It is my understanding that an afficot is used in needle lace to "polish" the stitches after the whole thing is completed, specifically the buttonholing on the cordonnet. You use the rounded knobby end for this. You want a tool with no points or edges which could catch the threads and snag them. You just want to smooth out the surface.
Jewelers also use a burnisher kind of tool: a highly polished stainless steel sort of rod stuck in a handle. If you've raised any sharp bits of metal while cutting a setting, you rub this tool on the precious metal (which is softer than steel) to burnish the surface and make it shiney. Similar purpose in both cases. Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
