Hi Vickie, There are probably books written on your questions. The general answer I would give is: There are many ways to end lace threads and it depends on the type of lace and the location within the lace which method is used.
Here are some answers as I see them. In Torchon hanky edges, when I start with paired bobbins that leave a row of loops at the start, the returning threads must be securely attached to the beginning loops. Thus, each pair must be tied securely. Then the ends are dealt with. I usually weave the ends into the surrounding lace for a couple pins distance. When all have been sewn/woven, I cut them off very close to the lace. Most torchon have the pinholes spread apart, so I finish each thread separately. If it's a type of lace that is closely woven at the attachment point, a continuous/rolling form of square knot can be used. Since these threads are snugged tightly against each other, it only works in dense situations. In this case, the thread ends will be trimmed short after the knot has been made. This method is illustrated in "Practical Skills in Bobbin Lace". This method leaves a ridge of thread so is only used when there is a 'right' and 'wrong' side to the lace, and the 'wrong' side is up. A thread leaving the lace in the middle of the pattern can sometimes be run along with a gimp thread, then just thrown back to be trimmed off later. Some laces have threads added and thrown out all through the pattern. Knots are not used. Just throw the bobbin over the top of the lace, and trim it neatly later. Sometimes you just run out of thread and have to add a new one. The two simplest methods are to run the old and new threads together through several pins, then throw back the old thread. The loose ends can be trimmed when the area gets out of the pins. The second method is to tie the old and new threads together and just keep working. Trim off the ends later. When you trim, do one thread at a time (not a pair) and clip right next to lace with the scissors held flat to the lace. And your last question.....Do Not use Fray Check on lace. Years later it may turn yellow. Learn to knot and weave your threads. Betty Ann gave a description of Lassen method of overlapping and sewing, then the ends of lace are trimmed off. In some laces, thread ends are bundled together and fastened to the 'wrong' side of the lace. This does not work on two-sided laces. Best wishes, Alice in Oregon -- with a last day of summer and first day of autumn being warmer than some of our earlier summer days. And it's supposed to be 90 degrees tomorrow. ----- Original Message ---- From: Vickie Green <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 5:08:47 PM Subject: [lace] Throwing out question Hello all, I have a few technical questions, and being a new lace maker I really covet all of your varied and wonderful advice and suggestions. When "throwing out" bobbins do you tie them together before taking out or just lay them back over the work? How do you secure bobbins taken out after a ground stitch pin rather than a cloth stitch area? If you knot the pairs how do you manage to trim the threads off close enough to the knot to be tidy but still secure? I don't like the look of the thread ends near the knot even after "fray check" has been applied and have unhappily cut the knot accidentally when trying to trim closer. Thanks for your help and please know how much we all appreciate, learn from, and enjoy the conversations here! Vickie in Virginia where the leaves are just beginning to change color for fall. - - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
