They are very similar, and I have to admit that I can't understand why anyone that enjoys Honiton should not enjoy Milanese. To me, biased as I am because Milanese is my teaching 'speciality', the last thing I would describe Milanese as is boring.
Where in Honiton all the braids are either cloth or half stitch with only the occasional light relief of a four pin bud or crossing course threads, in Milanese there are a vast range of decorated braids to choose from. I always think of Milanese as brain-lace, as you have all the same problems to solve as in any of the part laces such as where to start and finish, how many pairs to use and how to negotiate bends and corners, but at the same time you are planning where and how you can best fit braids in with the design. The thread is usually thicker but doesn't have to be; my first piece of nearly-Milanese (Byzantium Bird) was actually started as Honiton but I added a braid to the wings and spot spiders on the tail to make the raised and rolled work less boring. My next one was the Art Nouveaux Scrolls but this was still worked in 120 cotton. Now when I look at it I think it is too fine as you need to be close up to really see the braids. Maybe one day I'll do it again in Finca 80 or 100 which are the ones I mostly use now. Both these pieces are on my page on the arachne webshots ( http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/365120653RPpEgv ) along with some of my newer pieces. The main differences between the two laces are that the Honiton has mostly plain braids with patterned fillings, the Milanese has patterned braids and very often no fillings at all. Where it does have fillings they are used with restraint (or the whole effect is just too OTT) and are often a ground of some sort. A lot of Honiton patterns can be adapted slightly (and enlarged a bit) to make good Milanese ones. Jacquie in Lincolnshire - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
