[lace] There must be a better way!!
Dear Friends, There must be a better way! I am currently working on a piece of Chantilly which uses about 85 pairs - nowhere near as many as some I've done. However, this piece (p.98 in LOHR's Schwartzarbiet if you have it) has very large maple-like leaves with numerous veins, which require nearly all bobbins to be usable at any one pass. Whilst I'm getting there and plodding on, I am just wondering whether there might be a better way that our collective heads can come up with. At present I find I am having to place bobbins on holders for every single pass and this is really slowing things down. Any suggestions more than welcome. David in Ballarat - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] motifs made with Blendables Sulky Thread
I have a couple of pieces to show you that I have worked on last weekend and one I just got off the pillow. They feature a thread I haven't come across before. My wife and I visited this quilt shop in Effingham, IL that we hadn't been to in a long time. I looked through their threads in hopes of finding something new to tat or bobbin lace with. I DID! It is called Blendables by Sulky. Hadn't heard of this thread type before made by Sulky but apparently has been on the market for a while. But I liked it so got a few color samples. It is size 30 wt, two ply thread which seems to be comparable to Madiera Tanne size 50. I think. The first is a torchon bookmark. It is made with Heather Blendable Sulky thread size 30. It really is an itty bitty bookmark done in this size thread. It measures(not including the tail) 11cm long by 2.2cm wide(4.25 x 1 inch). You can see the subtle hues of lavendar and green and how the color changes. No strong color lines and the color change is from 2.5 to 5 inches. I like that! http://www.tat-man.net/bobbinburg/BLgallery/BLbookmark.jpg I just got this motif off my pillow last night. It is a lesson in Idrija style bobbin lace. It is called Midnight Sky. You can barely see the subtle hues of dark blue and purple. Much better in person ;) It measures 6.3cm(2.5 inches). http://www.tat-man.net/bobbinburg/BLgallery/Idrija_motif.jpg Now to select another little motif to try with the Blendables Sulky thread. FUN! -- Mark, aka Tatman website: http://www.tat-man.net blog: http://tatmantats.wordpress.com etsy shop: http://tatman.etsy.com FB: http://www.facebook.com/tatmantats - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Re: Hairwork
When my wife and I visited Colonial Williamsburg in 2008 we saw the wig maker shop and was fascinated. Could watch her all day. But had to keep trekking on. The tools she uses are fairly simple.: a wood stand with two poles and three strands of string wound on the poles. There are various other tools, like a comb(similar to a carder for sheeps wool). She would wind the long lengths of hair over/under/over the 3 strands. Slide it over and then wind another length under/over/under and slide over. This alternating lengths of hair would lock in place. She would then secure the two ends of string and take the row of hair to the wig form and sew it on. Here is a picture from Williamsburg that shows this process: http://www.britannica.com/bps/image/644431/350/A-museum-interpreter-demonstrating-the-18th-century-art-of-wig And here is a site that I found describes more in detail of how to do it. Altho it is constructing a man's wig, would work for female too. http://www.costumes.org/classes/254pages/projects/18thwigs.htm Been enjoying this arachne thread. :) -- Mark, aka Tatman website: http://www.tat-man.net blog: http://tatmantats.wordpress.com etsy shop: http://tatman.etsy.com FB: http://www.facebook.com/tatmantats This may begin upon a digression, but with the interest in hairwork, and reference to difficulty in finding people who will share technique, I have found the same with wig work. I have a 3 foot cut of my hair done when I turned 29, with the idea that I would later have a wig made for a porcelain doll to give to a daughter I might later have. Finding a wig maker was like finding a needle in a haystack, the various times I have tried. I ran across one during a tour of the Guthrie Theatre, but when asking if she was for hire, or would teach, she clammed up. Perhaps someone on the list knows of an expert wig maker? Ideally, I think it would mean more to my lineage if the wig was very well made by myself vs. another (also being detail oriented as I am!), but I am open. Insight would be greatly appreciated! Best,Susan Reishus(Who thinks she needs to be on individual emails so my responses aren't so delayed!) LOL - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] motifs made with Blendables Sulky Thread
Very beautiful, Mark! I have been using Blendables 30wt in needle lace motifs. I don't usually like variegated thread, but these colors are wonderful! I'm just a beginner with needle lace, but I'm having fun! Here's a link to my blog with the last completed leaf in Blendables 30wt Lime Sherbet. I have another leaf that is almost done. http://tatt3r-lace.blogspot.com/2010/03/green-leaf-is-finished.html I found a set of 10 colors of Blendables 30wt on Overstock.com and splurged with my birthday money. I have not yet tried it for tatting, it behaves like pearl cotton, and I'd rather tat with Cebelia. Lenore Grand Rapids, MI USA On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 10:24 AM, Mark, aka Tatman tat...@tat-man.net wrote: I have a couple of pieces to show you that I have worked on last weekend and one I just got off the pillow. They feature a thread I haven't come across before. It is called Blendables by Sulky. Hadn't heard of this thread type before made by Sulky but apparently has been on the market for a while. But I liked it so got a few color samples. It is size 30 wt, two ply thread which seems to be comparable to Madiera Tanne size 50. I think. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Re: motifs made with Blendables Sulky Thread
Thank you :) O GORGEOUS leaf! I have yet to try needlelace of this sort. I have done Armenian Knotting(type of needle lace). But nothing into this realm. Lime Sherbert is one of the other colors I picked up and plan on doing a leaf out of it. Seems fitting! Thanks for showing us your leaf. -- Mark, aka Tatman website: http://www.tat-man.net blog: http://tatmantats.wordpress.com etsy shop: http://tatman.etsy.com FB: http://www.facebook.com/tatmantats == Here's a link to my blog with the last completed leaf in Blendables 30wt Lime Sherbet. I have another leaf that is almost done. http://tatt3r-lace.blogspot.com/2010/03/green-leaf-is-finished.html Lenore Grand Rapids, MI USA - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] There must be a better way!!
Clay Blackwell's clever DH made a shelf that is fitted to the back part of her pillow, so she is able to set her bobbins on top, and under the shelf. Maybe an adaptation of this. Cherry Knobloch Chesapeake, Va USA - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] There must be a better way!!
At 03:29 AM 9/04/2010, Cherry Knobloch wrote: Clay Blackwell's clever DH made a shelf that is fitted to the back part of her pillow, so she is able to set her bobbins on top, and under the shelf. Maybe an adaptation of this. H - -- can't see that working in my case. I'm using a large horse-hair filled cookie-pillow which sits on a round foot stool between the TV and me, so it's easily swivelled. I should have studied the pricking more thoroughly before I began the piece, and then I would have set it up on my large table-top desk, for which I thank dear Len Purcell every day I use it. David in Ballarat - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] There must be a better way!!
I have the pattern in front of me, and see what you mean. There are an awful lot of pairs, especially in the horizontal leaves. Cannot think of another way but to use holders or similar. I'm quite interested how you get on, as I fancy doing this pattern myself, but am tied up with some floral Bucks for the moment. Agnes Boddington- Ellougthon UK David Collyer wrote: Whilst I'm getting there and plodding on, I am just wondering whether there might be a better way that our collective heads can come up with. At present I find I am having to place bobbins on holders for every single pass and this is really slowing things down. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
RE: [lace] There must be a better way!!
has very large maple-like leaves with numerous veins, which require nearly all bobbins to be usable at any one pass. David that's the way many of the more intricate Maltese pieces are worked. I worked on a table centre which had as many as 250 bobbins in use at the corner and it is very tiresome and slow. In fact, Maltese, although beautiful, is not exactly my favourite lace to work. Karen in Malta - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Sulky
Mark I first heard about Sulky several years ago when someone posted a note about it on arachne. So I've been on the lookout ever since. They make threads of different fiber content, but they do have size 30 and size 12 in 100% cotton, both in many colors and many variegated colors (what they call blendables). Apparently both are used by quilters. I have some of the size 12 and it is really beautiful thread. I found an online American source: http://www.ericas.com/threads/ Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Bobbin Lace sighting in fiction
I'm just finishing the book, Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas, a romance novel set in the mid 1800s. The main character brings some gifts from the country back to friends in London, and one of the items she brings is bobbin lace. (near the end of the novel, for those who might want to know). This novel is the third in a series that includes Seduce Me at Sunrise and Mine Till Midnight, but this is the only one so far to mention lace. You don't have to read the previous two in the series to enjoy this one, but I enjoy all of this author's works! Annie - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] There must be a better way!!
David, When I was working on a Flanders piece I ran into a situation where I had to take a pair of workers all the way aross the pillow and back. I was too lazy to bind up the extra bobbins just to have to unbind them again half a minute later. So I used a cover cloth that I placed on top of the bobbins I had just passed through. Then I worked the other bobbins on top of the cover cloth. When I got to the other side of the pillow and started working back I worked until I got to the bobbins that were under the cover cloth. Then I bound up the bobbins I had just passed through, uncovered the bobbins that had been under the cloth and continued working. This did result in a very lumpy work surface, but I found that slowing down to work on the lumpy surface was not as bad as taking the time to bind and unbind the bobbins. I am not sure I completely understand your situation, so this suggestion may not work. But perhaps it will trigger an idea. Liz Redford Raleigh, NC, USA David C COLLYER dccoll...@ncable.net.au wrote: Dear Friends, There must be a better way! Any suggestions more than welcome. David in Ballarat - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] Beeswax?
Hello List Friends, I just saw a beeswax holder and needlecase auction on Ebay. I'm not familiar with the use of Beeswax in bobbin lace. Can someone enlighten me? Lisa - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] Beeswax?
Beeswax was (is) traditionally used as a lubricant on the pricker to keep the needle used for pricking from getting stuck in the pricking card. With the increased use of the blue film over the pricking card, and also a tendency among lacemakers to allow the sandwich of a pricking copy plus a card-stock under it with blue film over it to suffice for the pricking card, the need for beeswax has been reduced. Hope this helps... Clay On 4/8/2010 7:23 PM, Lisa Morey wrote: Hello List Friends, I just saw a beeswax holder and needlecase auction on Ebay. I'm not familiar with the use of Beeswax in bobbin lace. Can someone enlighten me? Lisa - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] I'm Away
Dear Lacemakers and Sobbing Sisters of Southern Secessionists, Clive and I shall be away until Sunday or Monday, and I shall unsubscribe from both lists so Verizon won't collapse under the weight of the e-mails. Everyone Confederate History Month and Make Happy Lace. Betty Ann Rice in Roanoke, Virginia USA Roanoke Chapter 1907, Virginia Division UDC Blue Ridge Lace Guild. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] There must be a better way!!
David, I've also been thinking, there must be a better way!. I use various systems, each of which has something to recommend it, none of which is perfect. I use continental-style bobbins--I don't offhand remember what you use. 1. I've used the system of stacking the bobbins between pairs of very long brass pins. It has the virtue of being relatively quick to put away (scooping up the pairs along one pin and pinning against a second) and take down remove the front pin and let the bobbins slide down to the pillow). The disadvantages for me are that I'm not deft enough to always keep the pins in order as I scoop, pin, and slide, so there's usually a certain amount of reordering; if I stack more than, say, 4 pairs, the threads of the top bobbins are raised so far off the pillow that they occasionally tangle in pinheads; and it requires more real-estate than I'd like, especially with patterns using more than, say, 75 pairs. 2. I've used the elastic band/tongue-depressor holders. These have the virtue that they hold more bobbins than the pins comfortably do, and I can stack several on top of each other, so saving some real estate. The disadvantages are that it's more fiddly than I'd like scooping the bobbins along the wood and securing the elastic. Also, sometimes I'm less than coordinated about it, and the elastic snaps back, scattering bobbins and taking even more time to sort out. 3. I've used the knitting-needle twin holders in a similar way. These hold even more bobbins, but are still fiddlier than I'd like to secure. 4. Something I recently have experimented with: using a recycled section of plastic spiral binding pushed down over the bobbins to separate them, then using one of the aforementioned long pins slipped along the spiral and under the bobbins, then pinned into the pillow vertically. This has the virtue of keeping the bobbins quite reliably in order, and being perhaps a little easier to put up and take down. You have to select an appropriate size of spiral for the diameter of your bobbins. It saves somewhat on real estate over system one. It's still fiddlier than I'd prefer. 5. I also sometimes use a small thick piece of cloth in much the same way that Liz did, creating a layered work surface. I don't like the lumpiness. I briefly tried and gave up on large French hairclips, with the spring removed. The largest I have won't hold more than about 4 pairs, and the curve makes it harder than it should be to scoop. I couldn't think of anything quite like that but bigger and flatter. Maybe somebody else can. I keep thinking there might be a cable-management system that could be adapted, but so far, I've not found one that's appropriate. I imagine creating something like the hairclips, but bigger and flatter, and with scallops in the part that comes down over the bobbins to keep them in order. But I think this would have to be specially-created. I'll be curious to see if anyone has other ideas. --Julie E. in Seattle j.enevold...@wlonk.com weft.wlonk.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] motifs made with Blendables Sulky Thread
Nice job Lenore. I took a needle lace class at convention last year and have enjoyed what I have done, although I am working in DMC 8 and 12. I haven't progressed to finer thread yet. Believe it or not, I am teaching a needle lace class to my lace guild next week. Passing on my scant knowledge. I also like to shop at Overstock for craft things so I will be checking that out. Janice Lenore wrote: I have been using Blendables 30wt in needle lace motifs. I don't usually like variegated thread, but these colors are wonderful! I'm just a beginner with needle lace, but I'm having fun! Here's a link to my blog with the last completed leaf in Blendables 30wt Lime Sherbet. I have another leaf that is almost done. http://tatt3r-lace.blogspot.com/2010/03/green-leaf-is-finished.html I found a set of 10 colors of Blendables 30wt on Overstock.com and splurged with my birthday money. I have not yet tried it for tatting, it behaves like pearl cotton, and I'd rather tat with Cebelia. Lenore Grand Rapids, MI USA Janice Blair Crystal Lake, 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois, USA www.jblace.com http://www.lacemakersofillinois.org - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
[lace] A better way
I have seen, somewhere, a lace maker using the bottom of ice-cream containers, cut down to about 1 inch around the sides, but on 3 sides only, and the other side cut down to the bottom. It is then used as a scoop/tray for the bobbins, and can stack up on each other. They might be quicker to use. Mark, those pieces you made with the Sulky threads are great. The colours blend so well without sharp colour changes. I like that. I have a few reels of the sulky cotton, but have only used them for needle lace, - so far! They certainly look good in bobbin lace. Regards from Liz in Melbourne, Oz. lizl...@bigpond.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] There must be a better way!!
I use the tongue depressor/elastic band method a lot. It only takes a couple seconds to scoop one under a group of bobbins and hook the band over the other end. Then the bundles stack up fairly well, or at least lean against the pile of bundles. I guess, since I'm used to doing it, I seldom have a band not fasten, though I've known a few to fly through the air across the room if I don't hang on to them just right. I've tried layers of cloth but wasn't happy with it. I do it only in a pinch. Your question brought to mind the bobbin holder I got in Europe. It's a long U-shaped piece of wood with a long pin sticking out of the solid end. It's designed to scoop up a cluster of bobbins, and then be pinned upright on the pillow. It's a variation on the long brass pins used to scoop up bobbins and hold them vertically. In the U-shaped holder, the bobbins cannot fall out or get out of order. If I had more than one, it would be fun to test the theory. Maybe someone in Europe who has used these could comment. Alice in Oregon -- where we had a partly gray day but no rain. Apr 8, 2010 05:48:56 AM, dccoll...@ncable.net.au wrote: Whilst I'm getting there and plodding on, I am just wondering whether there might be a better way - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] There must be a better way!!
Is there a picture of this somewhere that we can view? Lorri Subject: Re: [lace] There must be a better way!! Clay Blackwell's clever DH made a shelf that is fitted to the back part of her pillow, so she is able to set her bobbins on top, and under the shelf. Maybe an adaptation of this. Cherry Knobloch Chesapeake, Va USA - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
Re: [lace] There must be a better way!!
One more gizmo for collecting/holding bobbins is made by John Aebi. Imagine a wooden tuning fork with very long tines and no handle. The tines taper at the tips, so you can place it on the pillow and scoop the bobbins into it. There's a pinhole going through the tines at their tips, and another pinhole at the base (same direction as the one through the tips). By scooping bobbins into the slot between the tines and, if necessary, pinning through the tines, I can quickly put a bunch (up to 10 pairs of Swiss bobbins) aside in order. They're reasonably stackable. For longer storage, the forks can stack and be held in place with a long pin through several of them. I had 140+ pairs on my pillow for a 'sGravensmoerse scarf, stacked in these forks. However, I didn't have to constantly add/remove as frequently as David is doing. I find them faster than knitting stitch holders and tongue depressors/elastic, but still a bother. Robin P. Los Angeles, California, USA robinl...@socal.rr.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
