[lace] When and how often do you make lace?
"My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails."I've been making lace, off and on, since 1980 when I saw a demo and had a go on a pillow. I was hooked. But I was also pregnant and working. At that point, as someone mentioned, I did more reading than anything else. I had copied Doris Southard's book, borrowed from the library, because I didn't have $12 to spend on a book. When Amy was 5 and Tommy was 6 months old, I started law school at night. Spent 10 hours a week driving to and from school. I did, however, make my own roller pillow and do several of the lessons. I got up to at least roseground. Over the next 18 years I learned to make lace at least 3 times. A total of 3 children, working as a lawyer, keeping house in something like a semblance of order left little time for lace. I do remember making lace while on vacation. Bobbin lace was not that far from my thoughts. When I got out of law school, I took a class at the Landis Valley Museum, a museum where they bring ol! d buildings to the venue. I had actually passed basic beginner stage by then, and bought two very nice locally made pillows. One was a travel pillow, and it went on vacation with me. That's where I made most of my lace. Once the kids left the nest, around 1999, I started using Ulrike Lohr's (Ulrike Voelcker) Kloppelkurs, long before there was a translationg. I wanted to make the asymmetrical collar, so I did all the lessons leading up to it, and made the collar. I remember doing it on the Common in Bar Harbor Maine. I also remember looking for pretty places, while on vacation, when I could get away by myself, to make pretty lace. Finally in 2004, I took my first IOLI class at the Convention in Harrisburg. Sadly, I also had chronic fatigue, which made even the thought of making lace too tiring for words. Four years later, and an experimental protocol which worked, I began making lace again, fairly regularly. In 2011 I began the routine I still follow. I had been retired since 2006, so deadlines were few and far between. In the morning, I get up, make my coffee and his tea, and sit down to my lace table at the end of the kitchen table and right next to the sliding glass windows. When I look out, I can see the birds feeding, the sunrise, and the view of the Conestoga 'River' which is the reason we bought the house. I drink my 22 ounces of coffee, and breakfast is usually over. Since we had a Newfoundland, who wasn't interested in my lace, I leave it set up with the obligatory cover to prevent the pillow from fading from the sun. Usually it's at least an hour or two in the morning, and then when I get the urge later in the day, I can just sit down. Since the pillow has been constantly set up, I make much, MUCH, more lace. My prior post about 10 minutes to unpack, 10 minutes at least to work, and 10 minutes to pack up is from personal experience. I much prefer to work until I don't want to do it anymore, a luxury the old lacemakers for pay didn't have. That time is sometimes an hour, sometimes more. Once I get the hang of the pattern, I listen to books, as boredom is not my thing. Now, in the morning, DH and I have taken to listening to the complete Sherlock Holmes. I have made the most significant progress since I began making lace virtually every day. It is a great way to wake up with my coffee. It does take time, but when there isn't much of that, reading about it, or keeping it in mind when there really is a free moment is a good idea. I tell people without much time that it is a great way to get away from it all. When you're a beginner especially, you have to concentrate which means you can't think about dinner, work, the children, or the fight you had with your partner last night. This, in itself is very relaxing, and takes you out of yourself. Lyn from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, who is wintering in the Phoenix Valley in Arizona, a desert where the highs are about 70F, 19 C, and more sunshine than is legal. c "My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails." - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI Bulletin
I have not received my Bulletin yet, and watch out for it every day â hopingâ¦.! I know Dawn Howell has not received hers, either â yet, as I saw her at Lace Day on Saturday, and asked! Our Postal service leaves much to be desired!! They changed the system a couple of years ago, and it is much worse, not better! So I live in hope of getting the magazine soon! â and I suppose the UK Lace, and Oz Lace will be due, too. The Bulletin looks to have some Very interesting articles in it â as usual. It is a really good read, as it the UK Lace. Regards from Liz. In Hot, Dry Melbourne, Oz. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI Bulletin Winter 2019 & Lace magazine news
I have been remiss in announcing the arrival of the Winter 2019 IOLI Bulletin. I got it a couple weeks ago, accompanied by the annual handbook. Also, on FaceBook, I saw a post by the Lace Guild that the current digital Lace magazine is now available. Better yet, in July of this year, the digital-only Early Days magazine will be available to members for just an additional $5. I've been curious about that publication, thinking it might be a help in teaching kids and newcomers. As for the Bulletin contents: Detailed information about this year's Convention in Spokane Valley, Washington Articles by a couple convention teachers: Karen Thompson (Ipswich lace) and Mimi Dillman (tatting) Memorials for Judy Zeiss and Marion Jones Proficiency Program information Laurie Waters' second article about Learning Needlelace (I've added this to my list of future projects. She makes it seem doable.) Jennifer Kohn on 3D tatting Spangling bobbins by Lilly Douglass A summary of the recent Figural Lace exhibit at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, with photos, by Evelyn McMillan. Lia Baumeister-Jonker's overview of lace history and identification with a couple patterns Photos and description of the creation of an exhibit piece Ulrike Voelker designed and then executed with the help of three of her students. Jean Reardon, western Pennsylvania - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Re: Bedfordshire lace
Thx Jane—When I checked the Archives, I didn’t find the discussion of Cotona green you mentioned but I did find other interesting tidbits so I annotated Brenda’s book. The project I referenced did involve pale green Cotona 618 seafoam (!!), but I’ve had similar issues with 668 goldenrod so I’m inclined to think it is the lightly twisted properties of this thread. You really hit a nerve when you asked about my bobbins! I typically use continentals but made a conscious decision to use spangled Midlands for the Beds. Oy—they don’t roll but they sure do land askew on top of their spangles! It didn’t seem to matter whether they were vintage bobbins, commercially made ones, or bobbins that I had spangled myself. They got all jacked up & I kid you not, I spent more time disentangling them than it was worth. Beautiful but evil so I am taking a break from Midlands! I must pay more attention to my winding, shortening & lengthening habits. I can’t imagine what I�! ��ve done but this is why golfer’s have swing coaches & baseball has pitching coaches—it’s to discover subtle things about technique or mechanics that throw off the results! This is the one thing I should have added to Devon’s query/discussion about how to learn to make lace. There is a certain value to taking lessons or being in the presence of others who are more experienced. It’s easy to unintentionally develop bad habits when working independently. In the meantime, now that I realize that I have a two- or three-lifetime supply of Cordonnet, I will find a solution. Many thanks again. Sincerely, Susan Hottle FL, USA Sent from my iPad > On Jan 27, 2019, at 8:25 AM, Jane Partridge wrote: > > Susan, > > There's absolutely nothing wrong in wanting to work in white (or any other > colour) :-). > > I remember some years ago there was a problem with a particular, pale green, > Madeira Tanne (they changed the name to Cotona when they started selling it > on smaller reels) that used to unravel during work and was discussed on > Arachne - so a search of the archives might bring up the solutions we came up > with then. It was strange that it was only that one colour, and a number of > us on both sides of the pond had the same problem. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
RE: [lace] Beginning bobbin lace
"Carrying on from the theme of beginning lace and time to practice, how much time do members here spend on lacemaking" I, too, would like to learn how much time the really productive lace makers spend at their craft. Personally, I'm in my late 60's and still work 3 days a week. That, plus family and pets occupies much of my time. I took up bobbin lace in my early 60s so I haven't been at it for very long. I finally had time to spend on hobbies, especially since I get tired more easily and just need to sit down sometimes. It keeps my hands busy when I'm sitting. Generally, I work an hour or two most evenings while watching television. If I'm doing a special project, as I am right now, I spend several hours in the afternoon on it. Yesterday, I think I put in 5 or 6 hours. I like to do needle tatting, too. That is easy to do while watching TV because it doesn't take as much concentration and tensioning as bobbin lace. I have a backlog of project plans and books to work my way through. As for the lady who was originally asking about lacemaking as a hobby while her kids are small, needle tatting would be very suitable. One can complete small projects quickly, it's easy to pack up and keep out of reach. Very portable. Learning the basic "vocabulary" of tatting on the needle is really helpful before graduating to the shuttle, which is more challenging but still takes little space and is portable. Jean Reardon, western Pennsylvania where it's bitterly cold and snowy. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Beginning bobbin lace
That’s a good question Ann! Like you, I see people sharing so many incredibly large projects they’ve completed and I wonder where they find the time! Personally, all of the fruits of my labor in the six years since I began making bobbin lace can essentially fit in a single envelope. To be fair, I have traveled extensively, gotten two degrees, and gotten married during this period so I have been busy. Currently I work 40 hours a week plus run a guild & teach Torchon lace, so I only have about five hours a week to work on my own projects. But I hope to find more time! I’m curious to see everyone else’s replies as well. Have a lovely Sunday! Best, Elena - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Re: Bedfordshire lace
Susan, There's absolutely nothing wrong in wanting to work in white (or any other colour) :-). I remember some years ago there was a problem with a particular, pale green, Madeira Tanne (they changed the name to Cotona when they started selling it on smaller reels) that used to unravel during work and was discussed on Arachne - so a search of the archives might bring up the solutions we came up with then. It was strange that it was only that one colour, and a number of us on both sides of the pond had the same problem. I have always wound my bobbins clockwise, and mostly find if a thread is going to unspin it is when I'm using Honiton bobbins, my spangled Midlands tend to behave, these days. Are you using Continental bobbins that roll? However, in the past, I used to find that Madeira thread unravelled in the course of working Bucks (where you have more of an imbalance of cross to twist movements) and this was down to the way I turned the bobbin when I was lengthening or shortening the leash, so it might be worth looking at how you do that. If you hold the bobbin straight (in relation to the thread) and turn it one way or t'other, to release or tighten, you will untwist or over-twist the thread as well as lengthening or shortening it. The same goes for any angle up to holding it at 90 degrees to the thread being wound/unwound, at which point you are only winding/unwinding the thread, not affecting the twist. Where the Cordonnet is concerned, knowing you are a needlewoman, do you do any needlelace? We used Cordonnet when we made our samples of Venetian Gros Point (which is a heavyweight lace, used in the past for cravats, etc) both for the stitching and for padding out the raised cordonettes. If you do needlelace or stumpwork you might be able to use it? So, chunky embroidery as another possibility? Although crochet cottons are frequently included in beginner kits, they tend to be difficult to tension properly, I think because they have more "give", so give an uneven finish when used as the main thread in bobbin lace. However, you could use them as gimp threads. I also used Cordonnet 100 when I was tambouring the two-inch edging for the wedding veil project I did for my City & Guilds - that needed 11 balls, (one per chain), and of course only a relatively small amount of each was used - the remains are still sitting in my thread box, some 23 years later, and I can see my daughter! s inheriting them at this rate :-). Jane Partridge Susan wrote:- This was particularly painful because I wanted to—wash my mouth out with soap—work in white. Madeira Cotona 30—I own too many spools—none white—but it seems to un-ply itself while working. It made my lace (a different pattern) look scraggly & it’s too fiddly to keep spinning all the bobbins because it comes un-plied every other stitch. And of course my big question—what to do with so many balls of Cordonnet Special, in multiple sizes? Egad, I don’t tat & I rarely crochet! Is cordonnet suitable for any bobbin lace? - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Bedfordshire lace
Tanne/cotona is designed as a machine embroidery thread and like all machine threads it has a Z twist to suit the way sewing machines work. If it causes problems with the way you personally work BL the solution is to try and find S twisted thread; most linens, cotton perle, cotton a broder etc. Winding your bobbins in the opposite direction, and thus lengthening them in the opposite direction as you work might help or you might find it even worse than constantly retwisting the thread! Cordonnet Special is OK for BL if you want a a hard, crisp finish; ie table mats etc. Itâs not good if you want the lace to drape softly, or for anything that might be in contact with your skin! Brenda > Madeira Cotona 30âI own too many spoolsânone whiteâbut it seems to un-ply itself while working. It made my lace (a different pattern) look scraggly & itâs too fiddly to keep spinning all the bobbins because it comes un-plied every other stitch. The only solution that came to mind is to wind anti-clockwise. Are there any other suggestions to tame Cotona? While I hate to give up on pretty thread, thereâs no ! > reason to be miserable! And of course my big questionâwhat to do with so many balls of Cordonnet Special, in multiple sizes? Egad, I donât tat & I rarely crochet! Is cordonnet suitable for any bobbin lace? Brenda in Allhallows paternos...@appleshack.com www.brendapaternoster.co.uk - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
