FIRST PROJECT



There are some lovely projects in the beginners book and for my first, I chose a square border that uses several different stitches. Almost from the first I ran into a few things that I had to work out and remember for the next project. When pricking the corners, I should really study the picture of the finished piece. Square corners are a little confusing since there are extra stitches involved. I had a few problems sorting out where to put the starting pins, since I would have to choose one of the few patterns that did not circle the starting holes and there ended up being more pins than starting points. I wonder if I should just have put in pins and then begin the knots at the designated points. Must check with Josie on that one.

Corners are a treat to turn. If the pricking is not exact, it can lead to some interesting problems and takes time to figure out. Something that was easier than I had expected, was joining a new thread to one that was running out. The book was quite explicit on that and I had no trouble at all. The joined bobbins are a bit awkward to manage at first, but they can be cut apart fairly soon and then back to normal lacing.

I soon found that I could have made a larger pillow. The 16 inch one I made is alright for this particular border, and smaller projects, but anything larger I think would be awkward to fit on. Perhaps I have the rounded surface a little too humped. A larger pillow will be coming up soon.

I plan to mount this border on a piece of dark green satin and make a picture frame for my Mom for Christmas. Well, maybe dark blue satin would be better. I can try both and see which looks nicer. Either will match her rooms.

I continue to make bobbins from a piece of doweling. I find that I am not too interested in the bobbins themselves other than that they hold the threads. I am, however, very interested in the spangles and I think they will be my mementoes should I travel to any Lace Days. I love the glitter of the beads and the colors are very nice and interesting. They make a delightful sound as they rub together. The beads are quite expensive, though I have found a wonderful shop in Ottawa that deals with loads of beautiful ones, and generally stock up when I visit my sister there. Luckily, the doweling for the bobbins is very inexpensive, so I can spend the money saved there on the beads for the spangles.





I managed to finish the border in time for Christmas. Instead of mounting the thing on satin, as I first planned, I sandwiched it between two pieces of glass cut to fit a slot in a frame made by my husband. The glass can be slid out, and separated to change the picture and then replaced in the frame. It worked out very well and I was pleased to see that the bit where I joined the beginning and end is not too horrid. The picture inserted should be the size of the center of the border,since a smaller one tends to slide and not stay ion the center. By sandwiching it in glass, two pictures can be put in the frame back to back and viewed from either side. Mom was properly pleased with the whole thing.

Please click HERE to have a look at the picture of the finished frame. The page may take a few moments to load. Please be patient.






The next things I worked on were some small tree hangers. These turned out to be a test of my ingenuity. I knew what I wanted them to look like, and the task was to choose a bit of a pattern and use just that bit as an insert. That meant determining where to begin the pattern and where to hang the bobbins. I found that starting in one corner and hanging a bobbin as I needed it, was less confusing than trying to figure out how many I needed from the beginning.

I used those key holders with the clear plastic separating backs and fronts, that are available in craft stores. They are generally used to hold a tiny cross stitch, but work extrememly well for bits of lace. The lace can be seen from both sides if the backing paper is not used, and light shines through. The only problem I had, was getting the lace to stay in place as I snapped the two pieces together. It tends to pull a bit and once the back is snapped in place it can't be taken apart again without scratching the casing. I solved the problem by making the lace insert a little larger than required, and after snapping the pieces together, carefully sliced off the bits hanging out with an exacto blade.

I removed the key ring from the top of the holder, leaving either just the hole in the plastic or the smaller metal bit and threaded a piece of ribbon through, and tied it in a bow. Then I glued beads and/or ribbon flowers at the top and around the sides and came up with a lovely little hanger that is light enough to hang on a Christmas tree. They also look quite nice on one of those suction cup hangers in a window or on a mirror.

Please click HERE to have a look at the pictures of the hangers. The page will take a few moments to load. Please be patient.





Next, I found a very nice little collar pattern, that I decided to try and it turned out so nicely, that I have sent it to a friend for her Christmas gift. I find that I quite enjoy working with the very fine lacing thread and am using an Egyptian cotton that is very smooth and easy to draw up when doing things like spiders and cloth sections.

One thing I did learn in this particular project, though. NEVER, NEVER make the markings on the pattern, that tell you the paths the threads are to take, in pencil !!!!!! The pencil rubs off on the threads and it takes forever to get it out. The lace washes up just fine and is relatively easy to lay out on a towel to dry, but getting the graphite out of the cotton is not easy. I tried several kinds of soap or detergent and managed to get most of it out, but it is much better not to get it there in the first place. Luckily, I was using an ecru colored thread and not white or it would have looked terrible.

Please click HERE and scroll past the hangers to view the collar. Again, please be patient while the page loads.





Currently,(December 2001) I am working on a lace strip that will be used on a pillowcase. It has a pattern of fans and hearts, and is using a few of the things learned in the early lessons. My cousin had access to a lacing book in England that was unavailable here, and it has some very nice patterns in it based on the ten basic lessons. It is written by Bridget M. Cook, and is called "The Torchon Lace Workbook". This is the book that Josie used for my lessons, so the instructions are familiar.

It is April 2002, and I have finished the piece of lace. I did intend it to go on a pillowcase, but changed my mind and attached it to a fine piece of cotton for a place mat or a mat that could go on a dresser top or under that perfect spring bouquet of flowers.

Please click HERE for a view of the mat. It will take a couple of minutes for the page to load.





While visiting a needlework show I came upon some brooches that have removable backs and are designed to hold a tiny piece of needlework. I thought I might try a lace motif for the insert and like the hangers, it took me several tries before I was happy with the results.

Please click HERE to have a look at the picture of one of the finished brooches. There are some ideas and suggestions below the picture. You will have to scroll down below the picture of the lace frame. The page may take a few moments to load. Please be patient.