn't change it. So, to start > with a T instead, I went to music, and started counting: "and, one, > two, three"... :) > > Re: using your lace. > > The subject comes up occasionaly, since most of us like to *make* it > but either don't relly like to wear it at all, or else can't imagine > making yards, and yards, and yards, yawn... of the same pattern... > > Samrah's (Cinde in Southern California - good to have you with us, > Cinde) solution is a clever one, since she's using short lengths and > different widths (before she gets terminally bored, she's onto > something new), and she'll have something to show for it (and suitable > to wear at demos in the future). I used to use my samples (intermixed > with various, lace-related pins) to decorate a special pocketbook I > made, but have run out of space on it, and will have to think of some > other "dumpster" :) David (Collyer, aka "Downunder") is an orchestra > director -- he decorated his "fraque" (English?) with his lace and made > a lace bow tie to go with it. Another friend has a gadzillion shirts, > each with a different technique on the pocket band... > > I think all of us make a lot of lace which we give away. Mostly, it's > small projects like Christmas ornaments, bookmarks, earrings, etc which > are either "traded" (Christmas exchange, for example) or used as > fundraisers for charities, but not always. Wedding hankies, garters and > ring pillows, and baby bonnets and booties make excellent personal > gifts. Grandmas will go to "any length" for christening robes (Clay > even learnt Bucks for the purpose <g>) > > You'll need at least a collar or two, to wear at the banquets, once you > hook up with a lace group and start attending "events". > > A lot depends on the thread thickness you like to work with and the > style of lace you prefer to make -- each lends itself to somewhat > different uses -- but I never found it difficult to get rid of my lace; > indeed, the first few years, my DH used to complain that I'd spend > 10-12 hrs a day at the pillow (instead of tending to his comfort) but, > when he wanted to brag a bit about my abstruse passtime (and explain > his un-ironed shirts), there was never anything to show... > > Just this past week, a 7yr-old visiting "small fry" (youngest daughter > of my stepson) came up to me -- after having eyed my wire paisley > covetously all evening -- and asked: "Bunia, can you make me one like > that, when you have the time?" Thankfully, I happened to have 4 samples > and will only need 3 for the article, so she got it the next day > (though only after she helped me clean up after the b-day party; I'm > mean <g>) > > ----- > Tamara P Duvall > Lexington, Virginia, USA > Formerly of Warsaw, Poland > http://lorien.emufarm.org/~tpd/ > > - > To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: > unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
