Hi Bev, For Torchon, with the gimp lying in the middle of the space, I've always been a "lift the right (actually, under the bottom thread, is an easier way to think of it) with one 1 twist before and 2 after" person - it is possible to swap to the opposite with 2 twists before and 1 after, as I do in classes where the teacher is a firm "lift the left" person, but you do tend to revert to what is automatic. I personally think it is better to understand where everything should end up and how you achieve that by your usual method, so you can mentally "translate" what the teacher is saying into what your hands are familiar with doing.
If you are going to try "lift the right" consider the other possibilities of thinking about it to help, since "right" and "left" are concepts that the human brain (not just yours and mine, but generally) is not wired to handle easily, eg, for many years I taught students "under the bottom thread", which I thinks works quite well, but I now teach my students to use a CROSS, TWIST motion to pass the gimp through another pair (the gimp has an invisible companion!) - they get notes and diagrams explaining the "lift the left" approach and how it is equivalent if you adjust the twists, so that they can cope with teachers who prefer that method. One potential advantage of the "under the right" method is that you can incorporate the "middle" twist into the "passing the gimp" action. You lift the right hand thread to pass the gimp under and put it back down on the left. This is easier to do when the gimp is travelling from right-to-left. If you ever get into Toender lace and use Karen Trend Nissen's working diagrams, it is assumed that this is how you always pass a gimp. It is also worthwhile to watch the effect of what you are doing. (In "standard" Torchon) if the gimp slides up into the previous stitch, you haven't got it right (unless there is a reason you want this effect). If lifting the upper thread after you think you have enough twists on after passing the gimp shows uncovered gimp, you have one too few! Christine Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sydney, Australia (A self-confessed gimp fanatic - who just loved Alex Stillwell's study of twists around the gimp in Bucks Point lace in museums in the UK). Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:43:16 -0700 From: bevw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [lace] Gimps - either way I am so far bound to 'lift the left' - it is a habit that stuck and stayed, maybe because most always I lift the left thread with the left hand? and the next habit (good or bad) is a visual check to add a twist if needed. Sometimes I don't want one there :p I will try the 'lift the right' method in a small project, and see how my mind copes (it is prone to wandering, especially while in the lace zone :S) On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 4:16 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > It actually makes no difference to the appearance whether the gimp goes > under > the right or left hand thread. What is altered is the twists before and > after. > > - -- Bev (near Sooke, BC on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) - - Christine J [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
