"My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails."Dear Elena,
This project will be worn and thus requires starching, Are you sure? I have starched Christmas ornaments, but never lace to be worn. The first question, in my opinion, is whether it should be starched. My first thought, without more definite information, is not. If the lace is so fragile it will warp when worn, should it be worn? I never cease to be amazed at how tough the lace I make is, even the stuff in 140 cotton. What really surprised me is how sturdy Mechlin lace is when completed, even though it looks like it would collapse. If I were you, I think I'd make a sampler piece of a size of one of your sections, take it off the pins after letting it sit in the pins for at least a day, and see what happens. I am assuming that this lace is your own creation, artist that you are, and you are stretching the envelope. Sadly, in those cases envelopes can collapse. Starching would connect the half stitch threads which usually slide around, but that starch connection would probably not last with wearing. The threads would be! stiff, but 50/2 is pretty sturdy stuff and doesn't usually need more stiffening. If this is not an original pattern, I would rely on the designer's ideas, and if starching is not called for, I would doubt it needs it. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, where this heat wave should leave tonight. We got home from Belgium on Monday, and I've been used to cooler temperatures. "My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails." I'm working on a very >special and exciting project that I cannot wait to share, but for now it >must remain a secret. This project will be worn and thus requires >starching, but I have never had to starch a bobbin lace project before. Of >course I have many books in my library that discuss it, but I'm not sure >which is best. > >The piece is is being worked in three sections (moved twice), so my >instinct is to starch before unpinning each time so that it doesn't warp. >I'm using half stitch & torchon ground in 50/2 Egyptian cotton with a 2-ply >Japanese silk gimp, so I'm nervous about it getting misshapen. > >What is the best way to starch on a pillow? I also fear that the pins could >rust and mark the piece that is white... I'm not concerned about damaging >the pillow however, as I have loads. - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
