In the introduction to her book 'Gekloppelte Reticella' (Bobbin Lace Reticella) Brigitte Bellon writes (in German and French - here is my translation to English): " Reticella is a lace technique originating in Italy in the 16th Century. The root word is the Italien 'rete' (filet in French, let's say 'mesh') and thus 'fine mesh.' We find at first geometric motifs typical of cut work (where threads are pulled away from surface embroidery); with bobbins, the lacemakers used the motifs to duplicate cutwork and needle lace. A distinctive characteristic of Reticella bobbin lace is the placement of motifs in squares...and she goes on to describe same.
To distinguish the three, I agree with what Alex describes. On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 11:00 AM, Alex Stillwell <[email protected] > wrote: > Dear Arachnids > > Cutwork, Reticella or punto in aria > > I have always understood that > > 1) if the basis of the work is threads from a woven fabric, no matter how > few, > it is cutwork. > 2) If the basis of the work is plaits used to make a square or rectangular > grid over which the stitches are laid it is reticella. > 3) If the basis of the work is an outlining thread following a freestyle > design it is punto in aria. > > I will be interested to read how and why other lacemakers have other ideas. > > -- Bev in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
